Easter Hours, Siren Smashers, Mezcal Margs Comeback & Spring Vino!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
C R E W !
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Yes, the four day holiday is here (for some of you!). For us it's a welcome opportunity to see as many friendly faces as possible to kick off Spring proper. As such we'll be open all the usual hours throughout the mega weekend. Details below, but rest assured, there's plenty of time to secure those suds!
As to what we have lined up for you, after huge drops from Verdant, Burnt Mill, and of course our collab buddies ABYSS, we're somewhat taking a step break from highlighting beer this week, apart from of course Siren. We shouted out their 11th Anniversary beers last time, but these Berkshire babes deserve their own chance in the spotlight.
Leading on, we have the lowdown on the return of our mega Mezcal Margaritas with Whitebox, and a reminder (as if you need it) on why they're our favourite cocktail, basically ever.
Finally, we select seven Spring vino slammers from the likes of Henry Fuchs, Fongoli, La Mongestine and more, ideal for that epic Sunday Roast or just to welcome in the warmer times.
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
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Pioneers of the UK craft beer scene, and now a household name, we celebrated 11 years of Siren last week, but that wasn't quite enough for us, as we continue our love letter to some true legends!
Born into the brewing world way back in 2013 with an equally simple and ambitious goal in mind: to introduce, βexciting, full-ο¬avoured and forward-thinking beers to as many people as possibleβ, it's fair to say they achieved that, and quite comfortably too, in fact we just can't imagine a UK scene without them.
Championed by casual drinkers and craft beer nerds (like ourselves) alike, it's their unbelievable diversity of styles, alongside their sheer accessibility and complexity, that puts them in a class of their own. And, crucially it also means whenever a new or returning brew comes through the door, one or two almost certainly go missing before they reach the fridges.
You can familiarise yourself with their extraordinary Anniversary bevs below, which encapsulate their greatest hits while pushing the boundary for each respective style. Be sure to make haste though as we're on to the very last of these celebratory suds!
Times Eleven - Brewed 121 days before their big day this is their most ambitious Lager ever. Expect nuanced floral and tangerine aromas from authentic German hops alongside a perfectly balanced traditional bready malt character.
Oats On Oats On Oats... - Their most lauded DIPA ever makes its comeback. The softest, silkiest mouthfeel is the foundation for a joyously hoppy combo of Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Motueka, Mandarina Bavaria and Hallertau Blanc.
Black Mirror - A Birthday Stout dialled up to 11. An indulgent combination of Rio Caribe cacao and hand-toasted coconut for pure pastry perfection. Pouring rich and thick, with vanilla wafer-y, Belgian choc flavour this is something to behold.
Maiden 2022 - The first ever beer brewed at Siren, this is the 11th edition of their impossibly popular barley wine. Unique and ever-improving thanks to the additional complexity they're able to call on from the barrels as time goes by.
Of course, their success is also in no small part thanks to probably the UK's finest range of crushable 330mls, and at a banging price point too. Consequently, we've had a big restock on the likes of delectable breakfast Stout Broken Dream, Gluten Free guzzler Lumina and soft hazy pale Mesmerist.
Straddling East and West Coast styles, it'd be remiss of us not to mention the ever stellar Soundwave. Delivering wave after wave of tropical fruit flavour with a decidedly resinous finish, this maintains its position as a true hall of fame IPA. Meanwhile, crispy Lager Pastel Pils, and the juicy grapefruit Sour IPA Pompelmocello are as tasty as they are damn drinkable.
Finally, it would be remiss of us not to mention some extraordinary new specials from our Berkshire besties landing online now, and available in some of the shops soon. Think Leapling, a long overdue collab with hazy heroes Verdant, which sees them co-pitch their house yeasts in a mega triple dry hopped IPA.
Meanwhile, Suspended In New Zealand is a rare chance to try their draught favourite in can form. Here they trial a brand new experimental hop variety (NZH-104) in the vein of Nectaron for a sweet, piney, sessionable bev.
Talking of tropical, fruit-filled Pale Colourful World has been brewed especially for World Autism Acceptance Week, inspired by the 'Colour Walks' taking place all over the country. Each can sold donates to the National Autistic Society, and you can scan the QR code to find out more.
As usual, you can snag 10% off 6 or more on any of these entries Online, with x2 loyalty points in-store. We'd be hard pressed to find a brewery that's as safe (or as succulent) a bet!
M E Z C A L
M A R G
M A G I C
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Yes, the eagle-eyed amongst you might have spotted these towards the end of last week, but in the best agave-adjacent news in well, ever our Mezcal Margaritas are back!
Taking the world by storm with their Pocket Negroni and Freezer Martini, Whitebox have risen to the top of the RTD (ready to drink) game in record timing, even recently completing a Crowdfunder raising Β£826,995 from 576 investors to supercharge their growth.
Bringing bold, balanced flavour to the fore, while never short-changing you for booze, these eye-catching winners are pocket perfection, ideal for a trip to the park, the cinema or a festival.
Working with them since their inception, we've been incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to offer this twist on the iconic margarita with Mezcal maestros Pensador exclusively to you all!
Importing Mezcal from MiahuatlΓ‘n in Southern Oaxaca since 2018, founder Ben has set about promoting a better understanding of regionality in mezcal and the impact of terroir while protecting the traditions and artisanal craftsmanship of the region and supporting local communities. And, with designing distillates from the ground up for cocktails, like their dangerously drinkable Espadin Guishe, who better to get involved?
It's safe to say this dream team truly lived up to the hype, with the Mezcal Marg becoming our top-selling product by numbers sold! Using Pensador's meticulously crafted mezcal this is a cracking 100ml crusher, though there is complexity underneath with a touch of zingy green minerality, pine-like herbs, and floral nectar backed by gentle smoke.
With zesty, lifted lime juice added along with orange-infused liqueur Triple Sec delivering its unique combination of sweetness and acidity, this is an oasis of flavour. Punchy, with enough smoke to intrigue rather than alienate, we can't get enough of this stuff.
ANYWAY. These portable pieces of cocktail heaven are back available across the shops, and online NOW, so you can see (and taste) the magic for yourself.
E A S T E R
W I N E
WI N N E R S
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Whether you're going all out or just want an excuse for having a fancy roast, eating Lamb at Easter (mainly on Sunday) is a great excuse for us to get nerdy about vino food pairings.
If you've got Lamb cutlets or are serving medium-rare, we suggest aiming for fresher, cool climate, light-bodied reds to not overpower the meat. Think grapes like your Pinot Noir, Cinsault or Gamay, and we'd more than happily stretch to a Rosato or sparkling Red on that note too.
With Roast lamb served medium, lamb shank or something slow roasted, the meat will be a little richer so it can handle something a little more full-bodied. Here we opt for a nice Bordeaux, something from Faugeres or a Sangiovese, perhaps even going as far as Beaujolais to match those gamey qualities.
Whatever's on the table though here's seven spring selections for the season, with the promise of slightly sunnier times in mind...
L A M O N G E S T I N E
B O B R O U G E
Region
Provence, France
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Marselan, Merlot, Roussanne
Killer Feature
Arguably, our team's favourite wine of last year. Outrageously drinkable.
Tasting Notes
A crunchy berry fruit bomb! Lively and vibrant with generous aromas and flavours of raspberry, red cherry and spice. A delight served slightly chilled.
H E N R Y F U C H S
C R E M A N T
Region
Alsace, France
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc
Killer Feature
The ideal aperitif pre-Sunday Roast, that drinks like top notch Champagne.
Tasting Notes
Aged for two years on lees this boasts flourishes of rich lemon curd, with brioche aromas. Great intensity and mouth-filling fizz make this a show stopper.
F O N G O L I
R O S A T O
Region
Umbria, Italy
Grapes
Sagrantino
Killer Feature
A litre of sapid, mouth watering red-meets-rosΓ©, for pure liquid sunshine.
Tasting Notes
Using only free-run juice this fragrant number has plenty of generous strawberry and pomegranate, with touches of white pepper and amaro to finish.
M E T E O R E
R O U G E
Region
Faugeres, France
Grapes
Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault
Killer Feature
Old school meets new school. One for the entire family.
Tasting Notes
A beautifully supple mix of forest fruit with a savoury, meaty quality and hints of wild green herbs. Medium to full bodied this is powerful, yet poised.
C A M I L L O D O N A T I
L A M B R U S C O
Region
Emily-Romagna, Italy
Grapes
Lambrusco
Killer Feature
An edgy injection of party-ready, fizzy fun from a true cult favourite.
Tasting Notes
Generous and full, this sparkling red has a bounty of juicy flavours. Doris plum, cherry and raspberry take the lead with a pleasantly piquant finish.
B A S S A C
S A N S S C R I P T
Region
Languedoc, France
Grapes
Viognier
Killer Feature
If you have to drink a white wine with your Easter Sunday meal this is it.
Tasting Notes
Very fresh on the nose with green apple, pear and lemon zest aromas. Hints of peach and hazelnut develop with a pleasant creaminess to stand up to any rich flavours.
R E V E R T E
G A R N A C H A
Region
Navarra, Spain
Grapes
Garnacha
Killer Feature
If in doubt, Garnacha. As accessible as it is amazing.
Tasting Notes
Expect silky raspberry and liquorice aromas with darker fruit underneath bubbling up alongside alluring hints of lavender and black pepper spice.
Have a great Easter break & we'll catch you again soon! - Team CC