Hackney Heroes, Siren Caribbean Chocolate Cake & Steady Rolling Strata!
H E L L O
C L A PT O N C R A F T
C R E W !
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What a week we have lined up for you lovely lot! Hot off the release of Grizzly alongside Two Flints, we feature another crew of our beery besties in Howling Hops.
Next, it's everyone's favourite dark beer day in the diary, which can only mean one thing, Siren's decadent Caribbean Chocolate Cake Stout series, which returns after a year away with four utterly mad, must-have entries.
Talking of huge launches, DEYA's Steady Rolling Man Strata has absolutely taken off in times gone by and we're very fortunate to have cans dropping here, there and everywhere today, with a keg pouring soon at each drink-in destination.
Next, legends Time & Tide have their turn in the spotlight, with a big top-up featuring our bestselling festive brew ever in Tinsel Town.
Turning the grand old age of nine, Track have lined up an insane special release for the season featuring three killer slices of hoppy heaven including a huge DDH IPA and two DIPAs, one of which being that rare shiny Gold Top variety.
Now, if that isn't an insane week for new releases then we don't know what is! As such, you'll have to forgive us as we temporarily pause Newsletter duties for a fortnight. Yes, everything's fine - we're just building up to you know what, fine we'll say it... C H R I S T M A S.
Don't forget to keep abreast of everything CC by heading over to Instagram, Twitter / X, Threads and whatever social platform springs up next, as we still have plenty in store for you including Beaujolais Nouveau (four different bottles in each shop) and an unannounced exclusive release of something really rather special. But, on the with the show!
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
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First plying their trade at cask haven The Southampton Arms before moving to the Cock Tavern, and now their own craft canal-side mecca, the Tank Bar, there’s not much Howling Hops haven't, or can't do. Renowned for their array of ludicrously drinkable juicebombs, a smattering of impeccably balanced Lagers, and zingy fruit Sours, not only are they one of the hottest brewing properties in London town but they're also a sure-fire bet across the style board.
As such, it was an absolute highlight of last year to work alongside them and local legends E5 Bakehouse on our indulgent Imperial Chocolate Rye Cookie Stout, King Cookie. What we'd do for more of that beauty... Nonetheless, having not honoured one of our nearest and dearest since the Summer, we're long overdue for a celebration of the Hackney heroes!
Where better to start then, than that holiday in a glass, Tropical Deluxe? This zingy Session Pale delivers a dry-hop tropical tango of Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe for a light, bright, pillowy soft wonder.
Exactly the kind of drink we want after a tough shift slinging beer Barleypop puts some polish on the well-worn everyday Lager, for a crisp effort with sufficient complexity to warrant the tag all-day drinking. Another staple, their Howling IPA, is a moreish, fruity treat - and a frothy forerunner of New England goodness in the capital, now refined to an even more sluggable 5.9%.
As to some newcomers, the zingy Sour Puss is a fresh throwback to those red and blue slushies of youth. Though there's no side-choosing here as this features a full medley of raspberry and blueberry, with a dusting of zesty lemon.
For those wanting to embrace Autumn, or what our US friends would call Fall, step in Earth Boots - a comforting American Red Ale. Lined with malt-driven notes of hearty caramel and light cacao this is lifted by just the right amount of those classic C hops in Chinook, Centennial and Cascade for bright orange and grapefruit aromas.
As to some more straight, juicy five-a-day action, DDH Pale Ale Swing Time is not to be missed with a twirling dance of citrus, pineapple and fresh pine. Meanwhile, Lone Star is a Single Hop Pale featuring the underrated Loral, for plenty of peppery lemon, and herbal-tinged dark fruit character.
Whatever you pick up from the mighty Howling Hops this week, don't forget you'll get 10% off 6 or more beers online with double loyalty points in-store. Has there been a better time to fill your fridge? We think not...
S I R E N
P A S T R Y S T O U T
S O R C E R Y
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That's right - Siren's esteemed and dangerously drinkable CCC makes its comeback, and boy are we ready for one of the biggest releases of the year...
Learning from their epic Charm, Curiosity and Candour series in 2022 they've come up with four sublime slices of Stout goodness. For the first time ever they've included a lower ABV version, a one-off fruity twist, as well as the return of two absolute favourites. Peep the tasting notes below, but be warned these will be here for a good time, not a long time.
Caribbean Chocolate Cake - The OG Tropical Stout, first brewed with Cigar City. Dosed with creamy nitrogen this showcases hand-roasted cacao nibs harmonised by Cypress wood.
Caribbean Chocolate Cupcake - The lightest in the series at 5.4%, but this absolutely oozes rich chocolate character layered with decadent vanilla frosting.
Salted Cherry Caribbean Chocolate Cake - A Black Forest Gateaux belter. Sea salt brings out intense dark chocolate notes & balances the rich cherry filling.
Death By Caribbean Chocolate Cake - The richest, thickest, most indulgent of the selection, with aromatic Amburana wood & silky vanilla. Epic.
S T E A D Y
R O L L I N G
S T R A T A
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One of the most distinctive hop varietals released in recent years, Strata, took the UK scene by storm with its heady tropical citrus aromas. Sourced via their friends at Indie Hops in Portland, DEYA hatched an idea to utilise this in their desert island Pale, SRM back in 2021.
Now in its third year, Steady Rolling Strata has taken on a life of its own. Making their own annual trip to the Northwest to hand select their hops for the year, Head Brewer Theo opted for Strata grown at Goschie in the Willamette Valley, who practise diverse techniques with a strong focus on sustainable farming.
Harvested in September by Gayle Goschie and her team, this is pretty much unheard of in terms of freshness, being transported from field to brewery in just six weeks.
This specific lot was selected for bright and clean qualities with massive tangerine and citrus aromas suited to the juicy style. But, there's only one way to find out if it lives up to the journey - we've got cans across the shops with a Keg for each tappy (Wood St, Balham, St John's Hill & Finsbury Park) going on soon. Be warned again though, these won't last long!
S O U T H
C O A S T
C R U S H E R S
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We just had to reload those fridges this week with more Time & Tide having had our supplies plundered once more. Of course, all-Citra session slurper Spratwaffler returns, oozing with overripe citrus and vibrant mango notes it's a feat of flavour-to-volume brewing at just 3.7%.
In tandem, there's crispy-clean Helles Lighthouse Lager as well as the older brother of the Sprat family, Jacked Sprat. Saturated in stone fruit and tangy citrus character this is always a winner. Offering up a little more bitter fun, West Coast IPA Calista is inspired by co-founder and Head Brewer Sam’s time on board the ship whilst studying for his Masters in Marine Biology. Sharing the first homebrews that would go on to be realised, this is the style that started it all.
And, yes we also have that festive favourite in Hazy IPA, Tinsel Town. Hopped with all-stars Nelson Sauvin, Citra, and Mosaic we won't need to sell you on this, we know how much you all love it!
T R A C K
B I R T H D A Y
B A N G E R S
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Last, but by absolutely no means least we have some suitably outrageous hoppy heaven to honour nine years of Track! Details are relatively scant on Wave (DIPA), Transition (DIPA) and Touch (IPA) with their release today, but if we know these legends at all this will all be special sauce, with the finest in cutting-edge hop technology used. Pardon us for saying it yet again this week, but there's really only a few to go around. So get stuck in, for science, while you can...
Have a great weekend & we hope to see you soon! - Team CC