Drop Project Perfection, Bonkers Shop Drops,ABYSS Rave Release Party @ Finsbury Park!
H E L L O
C L A PT O N C R A F T
C R E W !
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Do you want beer, beer, or more beer this week? Hopefully, you answered yes to one of those, because if you hadn't noticed we've been absolutely inundated with the finest in fresh suds.
Up top, we celebrate the Mitcham massive, and some of our nearest and dearest at that in Drop Project. Then, we hit the jackpot with a lean and mean supply from Northern Monk, Basqueland, DEYA, Pastore, and Baron.
Plus, there's a small re-up on Trillium online with limited stock hitting Wood St, Balham, St John's Hill, and Finsbury Park. Don't say we don't treat you.
Speaking of Fun-s-bury Park, we're delighted to have Lewes lovelies ABYSS in the house to celebrate the launch of their latest peach and mango Sour Rave. This LCBF (London Craft Beer Festival) fringe event kicks off on Thursday 10th August at 5pm. More on that below!
Of course, we've also got your mainstay Manager picks, think Boxcar, Burnt Mill, Wiper & True (Tasting Tonight in SW12!), and more under the spotlight at your neighbourhood joint.
Oh, and did we even mention our Hazy Pale in collaboration with DEYA, Look At Us Now lands next week? It's safe to say everything's coming up Clapton Craft. Anyhow, we move on to a revisit of our Brewery Of The Year for 2022...
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
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Exploding onto the scene in Autumn 2019 you'd be hard-pressed to find a brewery that has delivered more consistent, varied, engaging, and high-quality craft beer since then, than Drop Project.
Tucked away in a corner of deep dark South London (leafy Mitcham of all places to be precise), we've been proud champions of the hop gods and now internet darlings since day dot.
Nonetheless, it's obviously been through their own sheer skill and ridiculously strong work ethic they've gained prominence in the UK scene so rapidly. And, with an array of brewing talent, most noticeably in Gipsy Hill alumni, should we really be that surprised?
Perhaps not, but 2022 really felt like a landmark year, seeing them transition from rising stars to top-tier producers, with a full arsenal of core range cult favourites and superb specials now in toe.
For those trusty mainstays potential Steady Rolling Man usurper Shifty and juicy Session NEIPA Crush have increased their profile to no end. Dry, bitter, and unapologetically drinkable American Pale Flow, moreish Helles Lager Strike, and zippy "how is this only 3.5%" Table Beer Scoff similarly look to lock in that just-one-more quality that's so difficult to master.
In terms of newcomers, it's never a dull week with Drop Project. New World is an unctuously thick and luscious New Zealand Pale Ale, packed with what might be their new favourite Kiwi hop - Pacific Sunrise. Here, expect bags of classic antipodean character with jammy berry and kaffir lime leaf aromas followed by gentle touch of hay and pine needle.
We're all about Sours, whatever the weather, so Wedge was probably always going to be a winner. Collaborating with fellow tantalisingly tart experts Unbarred, this zingy gooseberry and lemon effort tastes like a puckering melted ice lolly. Delish.
As always, there's plenty more where that came from with a selection bursting to the seams across the shops. NEIPA Lush with Azvex, Ai-recipe generated IPA Skynet (yes you read that right!), and another NEIPA hit, in Glare are all likely to be found in the fridges, begging to be drunk.
Whatever you pick up from Drop Project, expect double loyalty points in-store on all of their range until next Friday or 10% off 6 or more online. There's even a Free Tasting in Finsbury Park TONIGHT from 5.30pm. So whether you're drinking at ours, or yours, get to know!
N O W T H A T ' S
W H A T I C A L L A
D E L I V E R Y W E E K
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Here we go! It's safe to say if anyone needs boxes for moving we have you absolutely sorted. We did consider building a cardboard fort or two as well, but then I guess there is work to be done...
Anyway, Northern Monk! We love these Leeds legends, and it turns out so do you too, great tastes drink alike and all that. As such, we have a nimble five new brews through the doors, plus plenty of budget-friendly Faith and Holy Faith.
Leading the charge is Pride: Women's World Cup, a peachy Hazy Pale ideal for slurping back while watching Sarina Wiegman's tactical masterclass. We also have a dank DDH IPA in the latest Thought Bubble, a saturated DIPA with US Legends Fidens, You'll Need A Car, plus a mysterious but most definitely delectable Grapefruit Radler through their Old Flax Sessions. Last but not least, we've even got a resinous West Coast Pale with heroes Elusive. 5 stars!
Speaking of fan favourites, you'd be hard-pressed to find two more sought-after breweries than Hertfordshire's Baron and neighbouring Cambridgeshire's Pastore right now.
From Jack and Co we've got a gruesome twosome of juicy joy. Fruit Machine is a zesty little Pale, full of spritzy citrus goodness, clocking in at a mega slurpable 3.6%. Swapping coasts, WCIPA General Dog's Body is clear, crisp, resinous and beautifully bitter. Piney perfection!
As to those Waterbeach Wizards, we're thrilled to have a trilogy of Summer Sours. Leave The Gun sees them team up with fellow Pastry aficionados Brew York for a creamy Sicilian lemon cannoli number. Alongside we have Gooseberry Moon, which takes the fruity fool dessert to new levels, while the Italian trifle-inspired Zuppa Inglese is layered with succulent raspberries, strawberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants and vanilla. You might need a spoon for these.
Moving further afield, it's been far too long since Basqueland graced our shelves, but with four heavy hitters landing this week you'll hopefully forgive us. Arriving as fresh as can be Pink Flamingo is a vibrant raspberry, hibiscus, and passion fruit Sour, resembling zingy Rosé itself.
Meanwhile, the clementine sorbet-like IPA Mont Blanc and silky, vinous Fresh N Zippy do the hoppy heavy lifting with Imperial Pastry Stout Carmelo Joe an indulgent harmony of marshmallow, roasty coffee and caramel flavour.
Ahead of our Hazy Pale with the croc crew landing NEXT WEEK (yes you heard us), we've got some foundational faves from DEYA, which means Magazine Cover, Steady Rolling Man, and seasonal IPA highlight Sunshine are back for your supping pleasure.
Now you might have drunk Augustiner or Tegernseer to death, but Einsiedler Brauhaus, based in East Germany, just below Chemnitz often fly a little under the radar. Accordingly, we're delighted to have their Helles returning, which is another cornerstone for restraint, subtly and maximum drinkability. Bready, and smooth with robust maltiness, and just a hint of floral hops, we challenge you crispy-heads not to enjoy this!
A B Y S S
A N T I C S A T
F I N S B U R Y P A R K
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Summer party season is officially here, and with the London Craft Beer Festival around the corner, we're delighted to be putting on an official Fringe Event with our pals at ABYSS.
At our Finsbury Park craft haven, we'll be debuting their latest edition of Rave, a mango and peach Sour, with more treats pouring on draught, and the fridges locked and loaded.
Kicking off at 5pm on Thursday 10th August, the night will be soundtracked by DJ Yusef Mangal playing the best in Turkish Psych. Trust us this one's going to be all sorts of fun!
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
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TOM - BALHAM
✅ WIPER & TRUE ✅
Simple Things - Iconic Citra & Simcoe pairing for a fruit-punch-filled IPA.
Milk Shake - Velvety Stout w/ bags of vanilla & a touch of dark cacao.
Summer Together w/ LHG - Vinous, citrusy, lip-smacking Hazy Pale.
🗣 TASTING TONIGHT 6PM! 🗣
GUY - ST JOHN'S HILL
🌾 BURNT MILL 🌾
Pintle - Classic, crushable West Coast Pale. Genius in balance.
Six Acre East - Dual Pale, this time w/ ripe, passion fruit & juicy topical notes.
Six Acre West - Zippy, clean, & pine-filled Pale. Just what BM does best!
ILARIA - KENTISH TOWN
🏎 BOXCAR 🏎
Dark Mild - Moreish, smooth & nostalgic dark beer. A cult fave!
Native Place - Flagship, sherbety Pale w/ green spikey citrus notes.
Luna - Super quenching XPA w/ a dash of bright citrus character.
JOEL - CLAPTON
🇧🇪 BELGIAN CLASSICS 🇧🇪
Rodenbach Grand Cru - Landmark Flemish Red Ale w/ a gently sour touch.
Duchesse De Bourgogne - Flemish Red w/ gorgeous oak & balsamic flavour.
Westmalle Dubbel - Rich & complex w/ equally herbal, fruity & bitter qualities.
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🥃 ELLC 🥃
ELLC x CC - Limited edition Single Cask Whisky. Taste it to believe it.
London Dry Gin - Versatile, smashable, citrus, juniper & spice-forward liquor!
Vodka - Made w/ 100% British Wheat, this is devilishly clean & creamy.
SAM - WOOD ST
🍺 BRAYBROOKE 🍺
After Work Pils - Crisp, moderately bitter, well-hopped Lager. Gluggable!
NZ Cold IPA w/ CC - Our lean, mean, tropical Summer smasher.
Black Lager - Comforting, precise dark Lager w/ a roasted malt edge.
ORLANDO - FINSBURY PARK
🪐 GRAVITY WELL 🪐
Silicon Lifeforms - Intensely hoppy, oily hazy Pale Ale featuring Idaho 7 & Bru-1.
Relativistic Beaming - NEIPA w/ Sabro & Citra hops for pina colada punchbowl.
Light Echo - Slick, New England Pale w/ creamy marmalade notes.
LARA - FOREST HILL
🚨 SIREN 🚨
Doing Science w/ Track - Luxurious IPA made w/ experimental Strata hops.
Send Me More Sunshine - Smoothie sour saturated in Alphonso mangoes.
Illuminati - DIPA spin on Lumina. Think candied & tangerine hop heaven.
See You Next Week For A Collab Like No Other! - Cheers, Team CC