Continental Classics, DEYA Delights & Clapton Helles Returns!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
We're delighted to be back in your inboxes this week for another round of top notch crispy content. Leading the charge this time around is the oft-underrated, Bristolian beauties themselves Lost & Grounded. Backed up by a fresh crop of Croc juice from DEYA, and the long overdue return of our pastel perfection courtesy of Braybrooke, Clapton Helles, its boozy business as usual, in the best possible sense.
If that wasn't enough we have a tightly selected who's who of Untappd-approved greats dropping online including Track, Floc., Northern Monk, Left Handed Giant, and the hotly tipped newcomers Nothing Bound. Meanwhile our mega Manager's highlight the likes of Queer (E5) Exale (NW5), Hammerton (SW12), and Drop Project (N4) - all of which will be appearing at free walk-in tastings in their respective regions tonight.
As to another green elephant in the room, we will indeed have some of Verdant's unprecedented Puttty landing with us. A TIPA spin-off of their most sought after bev, and arguably the most anticipated beer of the year, we're expecting this to fly. Dropping online pronto with a maximum of 2 cans per person to begin with, proceeded by an arrival in the shops next Friday following the same suit, brace yourselves for heavenly hoppy impact...
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
Established in July of 2016 on the banks of the River Avon just east of the bustling Bristol city centre, Lost & Grounded have never cut corners, striving to match the precision of German and Belgian brewing, with all of its complexity and idiosyncrasies. Setting themselves apart from the often too easily homogenous craft beer landscape, they've carved their own crispy path, with flagship Lager Keller Pils their shining light.
Sourcing their malt from Germany and Belgium, with production on a state-of-the-art brewhouse, complete with a traditional lactic acid propagation plant (a classic Bavarian method of adjusting acidity) their commitment to continental classics has continually produced beers with balance, nuance and depth of character. As such, we're thrilled to feature them for only the second time proper, with an array of suppable stalwarts, and frothy new favourites in tow.
Up top, it would be remiss of us not to mention KP. A deftly drinkable hoppy Pilsner featuring grassy herbal notes and a bracing, crisp, lemony finish - this is a fridge filler for sure, so never just grab the one. A little more easygoing, their Helles is a soft, bready, floral future classic. With the same 100% Pilsner malt blend as Keller this is a tad more approachable, though nonetheless authentic.
Showcasing the breadth of Lager styles, their brand-spanking new Czech-style Pils Altogether Elsewhere is also not to be missed. Utilising a traditional decoction mash in which a portion of the mash is boiled to break down the malt, this increases the subtle biscuity character of Pils malt, while Saaz hops lend spicy depths.
It's not all a Lager love-in though with L&G a favourite of ours for filling serious style gaps in our line-up. As such, pillowy soft, citrusy Witbier Hop Hand Fallacy, and the fruity, comfortingly malty Red Ale No Rest For Dancers are absolute godsends in these parts. That's not to say they can't mix things up though, with Wanna Go To The Sun being their go-to Pale with peachy, deliciously drinkable dank notes shining through. Completing the set, raspberry Berliner Weisse Boogie Fever! is the Spring sour special we didn't know we needed. Spritzy, and uber sessionable there's no sign of one-and-done Pastry gluttony here.
And, if you needed getting reacquainted or even an introduction to the masters at work, we're of course offering double loyalty points in-store, with 10% off 6 or more online on all L&G bevs until next Friday. Make sure you take advantage of these continental cult favourites!
A L A G E R
L E G E N D
R E T U R N S
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Yes, we've been just as desperate as you all to see our Helles hero back in bottle form, and thankfully it's finally here in strong supply. Our current sole year-round house beer, Clapton Helles is a true labour of love in collaboration with arguably the UK's finest Lager brewery in Leicestershire's Braybrooke.
Devised in the distant first lockdown to give us something to look forward to, this is a crispy-clean, five-week (!) lagered Helles, laughing in the face of the 10-15 day commercial efforts we reluctantly grew up with.
Here, 100% Bamberg Pilsner malt acts as the perfect backbone for floral, dank Hallertau Tradition and vibrant, citrusy Spalt Select hops for a Lager of truly mega, suppable proportions. Having dialled in the recipe for a 'lil more effervescence, an even crisper, drier finish - and an even more crushable abv of just 4.5%, this is an ongoing effort to hit Lager perfection, and we don't think we're that far off! Hit the link below or pop in store to try it for yourself...
E V E N M O R E
D E Y A
D E L I G H T S
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We've been inundated with Croc charmers of late, but then who's complaining? Certainly, not our team based on the number of DEYA drops keenly utilised for staffy's... Landing late last week we had a resupply on desert island drink Steady Rolling Man, while the zingy, crushable Westish Coast Pale Rue De Soda made its long-awaited comeback.
A headline bev in every sense Whatsapp Crushes The Quality sees them team up with the Manchester maestros of the hour, Cloudwater. Leaning heavily on Aussie hops, Eclipse and Vic Secret, this brings zesty fresh citrus and sweet black grape respectively in a mega fluffy NEIPA bound for a quick sell out.
Never content on merely slinging juicy joy, Porter Hokum Stomp is our final new addition. A chewy oatmeal affair with a plethora of biscuit, crystal and roasted grains think luscious milk chocolate flavour with a dark fruit, coffee hit. Deliciousness in pure simplicity! Yep they've only done it again, haven't they...
W E B S H O P
W O N D E R S
T H I S W E E K
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🌤 FLOC. 🌤
Shadow Dancing - Thick, pillowy soft & double dank IPA.
Whisper - Zesty, trademark Pale brewed w/ all-star Simcoe, Citra & Mosaic.
🙏 NORTHERN MONK 🙏
Romantic Couple w/ Chris Simpsons - Ludicrously juicy Tropical IPA!
🛤 TRACK 🛤
Now We're Here w/ Other Half - Internet breaking TIPA. Not to be missed.
All Is Known w/ Alchemik - Indulgent Imperial S'mores Stout, jheeze.
🌳 LHG 🌳
King Of The Woodland - Lauded Imperial Pistachio & Honeycomb Impy Stout.
✨ NOTHING BOUND ✨
Look Out To Orion - House-style Hazy IPA from the rising stars. 10/10.
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
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FIONN - FINSBURY PARK
💦 DROP PROJECT 💦
Glassy - Clean long-lagered Pilsner w/ subtle hints of fruit & spice.
Choppy - Beautifully smooth & sessionable Irish Dry Stout.
Scoff - Zippy, crushable grapefruit & apricot tasting Table Beer.
🗣 TASTING TONIGHT 5-7PM 🗣
ILARIA - KENTISH TOWN
😮💨 EXALE 😮💨
Half Wit w/ Simple Things - Fruity, floral & dry traditional Wheat Beer.
Oona - Punchy, yet pillowy soft NEIPA. Leave that cloyingness at the door.
Dinky - Vibrant Micro IPA bound for all day (& night) drinking at just 2.8%
🗣 TASTING TONIGHT 5-7PM 🗣
TOM - BALHAM
🔨 HAMMERTON 🔨
Timbres - West Coast Pale feat. notes of piney orange peel & lychee.
Baron H - Bold Black IPA where hoppy grapefruit zest meets malty forest fruit.
Zed - Gluggable AF Pale Ale w/ crisp citrus & light malt character.
🗣 TASTING TONIGHT 5-7PM 🗣
EDDY - CLAPTON
🌈 QUEER 🌈
Fight Like Hell - Glorious DIPA brewed for the Trans Day of Remembrance.
Let Your Body Learn - Rich stout w/ cacao, burnt toffee & dark fruit notes.
Become Your Own God w/ Mash Gang - Gorgeous citrussy AF Pale.
🗣 TASTING TONIGHT 5-7PM 🗣
CHIPPY - ST JOHN'S HILL
🔥 PRESSURE DROP 🔥
Crab Facts - Slick & sensational pineapple & mandarin-esque NEIPA.
Fashion - Never out of style, a full bodied, roasty London Porter.
Magic Valley - California IPA packed w/ biting stone fruit succulence.
LARA - FOREST HILL
🏎 BOXCAR 🏎
Head Trip - Sherbety IPA w/ notes of vivid tangerine & fuzzy peach.
Double Stormbird - Their trademark brew taken to dank fruit DIPA heights.
Born Slippy - German malt, UK hops, Lager, Lager, Lager! A hit of '22 returns.
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🥇 THE KERNEL 🥇
Table Beer - Impeccably balanced Session beer, a modern classic!
Pale Ale - Herbal, clean, dry & drinkable fave w/ all-day citrus fun.
India Pale Lager - Full bodied Lager w/ grassy mango & firm peach flavour.
SAM - WOOD ST
🇧🇪 LA CHOUFFE 🇧🇪
Blonde - A classic, citrussy, spicy Belgian Golden Ale w/ a quenching bite.
Cherry - Supple Fruit Ale w/ undertones of strawberry & sweet Port.
Houblon - Bitter, hoppy Belgian Ale w/ boozy, fruity depths.
We hope you spotted something you fancy! - Have a great weekend, Team CC