Alcohol Free Special, Mash Gang, Botivo, Pentire & So Much More!
H E L L O
C L A PT O N C R A F T
C R E W !
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A big belated Happy New Year to you all! Congratulations on surviving an equally indulgent, preposterously short, and yes, sometimes even family-tension-filled season. We'll be raising a Clapton Craft glass with one another for our annual Staff Party this Monday (January 15th) when unfortunately ALL SHOPS WILL BE CLOSED - don't say we didn't warn you - stock up!
Anyway, this week we're back with a bang with some exceptional AF offerings across the board. That's not to say we have some delectable full abv brews through the door in each shop for 2024 (we've even got that glorious green monster from Verdant, Putty dropping a week today, do not fear), we just want to shine the spotlight on Dry January-approved goodness.
In suds form that means Lervig, Wiper & True, Lucky Saint, and the likes of Cloudwater, Northern Monk, and Athletic dotted around the grounds. While, AF vino and spirits alternatives arrive this week and next in the form of Muri, L'Antidode, Pentire and Botivo. But, where better to start than some frontrunners of the No / Low landscape in the mighty Mash Gang...
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
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Knocking out everything from Cereal-inspired Pale Ales, to Doughnut Pastry Stouts and expertly crafted Lagers since the first Covid lockdown, Mash Gang's innovation really knows no bounds. And for us, particularly as a bottle shop, we're incredibly excited to witness these pioneers making Alcohol Free beers just as exciting and enticing (inside and out) as their boozy counterparts.
Being a 'phantom' brewery means they don't have their own physical site, instead opting to collaborate with industry leaders like Vault City, Northern Monk, Siren and more to produce their beers to the highest quality. In turn, this has allowed them to increased their complexity and variety, while simultaneously legitimising their output to our 'regular' crowd.
Of course, if you've been shopping with us for a while, you may have seen these pop up here and there. But, this nomadic brewery is as close to the real deal as you can get these days, with production exploding following expansions into Europe, and shortly the US alongside further widespread acclaim within the UK.
As such we're pleased to say we have our first proper shop-wide drop from the Gang, so if you haven't tried something before, now's the chance!
First up, heavily influenced by "80s dad beers" American Lager Stoop is one of their OGs which sees a mass-produced style injected with a bit of love and attention. Lightly hopped, with a subtle hint of Chilli and Szechuan Pepper this is aged on oak for a crushable, dry finish. Seriously magic stuff.
Brewed slightly more traditionally Crystal Ammunition is a floral, hoppy Pils that's pretty straight laced by their standards, being brewed under the Reinheitsgebot (a traditional German statute limiting beer production to just four ingredients: malt, hops, yeast and water).
Heading up the Pale Ale front Hawg is a throwback to their favourite noughties craft beers. A generous dose of six different classic New World hops brings pithy pink grapefruit, mango and guava notes with a fine, fiery, peppery finish. Easy drinking and quenching, yet bold, with a brilliant malt backbone.
We round things off with a duo of Hazy Pales in Cult and Chug. The former is a Southern Hemisphere-hopped tropical banger, and the latest to join their core range. While conversely, the latter is another of their established greats. Fluffy and juicy with a frighteningly full body, this is a real crowd pleaser.
Usual BOTW rules apply so you can snag 10% off 6 or more online, or seal double loyalty points in-store however many Mash Gang beers you pick up in-store. AF beers aren't just for January folks!
N O / L O W
B E E R
B O N A N Z A
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It's not just the Gang though we have in this week, with a varied, bumper selection across the shops, we'd like to think we've got the full spectrum of selection when it comes to No-Abv this year, and intend to keep this well past the first month of the year!
And, though there's absolutely no danger of us prescribing any lifestyle choices around here, especially when it comes to drinking, there's arguably never been a healthier-looking scene. No / Low stalwarts have further honed their offerings, there's exclusive AF newcomers aplenty, and the Craft big guns are all in on the action...
Frankly, we have too many recommendations for you all! We probably don't need to remind you just how good unfiltered Lager, Lucky Saint is for that first beer to slake your thirst (bonus points if it cuts down one by the end).
But, if you're after an indie alt, look no further than Wiper & True's Tomorrow. Using market-leading tech, they've carefully de-alcoholised a traditional German Helles over a period of 60 hours to preserve a complex flavour profile of bread crust and gentle herbal notes, for a future cult favourite! With another choice cut being Lervig's uber-refreshing, fruit-packed or hoppy No Worries.
The fun doesn't stop there though, as we have tonnes of different brews dotted around the ground. Think Athletic's belting Golden Ale Upside Dawn, or Northern Monk and Hammerton's juicy Pale Ales Holy Faith and Zed. Plus, there's also heavy hitters from Cloudwater, Queer Brewing and Track, who threw their hats into the AF ring recently!
W I N E & S P I R I T
A L C O H O L F R E E
A LT E R N A T I V E S
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If you're less on a beer tip right now and need some AF alternatives, we have a handful of top-notch cuts from the vino and spirit world. Our number one recommendation for an Alcohol Free alternative to wine is Muri. Formerly of Empirical Spirits with Noma heritage their dedication and prowess in fermentation and distillation are clearly evident in their red Nuala, sparkling white Passing Clouds, sparkling rosé Yamilé and even (coming soon) an orange in The Sound.
From Romain Des Grottes in Beaujolais we also have L'Antidote, a sweet and sparkling soft drink made from the juice of Gamay red wine grapes. This is combined with fifteen herbs grown in the vineyard along with apple, ginger and lemon, for is a multilayered, natty flavour bomb.
Meanwhile, Pentire's verdant Botanical AF spirits are perfect as a Gin-inspired replacement to experiment with to your heart's content. A relative newcomer, Botivo, an AF aperitif influenced by ancient herbal remedies has also been going down a treat already. A blend of raw honey, raw apple cider vinegar, citrus and herbal botanicals, this pairs perfectly with a splash of sparkling water or even as a bitter Lager shandy.
Don't forget to ask what's in store or hit the link below for more as we've been blessed with an absolute abundance of guilt-free treats!
Thanks for joining us in 2024 & we'll see you next week! - Team CC