BBNo B'day Belters, Track + Finback Drop, Festive & Fresh Webshop Wonders!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
Yes, somehow it's December already! As a result, we're diving headfirst into full festive prep mode now. We've been rummaging around for the fairy lights, while there's gift boxes to be made and MASSIVE orders to be delivered. Accordingly so, all the manager's met up this Tuesday for a last get-together and meeting, including a tutored tasting of our wonderful East London Liquor Company Single Cask Whisky as well as plenty of delicious beers straight from the source at Howling Hops' tank bar - so we're as ready as we'll ever be. More on those soon though as we have something rather decadent and delicious up our sleeves...
As to the here and now though, we raise a glass to the mighty BBNo aka Brew By Numbers who celebrate their 10th Birthday. Alongside, there's double trouble from NYC's finest Finback and Manchester's marvellous Track, who showcase arguably some of the best hoppy stuff you can get your hands on either side of the Atlantic. If that's not enough there's also some Christmas Crackers hitting the Webshop alongside a who's who of current greats including Northern Monk, Vault City, Omnipollo, Cloudwater, and more.
Finally, we turn our attention to those manager's mentions, of which we have a number of treats in store for you from the likes of Drop Project, Tillingham, Devil's Botany, Villages, and more. Now, without further ado, let's get on to the good stuff!
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
Despite being featured just under three months ago, we just had to celebrate some of our nearest and dearest again, with Brew By Numbers hitting double digits tomorrow! O.G. members of the Bermondsey beer scene, they've been making some absolute classics in the capital since 2012, becoming renowned for their quality, innovation, and diversity of output. With a particular penchant for hoppy, heavenly IPAs and decadent, heavy-duty Stouts, they've gone both big and small (more on that) on an outstanding selection to mark the occasion.
Yes, BBNo have pulled out all the stops on a slick new format, ideal for those huge brews there's no need to guzzle down a whole tall boy of. As such we have both their Imperial Stout Praline, Cocoa Nibs & Sea Salt, and their Imperial Stout Coconut & Vanilla in slick 250ml form, the epitome of single-serve luxury! In addition, we've snagged their Birthday DIPA with Cloudwater which sees a combination of favourite hops Citra, Galaxy, and Talus coalesce for a tropical and dank passion fruit-packed party.
If that wasn't enough we've also got a healthy selection of more measurable and moreish brews across the shops. Built for four games-a-day drinking, their Top Of The Table Beer clocks in at just 2.5% but is loaded with aromatic pine, tangerine, and light floral notes bound for multiple replays. Harkening back to the early days of craft we also have their citrusy 2012 LDN Pale, an ode to The Kernel-esque balanced brilliance that got us into this thing in the first place.
Of course, there's plenty more where that came from with a rather healthy (and varying) selection of BBNo at your neighbourhood spot. Think Session and IPA collabs with leading hop suppliers Yakima Chief as well as the ice lolly inspired smoothie sour Solero Summer Fruits.
And, as usual, we've sweetened the deal even further with double loyalty points across our Brewery Of The Week in-store with 10% of 6 or more online. You can sign up at your local or feel free to shoot us a message at info@claptoncraft.co.uk if you're not already part of the club! A big cheers to the team, here's to another ten more...
F I N B A C K
& T R A C K
G R E E N G L O R Y
💚 💚 💚 💚 💚
It's pretty rare we're fortunate enough to snag something stateside (especially to get to all our eight shops), so we were especially thrilled to get a little taste of what NYC hop titans Finback are up to. Legends in the scene, we've got a tantalising trio available in limited quantities. Featuring DIPAs Helo and Oscillation 31 as well as IPA Belly make haste if you fancy grabbing some tier fresh US juice - even we've not had a chance to try them yet!
Collaborating more than once or twice, Track are an apt analogous brewery to those whale watchers. Heralding from another one of the finest cities in the world for beer, Manchester, we've been keen to ensure a far more regular supply throughout 2022.
As such we have the wonderful desert island SIPA Sonoma back in fine throttle, as well as the new pale Two Left Feet which sees dank, herbaceous Strata hops combine with the oft underrated Zappa for pithy pink grapefruit flavour. Meanwhile, Dreaming Of... HBC 586 is a mysterious unnamed single-hop NEIPA that is, as Track put it, pure liquid pineapple cubes. Finally, offering up some more drinkability Table Beer Tide with Allkin is a punchy little 3.0%-er hopped with Galaxy, Ella, and Idaho 7.
Between these two there's a lot to love for fans of green goodness, so dive in!
F R E S H & F E S T I V E
W E B S H O P
W O N D E R S
✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨
Not only have we got another top tier selection this week for you available via the magic of the web, including some real Untappd and internet-breaking sensations, we also have *dare we say it*... Christmas beers. Featuring everyone from Delirium, Omnipollo, Cloudwater, Pohjala, Lervig, and more, with a few local legends still to come. Secure those stocking or fridge fillers sharpish though, as we've not got huge quantities available as to not inflict those January blues.
🙏 NORTHERN MONK 🙏
Jesus Christ He Is Massive - Vibrant NEIPA w/ an Xmas party of Idaho 7, Azacca, Sabro & Columbus hops. Zippy citrus fruits & dank goodness aplenty!
🍹 VAULT CITY 🍹
Fruits Of The Forest Chocolate Honeycomb Vanilla - Pure pastry medley.
Tropical Sour IPA x Burley Oak - Juicy, hoppy pineapple & mango madness.
Coconut Cherry Cabana - Fresh fruit & creamy coconut deliver exotic excellence.
Rhubarb & Custard Session Sour - Nostalgic, luscious & tangy!
🍫 OMNIPOLLO X EMPEROR'S 🍫
Dengar's Church No Damson - Huge Pastry Stout boiled for 5 hours yielding an unbelievably thick body. Conditioned w/ Tahitian vanilla & coconut for max luxury.
🌧 CLOUDWATER 🌧
A Fire By The Bines - Mouth-coating DIPA made exclusively w/ zingy NZ hops.
MCI Salted Caramel - Deep cacao & light salinity make for an uber-complex Impy.
💦 PRESSURE DROP 💦
Office Politics - Pillowy soft, full-fruit basket NEIPA. Better working from home!
Barracuda - Bold, brilliant & breezy passionfruit & blood orange Sour.
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
👌 👌 👌 👌 👌
ILARIA - KENTISH TOWN
🐺 HOWLING HOPS 🐺
Tropical Deluxe - Legendary Session Pale delivering a dry-hop tropical tango!
Barleypop - Vibrant, crisp Light Lager, bound for Session slurping.
House IPA - Fluffy, fruity & ridiculously moreish NEIPA. A classic.
🗣 TASTING TODAY 5-7PM 🗣
LARA - FOREST HILL
💦 DROP PROJECT 💦
Lip Smack - Tantalisingly tart raspberry & blackberry Sour.
Ledge - Biscuity caramel malts combine w/ classic WCIPA bitter pine.
Crossing - Dank & delicious DDH Pale Ale w/ none other than ourselves!
EDDY - CLAPTON
🍸 BLACK LINES 🍸
Pear & White Tea Fizz - Liquid Gold. Light & bubbly w/ a tangy Asian twist.
Elderflower Collins - Clean, crisp & dangerously quaffable.
Paloma - Tequila, grapefruit & Maldon salt make up this sweet-sour, salty siren.
FIONN - FINSBURY PARK
🍇 TILLINGHAM 🍇
Rose 2021 - Fresh blend of Pinot Noir & Blanc. Think fig & dried citrus peel.
Endgrain 2021 - Bright English skin contact, stone fruit succulence!
Col 2021 - Fine bubbles w/ wonderful crisp cut grass & green kiwi.
TOM - BALHAM
😈 DEVIL'S BOTANY 😈
London Absinthe - Devilishly clean, composed of just 7 botanicals.
Absinthe Regalis - Curious twist on a classic feat. deep, warming spices.
Chocolate Absinthe Liqueur - Indulgent cacao meets a herbal punch.
CHIPPY - ST JOHN'S HILL
🍷 NIEPOORT 🍷
Dry White - Concentrated, golden Port, w/ wonderfully alluring nutty notes.
Tawny Dee - Delicate w/ a hint of dried fruits & long, fruity finish.
Ruby Dum - Dark red, w/ vibrant dark fruit aromas & blissful minerality.
SAM - WOOD STREET
🪐 GRAVITY WELL 🪐
Hidden Variables - Juicy Pale w/ vibrant mango & sherbety peach notes.
Termination Shock - Silky smooth Nelson Pale, gooseberry goodness!
Non-Standard Candle - NEIPA saturated in savoury, tropical hops.
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🏘 VILLAGES 🏘
Ahoy - Grapefruity West Coast Pale w/ a crushable, crispy-clean finish.
Party Zeit - Banging Oktoberfest Lager w/ classic floral & spicy noble aromas.
Sparky w/ ABYSS - Obscenely rich & comforting coconut & chocolate Stout.
We hope you have a great weekend & take care all of you! - Cheers, Team CC