Choice! Drop Project Collab Debut, Burnt Mill + Beak, Mega Masot
H E L L O
C L A PT O N C R A F T
C R E W !
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That's right we've got a true Bank Holiday treat for you this week in the latest entry of our 2023 collab-a-thon. This supreme small batch effort with cult favourites Drop Project takes the form of a South Pacific NEIPA, Choice, that's as lush as the mountainous plains of New Zealand itself!
Obviously, there's more on that launch to come, but we also couldn't help ourselves with a few A-List additions to the fray. That means Suffolk superstars Burnt Mill return with some crushable classics as well as a NEIPA with the mighty Finback. Meanwhile, Beak are back with a bang including a celebration of three years of their flagship IPA Parade which lands alongside its suitably spectacular TIPA spin-off Paraaade (we see what you did there).
Lastly, we're delighted to introduce you to some playful, party-ready wines from newcomers Masot, who we're importing ourselves all the way from a small commune in Treviso, Italy.
Truly there's something for everyone, with all the normal open hours to grab them in over the extended weekend, so read on!
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
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Returning in record time to the top spot, and with a collab no less, our Drop Project love-in continues for the second time in a month. Setting up shop in leafy Mitcham back in 2019, they exploded on the UK scene, thanks to their expert brewing pedigree, and incredible work ethic.
One of our beery besties since day one, they’ve risen from cult favourites to bonafide top-tier producers, and we’ve been lucky enough to be alongside them at every step of the way. Now rivalling far more established breweries, with a focus on hop-forward beers, though with a penchant for zingy fruit Sours and floral, hoppy Lagers, the sky's truly the limit for this team.
Having released a brew with these legends in consecutive years, we were overjoyed to pin down these superstars for the next act in our trilogy of juicy joy, a small batch NEIPA, and an ode to our Kiwi heritage.
Named Choice meaning 'sweet' or 'excellent' in NZ slang we were able to hand select some truly primo hop varietals from the area for another tantalisingly tropical brew, and the older brother to our equally excellent Hazy Pale with DEYA, Look At Us Now.
Utilising all their expertise and hazy witchcraft we layered a complex malt bill together including oats, wheat, and a few speciality additions. Then, we fermented the brew with their super secret strain of house yeast resulting in a slick, oily, luscious mouthfeel to balance out a saturated, gloriously green hop assault.
As to those all-important ingredients, we opted for an antipodean triple threat. Here, Nelson Sauvin adds a deep, green gooseberry tang, while Vic Secret is more prickly passion fruit. Finally, a herbal favourite of ours, Galaxy contributes earthy, piney peach to round things off for punchy perfection. Seriously, this is one juicy banger, so kia ora!
There's plenty more Drop Project goodness where that came from, as we have a smorgasbord across the shops. Steady Rolling Man usurper Shifty and juicy Session NEIPA Crush are go-tos in the haze corner. While, the dry, bitter, and unapologetically drinkable American Pale Flow, moreish 80-day Lagered Pils Glassy, and zippy "how is this only 3.5%" Table Beer Scoff similarly lock in that just-one-more quality that's so difficult to master.
After something fresh? Releasing this week in tandem with their friends from Sheffield, Heist Brew Co, Burst is a Sour IPA not to be missed. Packed with fleshy apricots and plums, and then hopped with some beautifully fresh Strata for a touch of complimentary, creamy strawberry notes, this is the perfect tart pairing coupled with our own fruity favourite.
Of course, you can snag double loyalty points in-store on all of their range or 10% off 6 or more online. And, in case you missed yesterday's party down the Depot - join us today in Balham from 5pm to celebrate the launch of Choice including some hefty Free Samples!
B E A K &
B U R N T M I L L
B E A U T I E S
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Another week, and more fresh Beak, but who's really complaining? Frothy herbal Czech Pils Dest is of course back in fine fettle, plus their trademark IPA Parade, which is brimming with mango bubblegum and tangerine vibes. Tripling their all-time favourite to gargantuan levels, Paraaade sees them celebrate three straight years of the good stuff, though there's only so much of this party starter (or finisher) to go around.
If you're up for even more of an excessive weekend, blueberry vanilla Sour Shrug is aptly described as pure 'liquid cake'. Continuing on that theme, Flamingo is a foggy IPA brewed with mammoth quantities of new season Simcoe and Citra hops along with lemon and lime zest for flavours of peach, apricot, key lime pie and pool-side daiquiris.
Then to balance things out, just a tad, we have Cape, a crisp, clean and bracingly bitter IPA brewed to traditional West Coast standards. We’re getting grapefruit, toffee, and sticky-icky pine sap. Delish!
Speaking of Westy wonders, is there anyone better in the business than Burnt Mill? Serving up a fresh set of Pintle, Beyond The Firs (Gluten Free), and Helles (GF) we'd be hard-pressed to disagree based on our initial rigorous quality control checks. On a similar tip returning favourite Bitter Falls (GF), delivers juicy citrus fun with that same lip-smacking resin goodness, rounded out by a refreshing bitterness.
Finally, swapping coasts in honour of Finback (who visited recently on a festival tour) Flight Of The Whales is a NEIPA designed to showcase a combination of their two distinctive styles. Think succulent stone fruit notes over a pillowy soft body, with some true Burnt Mill sluggability thrown into the mix. Not a bad twosome, eh?!
T R E V I S O
H I D D E N
G E M S
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Andrea and Daniele Da Ros set up Masot (meaning small landowner) back at the end of 2009 in the fairytale Treviso area of Sarmede, a collection of hamlets and stone houses lying on the slopes of the Cansiglio hills and the Pre-Alps. This area, with its meadows, woodland and vineyards, has been home to the family for generations, with the siblings following in the footsteps of their grandfather, Arturo who was the first to plant vines here.
Combining this traditional knowledge with a formal education from the prestigious Cerletti School of Oenology in nearby Conegliano, they've pushed the bar higher and higher with each new vintage. Now certified organic, with biodynamic viticulture, and minimum intervention for maximum vibrant taste, there's a lot to love about Masot!
As such, we're thrilled to have four cuvees in total, a still red and white, which represent enticing, accessible entry points, as well as a Frizzante (lightly sparkling) and Spumante ('fully' effervescent) which both use the amazing local Glera grape.
Read on to find out a little more about that picnic or Birthday party primed bottle...
Merlot Why Not - Deep & intense with ripe blackberry, plum & cedar aromas. Full-bodied & soft on the palate with generous fruit & touches of exotic spice on the finish.
Dry Under A Pinot Grigio - Chiselled & mineral with mouth-watering green pear, lemon zest, cut grass & pine aromas. Lean & steely on the palate with tense acidity.
Discesa Frizzante - Wonderfully fresh & mineral with saline aromas of preserved lemons, green apple, fresh cut herbs & a mouth-filling toasty fizz.
Strobe In The Night Spumante - Fine, persistent bubbles carry waves of lemon curd, chalky minerals & baking spices. Linear & direct, with invigorating acidity.
We hope to see you for a pint or a tinny of Choice this Bank Holiday Weekend!