Back On Track, Vibrant Forest Return, Exclusive English Rosé, Webshop Wonders!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
Yep, it's time to dust off any dry drinking rituals as we wave goodbye to January and say hello to whatever February brings to us! Apparently, that's the Six Nations, the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, Pancake Day, and yes perhaps even slightly warmer weather. As to the here and now we're playing the hits with fresh drops from Track and Vibrant Forest. For the former, we have everything from a QIPA (!), to an American Brown Ale, and GF Pale for a full trip across the style spectrum, while the latter delivers all your sessionable faves including that perfect pale, Pupa.
Hailing from sunny Somerset, we also have another exclusive vino for you in a stunning, single plot Rosé from our pals at Mayland Vineyard. Of course, there's all your Untappd-approved goods online for another week. Think the hotly tipped Rivington (featuring one of the highest-rated UK DIPAs ever), juicy joy from Lewes legends Beak, gastronomical greats from Vault City including an inspired Love Hearts Sour, plus a pair of decadent stouts from the OGs Siren.
In the shops, our lovely Managers highlight recent bangers from The Kernel, DEYA, Brick - and Brew By Numbers too, as they head to Finsbury Park for a free walk-in tasting tonight from 5pm with their exceptional new releases in hand.
A quick warning we'll be CLOSED across the shops for our Christmas-ish party this Monday (February 6th). A long overdue chance to celebrate the team's hard work over 2022, we can't wait to all be in the same room together, with just the slim chance of sinking a few fine bevs. There's also no Newsie next week, but rest assured there's enough below to get stuck into...
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
Having gone down a treat each and every time they've made an appearance across the shops or online (so much so that we frankly struggle to keep them in good supply), we just had to give Track centre stage for the first time in 2023 after another absolutely stellar year.
Born from a two-year cycling odyssey around the world in 2008, owner Sam traversed the East to the West Coast of the US, finding inspiration in the local breweries that were the lifeblood of communities large and small. Upon returning, he threw himself into the beer world, gaining experience in London before heading home and setting up shop underneath Manchester's Piccadilly Station.
Moving to a 10,000 square foot industrial unit in June 2020, around the corner from their old spot, and across the street from neighbours Cloudwater, they began kicking out new beers as Track 2.0 in around August of 2021. Honing their processes, while finally being able to (mostly) keep up with demand, they've also installed a plush, state-of-the-art taproom to showcase their talents. And, this week we have an absolute plethora of delights available allowing you to avoid those eye-watering Trainline prices and enjoy the UK's second city for beer from the comfort of your own home...
Where else to begin, then their core range classic, Sonoma? A bright, juicy, yet clean hazy Pale, it's a masterclass of balance and sheer suppability that we've pretty much run out of hyperbole to accurately describe. Adding to their flagship fun, we have Nelson Street, an all-NZ hopped Table Beer with zippy vinous-citrus character galore.
Alongside gluggable Gluten Free Pale From Above makes its return, with newbie Cowboy Town. A welcome malty palate break, this is their first American Brown Ale, which boasts a smooth caramel sweetness with a delicate hint of refreshing bitter hop goodness.
As to the more heavyweight hazy heaven on offer, we start proceedings with Range Of Light. Mosaic and Galaxy headline here, bringing blueberry and pithy pink grapefruit in equal dank measure. Meanwhile, DIPA Everything Is Illuminated is a single-serve Motueka offering, which we're thrilled to see make a comeback after a long time away. Ripe pineapple, boozy watermelon and herby lime zest are the order of the day here in an oh-so-creamy number.
Finally QIPA, or QUADRUPLE IPA(!) Above Our Heads makes its not so subtle entrance. Their third ever effort in the style packs just about as much flavour into a glass as possible, with huge mango smoothie, tangerine peel, and dank earthy flavours pervading through. Proceed with excitable caution, and share with good friends...
To help you get back on the inside Track, we're offering double loyalty points in-store, with 10% off 6 or more online until next Friday, as if you should need any more encouragement!
N E W F O R E S T
F A V O U R I T E S
A R E B A C K
👌 👌 👌 👌 👌
An unsung hero in the UK scene, we go way back with Vibrant Forest, having stocked them since the very early days of Clapton Craft. Exhibiting an ever-intriguing set of brews, we've got five fresh favourites available for you this time around, led by blink and you've drunk it banger Pupa, which is back in fine fettle. On a similar tip Session Pale Mantra is a little crisper with waves of mandarin juice and resinous orange culminating in a joyously bitter finish. Brand-spanking new IPA Elmo delivers further on the hoppy highlights, with a hefty dose of stone fruit succulence in a 6.0% IPA package.
Switching things up a bit we have the return of Oat & Coffee Stout Kick-Start. Made with freshly roasted Colombian coffee beans for rich espresso aromas underpinned by a comforting cacao backbone, this is breakfast wake-up juice indeed. Completing the set we welcome in a much-needed Sour addition with I Appear Missing. Here, the rare fruit sea buckthorn (think tart orange with a hint of pineapple) is blended with mango for a thick, super puckering, bonkers affair! A little something for everyone then, from a team that can do it all...
S P R I N G
F O R W A R D
I N T O R O S É
☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️
A friend of the CC family, we've been lucky enough to work with George and the gang at Mayland Vineyard for a number of years now. Producing tiny quantities in the Somerset countryside, and distributed to just a handful of outlets, they've now set their sights on releasing traditional method sparkling wine later this year. In anticipation, we secured their trademark still Mayland White (Sold Out) at the tail-end of Summer '22, followed now by their delightful Rosé.
Made from a single parcel of vines in their rolling fields, just 500 bottles were produced. Compromising 80% Pinot Meunier with 5% each of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Johanniter, they expertly use the process of semi-carbonic maceration. Here, the whole bunches of grapes are sealed in stainless steel, and the natural production of Alcohol (and Carbon Dioxide) results in the pressure increasing within the fruit clusters to the point of splitting, in turn releasing the juice at the bottom of the tank.
Fermented by native yeast and aged on lees for 11 months before bottling, the result is an eminently fresh, pure effort, with elegant, soft tannins. Pouring a deep, copper-inflected hue with an intense burst of citrus, cranberry, hedgerow and spice aromas, this is destined to accompany you while bathing in the gentle rays of February. Why should Rosé just be for Summer?
W E B S H O P
W O N D E R S
T H I S W E E K
💥 💥 💥 💥 💥
🐦 BEAK 🐦
Coins - Hazy, silky smooth Strata-packed Pale for big passion fruit power!
Purrr - Juggernaut NEIPA w/ melon & strawberry bubblegum notes.
🔥 RIVINGTON 🔥
Blood Machines - Dangerously drinkable, lauded DIPA. This will fly out!
Never Known Fog Like It - Murky, juicy, Steady-esque Hoppy Pale.
Fall Out The Sky w/ Wild Horse - Crushable, totally tropical Table Beer.
🍹 VAULT CITY 🍹
Love Hearts - Session Sour w/ a lemon-lime sherbet zing.
Cranberry Double Currant Vanilla - Tart pastry titan in collaboration w/ Arpus!
🚨 SIREN 🚨
Barrel Aged Shattered Dream - Mammoth 30 month aged Imperial Stout.
High Stakes - Chilli-choc-bourbon-honey-salted-caramel-imperial-milk dream.
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
💯 💯 💯 💯 💯
FIONN - FINSBURY PARK
🔢 BBNO 🔢
Imperial Baltic Porter w/ Bimber - Complex & decadent BA dark beer!
German Pilsner - Crispy-clean & highly drinkable w/ fresh noble hop aromas.
IPA Citra & Mosaic - US dream team w/ razor-sharp dry, dank, tropical notes.
🗣 TASTING TONIGHT 5-7PM 🗣
ILARIA - KENTISH TOWN
🐊 DEYA 🐊
That's That Then - Sweet, ripe Hazy Pale made w/ Pacific Sunrise hops.
Hoppy Pils Nelson - Bright Pilsner w/ zingy gooseberry goodness.
Steady Rolling Man - Consistently one of the best UK Pales out there!
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🌋 CALCARIUS 🌋
Rosso - Wild Negroamaro, dense & spicy w/ slurpably low tannins.
Orange - Fresh, grippy vino w/ floral honey & masses of juicy peach.
Bianco - Irresistibly fruity w/ balanced citric acidity & a long finish.
SAM - WOOD ST
⛰ GIPSY HILL ⛰
Baller - Easy-drinking Hazy Pale brimming w/ a full fruit bowl of flavour.
Bandit - Zesty GF Pale w/ a soft, piney bitterness.
Hepcat - Foundational SIPA packed w/ vividly hoppy stone fruit fun.
EDDY - CLAPTON
🌈 QUEER 🌈
Become Your Own God w/ Mash Gang - Gorgeous citrussy AF Pale.
Let Your Body Learn - Rich stout w/ cacao, burnt toffee & dark fruit notes.
Tiny Dots - Bracing, light, floral & sessionable Pilsner Lager.
LARA - FOREST HILL
🇩🇪 AYINGER 🇩🇪
Kellerbier - Hazy, firm golden Lager w/ buttery, crackery malt flavour.
Dunkel - Comforting Lager balancing cacao, bread crust & caramel.
Celebrator - Famous doppelbock w/ cascading malt layers.
CHIPPY - ST JOHN'S HILL
🧱 BRICK 🧱
Peckham Rye - Rare sessionable Red Ale, a spicy & caramel-tinged treat!
Peckham Session - A core range cracker, peachy & mouth-coating.
Peckham Pils - Bracing, crispy cornerstone for Lager in London.
TOM - BALHAM
🥇 THE KERNEL 🥇
IPA (Citra) - Tropical w/ a malty, robust & welcomingly bitter backbone.
IPL Galaxy - Full bodied Lager w/ grassy mango & firm peach flavour.
Foeder Beer - Oak-aged, super fresh & slightly funky Belgian Pale.
Thanks for joining us on another boozy briefing, have a great weekend! - Team CC