New Shop Opening! Signature Smashers, Coastal Classics & Pet Nat Perfection
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
After a short break we're back and going bigger than ever! Not only have we got the first news on our latest shop opening, but there's also a fresh pallet of Kent classics from Time & Tide, a catch up with the founders of our Brewery Of The Week, Signature, Gluten Free greats from First Chop and a juicy duo of Verdant & Howling Hops. Don't forget to scroll down to our highlights section, it's an absolute doozy, including Siren's Hard Pour Broken Dream and four new delectable Gipsy Hill specials!
N E W B A L H A M
S H O P
O P E N I N G S O O N
We're delighted to announce our latest addition to the family, continuing the excellent work from We Brought Beer, our new location in Balham is set to open the week after next! Will is on hand here making sure the building work is on track and ready for everything you expect from a Clapton Craft joint including tonnes of craft beer, cider, natural wine and spirits, plus socially distanced drinking inside (and out) to come. Be sure to tell your friends in the area!
F R E S H C O A S T A L
H A Z E F R O M
T I M E & T I D E
It's always a joy to get something in from unsung heroes Time & Tide, and we've got a bumper crop heading your way. To start Super Session IPA Kiss Me Quick (we still refuse to believe this is just 2.9%) returns alongside the equally sluggable bestseller Spratwaffler. For those after the boldest of the bold, we've got a barrage of tart mango and passionfruit goodness in Imperial Sour Bouncy Bouncy Elephants as well as the thick, sweaty, Mosaic-hopped NEIPA Ham Sandwich. Core range classics Urban Goose and All in Jim also join the fold alongside crispy clean Session Lager Lighthouse to complete seven of the finest.
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E W E E K
S I G N A T U R E
Since 2011 Signature Brew have helped revolutionise beer at live events, bringing their music-inspired offerings to the best bars, venues and festivals in the UK and beyond. We caught up with founders Tom and Sam after a run of sold out socially distanced shows to chat brewery life under lockdown, the future of live events and of course, a slew of exciting new beers.
How are you guys at the moment, it must be a bit of a madhouse?
I think we’re at the point now where we can say it’s going well. Everything before then has led to this point, especially last night with all the gigs outside [a series of socially distanced events at their brewery], it all felt like it has come together, beer and music properly. We’ve made thousands and thousands of litres of beer but having it here, made it all so immediate.
Location is obviously a huge part for every brewery, after nearly a year here how have you found Walthamstow? It must be nice to have people back on your doorstep.
Well we originally needed 10,000 sq ft. for tanks and equipment, but now it’s for the people. We also needed somewhere we wanted to go to every day, lots of us live close by and have invested in the area. What's also changed is that people are perfectly happy to go to the dark end of an industrial estate for a pint, even with a buggy in the other hand!
How did you feel when you found out you'd won SIBA's prestigious award?
It was a shock, it was all born out of music, making sure people understand what we’re doing is always an extra step. We’ve always known what we were doing was exciting, people constantly enjoying our beer everywhere. It was a platitude for the beer mainly, looking at the previous winners, Tiny Rebel [North this year], it was a genuine surprise!
What beer are you most proud of?
Well we always come back to Roadie, but Studio Lager, it tastes better and better, especially during the hot weeks - it’s just the one.
From Idles, to Alt-J and Mogwai beer collaborations are obviously such a large part of what you do, do you have any favourite artists you worked with?
The one we did last week might honestly be my favourite, the launch of it was so exciting and we nailed the style [a dark smoked lager with musician DRS & Dynamite MC, a pretty handy sommelier in his own right] We ended up talking about Schlenkerla, and the album's called playing in the dark so it’s a super unusual style, and a perfect fit.
If Signature were an artist who would they be?
So Solid Crew?! Haha... maybe So Solid Brew? That’s a terrible answer, we’ve heard all the music puns that are possible, give me ten minutes…
Stay tuned for the full interview next week! We've also just received a host of new beers from the team, including their crispy Summer Lager with Sports Team, a delectable Passionfruit New England Pale as well as a top up of their brilliant go-to core range. Of course we're offering double loyalty points in store this week on all Signature beers. If you're yet to sign up, join in person, or shoot us an email and we can do the rest.
P E T N A T
P E R F E C T I O N I N
P I N O C I T R O N
Having lapped up Tim Wildman's latest efforts we were delighted to discover Christophe Lindenlaub insanely fresh Alsace Pet Nat. Emerging from a long line of winemakers in the region, he continues to use traditional, painstaking methods - grapes are handpicked, fermented with indigenous yeasts and bottled without any additions or filtration. A blend of Pinot Gris and Blanc this is all vibrant grapefruit juice, green apple, and a hefty whack of saline minerality. With invigorating citrus acidity, this may be the most refreshing wine we've had all year...
M O R E
H I G H L I G H T S
T H I S W E E K
🪓 FIRST CHOP 🪓
Jam - Gluten Free pale with lashings of Mango.
Pod - A rare GF stout, rich, roasty and full of irresistibly velvety vanilla.
Hop - Light and tropical GF pale ale hopped with vibrant Citra.
🌤 GIPSY HILL 🌤
Ambler - Layered New England IPA. Straight up Jungle Juice.
Beach Bum - Reduced Gluten West Coast IPA. Clean, pithy, and dank.
Bonzer - Spritzy, soft Antipodean-inspired sluggable pale.
Tafa Tafa - Mai Tai sour made with whole oranges, pineapple puree and a dash of lime zest.
🐺 HOWLING HOPS 🐺
Cabin Fever - Azacca and Topaz hopped NEIPA, thick and tropical.
Low Ride - DDH pale with apricot, bubblegum and vibrant piney vibes.
Screwball - Tangy, tart lemon & lime Berliner Weisse.
🌿 VERDANT 🌿
Fruit Car Sight Exhibition - One of their most cherished beers to date, a huge Citra DIPA.
Lightbulb - Crisp, clean and citrus-filled extra pale ale.
🚨 SIREN 🚨
Hard Pour Broken Dream - Arguably the finest Breakfast Stout, made even more decadent!
Be Even More Pacific - Precise California IPA full of resinous hops.
As always there's even more to discover online, and in all five stores. Enjoy the weekend folks!
