Cloudwater Launch, Siren's Time Hops & Cotes Du Rhone Crackers!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
Somehow, we find ourselves hurtling headlong into August already, but there's no chance beer is taking a Summer holiday anytime soon. In fact, we've got a bit of a bumper edition in-store for you! Having gone through a quite chaotic amount of cardboard over the last few days, we've saved the fort building for now and have instead stocked up those fridges to the absolute rafters.
First and foremost that means the debut of Cloudwater's new core range, which we're delighted to help launch as one of their selected indie outlets. Add to that a Siren throwback hop showcase, a fresh drop of Burnt Mill and Verdant, and the introduction of some future Cotes Du Rhone cult favourites from Roche-Audran, and there should be a little something for everyone. If that's not enough though, we've also got some rather magic manager picks from the likes of Howling Hops, Wild Card, Queer Brewing, Ovum, and more. But first, on with the show...
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
Having changed the craft beer landscape for the juicier good, most notably with their pioneering New England 'V' series of DIPAs, Cloudwater have truly pushed the boundaries for quality, consistency, and equality in brewing. So much so, that we'd be hard pressed to find a brewery that has had a similar effect on the scene over the last ten years.
Not that we'd tell our Untappd adoring pals, but we've secretly rated the hype rainmakers sessionable IPAs and Pales as some of their best beers in recent years. Finding a real groove with an impeccable return to Cask while honing numerous hits like And Relax..., How Wonderful?, Happy!, and more they've managed to offer more value and drinkability than ever before. And, with the launch of their new Core Range, we think they've found the pint-able pinnacle of hazy heaven.
Up top, we ask where would any good brewery be without a dependable Lager? Nowhere, probably. Thankfully Cloudwater's Helles is a testament to their skills in replicating the inimitable style. Invigorating, clean and crisp, this is made with the highest quality Bavarian ingredients, refined decoction brewing, and Lagered within an inch of perfection. For those after more pin-bright flavour, look no further than SoCal, a zippy, zesty West Coast Pale in the tradition of the great beers of yore.
Returning favourite Happy! might have a lick of new paint but this citrusy, soft and juicy Table Pale is every bit as good as you remember it. At just 3.5% this is a beautiful marriage of traditional drinkability, and fresh, hoppy, fruit-forward flavour.
Stepping things up just a touch, Fuzzy is a brand-new Pale that marks seven years of progress in hand-selecting hops and finding that hazy sweet spot. Based largely on their 2018-20 Signature Pale, this is peachy, pillowy soft, and saturated in lush tropical flavour at another suppable 4.2%. Lastly, Super Happy! pushes the orangey boat out with a turbocharged version of their OG hit, all carried by an oily slick body, and rounded off by a refreshingly dry finish.
As you can probably tell we're pretty pumped to help launch these indie exclusives from today. Having listened to customers, wholesalers, retailers, and more, this feels like the perfect foundation for their crazier efforts to shine, without out-pricing or scaring off any newcomers to the game. Fridge-fillers maybe, but only in the best possible sense, you can find them all with double loyalty points in-store and with 10% off 6 or more online. We hope you enjoy them being back proper, as much as we do!
A W H A L E
O F A
T I M E
Celebrating some of the world's best-known and most influential hops, we couldn't wait to get our hands on Siren's Time Hops series. Replicating, and in some cases advancing a quartet of absolute classics, this isn't merely a nostalgic exercise but a sign of where we'd love beer to continue exploring, with a nod to some breweries that changed the game.
Take a glance at the brewers notes below, we'd challenge you to not find something you love!
CASCADE - WC PALE
Cascade, in many ways, is where it all began. This beautifully nuanced Pale Ale uses whole leaf hops, following in the footsteps of one of the most iconic beers of our time. The maltiest of the four offerings, and perhaps the most entrancingly subtle of the group, Sierra Nevada have paved the way for this back-to-roots classic.CENTENNIAL - WCIPA
Centennial takes us to sunny California and the West Coast revolution of the late 90s headed up by Bear Republic. The boundaries of beer were pushed, bitterness was dialled up, and hops became the centre of attention. Balanced by a big crystal malt backbone, Centennial is punchy and direct, with pithy grapefruit character and a good lick of mouth-coating resinous bitterness.CITRA & MOSAIC - NEIPA
Celebrating a combo at the forefront of modern brewing, this is inspired by Vermont forerunners The Alchemist. Drawing from years of innovation and experience, while using challenging techniques to get a spectacular result this is made with an intense mash regime, with body and mouthfeel built purely with barley, procuring the cleanest possible hop expression.SIMCOE - WC DIPA
The story of Simcoe is intertwined with one of the finest beers ever made (Russian River's Pliny The Elder). This beer goes all the way back to the start of Double IPA, and an incredible way to express a seminal hop. It has a clean, distinct piney character, with beautiful tropical and citrus aromas.
D I S C O V E R I N G
D O M A I N E
R O C H E - A U D R A N
A family vineyard located on the north-facing slope of the Rasteau and Cairanne hillside, on the Provence Alps, we were bowled over by Roche-Audran's efforts immediately upon tasting them. Diehard advocates of Biodynamics nothing is added or taken away in their winemaking processes. Unfiltered, unfined and shunning mechanisation where possible each activity is synchronised to a lunar calendar which is specific to each vintage. Enabling them to determine which days are most favourable for each aspect of the vines from their flowers to their leaves, roots, and fruit itself, this has had a spectacular impact.
Without the use of harmful pesticides, or fertilisers, the domaine fully utilises the complex soils, which are largely composed of clay and limestone, with scattered pebbles atop. Elsewhere the natural vegetation of the area including the Aleppo pine, white oak and rosemary contribute to the aromatic complexity of the wines.
The result is fully natural, terroir-driven wines that can match the concentrated notes famous from the region, alongside offering a little more clean complexity. As such we're delighted to have a trio of different cuvees, with more on the way. The powerful, yet elegant Tradition Rouge leads the charge, offer up intriguing notes of crystallised cherry and raspberry, with hints of thyme alongside a supple finish.
We'll never turn down an alluring rosé, and their Tradition Rosé is no different. With subtle strawberry, citrus, and exotic fruit aromas this is an ideal, gluggable Grenache aperitif. Completing the set, their trademark Tradition White is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Clairette, and the ancient Bourboulenc. Here expect an expressive nose of melon with a full freshness and plenty of delicious, lemony length.
A combination of forward-thinking winemaking in a unique region, these truly hit the mark between classical and something a little more daring. Wine to take back to your parents, with a natural bent that won't go unnoticed. Enjoy!
F R E S H
B U R N T M I L L
& V E R D A N T
We'll keep it short and sweet but suffice to say these two heavyweights need no real introduction. With a quintet of Cornish classics from Verdant and the first-ever Mixed Fermentation beers from Burnt Mill, including a collab with Cascade plus a juicy delight with the one and only Jon Hopkins, there's a lot to love - so get reading (and drinking)!
🌊 VERDANT 🌊
People Money Space Time - Soft, ultra sluggable, super citric SIPA, a true fave.
Headband - Candied orange dominates in this heady West-meets-East classic.
Weird Walk - Crisp, freshly-squeezed NE Pale. Think fleshy grapefruit & zesty lime.
Courtship Spectacle w/ Whiplash - Bold IPA w/ tropics & dank resin aplenty.
Maybe One More PSI? - Sweaty Mosaic DIPA, a true stone fruit stunner!
🌾 BURNT MILL 🌾
Beyond The Firs - Dry, floral & grapefruit-packed uber drinkable GF Pale.
Luminous Beings w/ Jon Hopkins - Lush IPA w/ notes of juicy passion fruit. Each of the 3200 cans are completely unique with a different constellation!
Mill Meadow - Mixed ferm Saison aged 2 years in Sangiovese wine barrels. Gentle aromas of honey blossom & orange w/ plenty of barnyard funk.
Lost Field w/ Cascade - Complex Cherry Sour aged in Amarone barrels for 2 years. Precise & fruit-forward w/ concentrated, almond & tart red fruit fun.
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
SAM - WOOD STREET
🤝 SHARERS SPECIAL 🤝
Some Today - Pure, vivid expression of raspberry! Blend aged up to five years in foudre for light funk & juicy acidity.
Saison Provision 2022 - Farmhouse Ale w/ Saison yeast, Lactobacillus & Brett, aged in oak. Tart, crisp & refreshing.
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🛰 ORBIT 🛰
Nico - Polished, authentic & suitable crispy Koln style Lager.
Tzatziki Sour - Minty, yoghurty madness. A zingy sunny classic.
XX Nico - Doubled-up banger! Smooth, malty fun w/ a boozy undertone.
🗣 TASTING TODAY 5-7PM 🗣
EDDY - CLAPTON
🌈 QUEER 🌈
Tiny Dots - Zippy, light, herbal & sessionable Pilsner Lager.
Glitter Veil - Celebratory WCIPA w/ lashings of zesty pine & savoury apricot.
Something To Put In You - Hazy Pale loaded w/ tropical, green layers.
ARTHUR - BALHAM
🥂 BRAND BROS 🥂
Wilder Satz - Cloudy lemonade for grownups built from a dizzying blend of all the German brothers' white varieties.
Brand Red - Juicy combo of Cab Franc & Blauer Portugieser. Expect sour cherries, apple & crunchy cranberry.
LARA - FOREST HILL
🐺 HOWLING HOPS 🐺
Super Chuck - Mega fruited Sour they call "gloopberry sillyjam fun". Spot on!
Lone Star - Single hop, Pahto Pale showcasing dank, piney perfection.
Company Shakes - Sherbety Session IPA w/ licks of lychee & melon flavour.
CHIPPY - ST JOHN'S HILL
🃏 WILD CARD 🃏
Cancer - Silky DDH Pale w/ mango & a spicy green goodness.
Gemini - Fluffy, gentle Pale. A sinkable tangerine dream.
Leo - Fresh Italian Pils w/ plenty of bitter, noble hop flavour.
ILARIA - KENTISH TOWN
🇧🇪 BELGIUM SPECIAL 🇧🇪
Lindemans Kriek - A hallmark of the style, intense, tart, cherry-sweet Lambic.
Fruli - The champion, easy-drinking Wit blended w/ Strawberry juice.
Cherry Chouffe - Rounded Belgian Ale w/ almond & soft, spicy port depths.
FIONN - FINSBURY PARK
🍾 OVUM 🍾
Big Salt - Rich, heady & saline Alsatian style blend with orange blossom, lychee, turkish delight, and honey on the nose.
Big Salt Orange Rose - Skin contact mix of Pinot Gris & Big Salt. A cranberry sunset w/ creamy, autumnal spices.
Thanks as always for joining us on another mega rundown! - Take it easy, Team CC