King Cookie Collab Launch! Imperial Chocolate Rye Cookie Pastry Stout
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
Yes, you read that correctly! For our final collab of 2022, we decided to cook up something a little special with Hackney heroes Howling Hops, and the dough dons, themselves E5 Bakehouse. With London virtually freezing over we hatched a rather mad plan, utilising the baking and brewing expertise of two local legends, to warm us up and offer some comfort in those darker hours. Read on to hear all about King Cookie, our decadent and dangerously drinkable Imperial Chocolate Rye Cookie Stout, based on E5's bestselling treat, including a debut at our Wood St Depot from 4pm tomorrow.
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T O P A S T R Y
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We love a thick, and ludicrously, luscious Milk Stout like the rest of you however we decided right from the outset we wanted this to be available to all you Vegans out there. With this in mind, we attempted to build the Pastry Stout from the ground up - without the lactose. The liquid reincarnation of our favourite desserts, Pastry beers often feature the bold use of adjuncts like cacao, vanilla, or yes even cookies (all three present and correct) along with a high viscosity and accompanying residual sweetness to bring the confectionary vibes to craft beer.
With this in mind, we began with a complex malt bill featuring multiple types of oats, caramel malts, pale and roasted malt to form the basis for a big mouthfeel with plenty of unfermentable sugars, paired with Howling Hops' house juicy yeast strain ensuring this wouldn't dry out too much. In addition, we added a sprinkling of heritage rye malt, a nod to E5 Bakehouse's commitment to reduce their environmental impact and encourage people to try the rich, dense, flavour of malt - worlds apart from the over-processed wheat we've become accustomed to. In this case, the rye imparts a subtle, spicy zest lending a silky smooth body to the beer.
Fermented for an extended period, we then got to the all-important adjuncts. Tracking down an ecologically friendly cacao and vanilla supplier, E5 Bakehouse roasted the cacao nibs themselves, before creating their own unique extract to add deft, luxurious vanilla goodness. The result is a double digits (10%) hedonistic, indulgent brew, with sweet chocolate, bitter espresso, and caramel-biscuit fun, all made with adult ingredients, and without the cloyingness that often plagues these crazy beers. One smart cookie, if you will.
Designed to be drunk on multiple occasions, rather than just ticking it off the list, we're super proud of this effort and were absolutely honoured to work with these partners. Available now online at the link below and across our shops in North and East London (landing in SW12, SW11 & SE23 Thu/Fri) be sure to try some for yourselves.
And, to get a slice of this pastry perfection straight from the tap, we're delighted to have some of the Howling Hops team over at our Wood St Depot from 4pm TOMORROW pouring King Cookie with free tasters of all their other latest and greatest brews. See you there!
See you Friday, same time, same place! Take care - Team CC