A Dream Verdant Collab, Vibrant Forest & DEYA Juice, Natty Austrian Aces!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
Well, it turns out brewing dreams really do come true. That's right - we're delighted to announce the release of A Dream Within A Dream, our Verdant collaboration! Launching across the shops with accompanying Tap Takeovers in Balham and Finsbury Park tonight plus a party and Meet The Brewer in Wood Street, we're thrilled to see our hazy wonder enter the world. Of course, we've also got bonus treats on offer including fresh suds from Southampton stars Vibrant Forest and more from those crafty crocs, DEYA. Balancing the booze out, we have some brand new Natural Wine from Martin Obenaus and a variety of in-store tastings including a visit from Victory in Forest Hill and Howling Hops in Kentish Town. That's not forgetting some monster manager selections, but first onto perhaps our biggest collab to date...
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
Well, there was only going to be one brewery this time around taking the top stop! Completing a near six-hour pilgrimage to Juice Disneyland™️ aka Verdant just a few weeks ago, we couldn't wait to land in Cornwall and were more than rewarded for our efforts. On arriving we were blessed to explore the burgeoning beer scene in Falmouth including spots like The Front, Beerwolf Books, Green Elephant, and more before we headed bright and (relatively) early to their HQ for a mega tour, and to get set to work...
Teaming up with the best in the haze business, we were only really going to make a New England IPA, arguably the defining style of the last five years. As such, together we concocted a complex malt bill made with a deft combination of Extra Pale, Golden Promise, Oats, and more fermented with their unique, almost savoury yeast. Offering up a pillowy soft, thick body, with a clean finish this swerves claggyness in favour of welcomingly mouthcoating mastery. Selecting an all-star combo of Citra, Simcoe and a dusting of hype hop Strata A Dream Within A Dream screams saturated tropical goodness, with an underlying piney-peachy complexity alongside dank top notes, making for pure hoppy heaven. And, to catch a glimpse of how it all went down, you can spot some behind the scenes action over on our Instagram highlights.
To celebrate this momentous occasion we're overjoyed to be having Tap Takeovers at all of our drink in destinations with three or more bangers pouring from Friday at Balham and Finsbury Park. Over in Wood Street, we're thrilled to be hosting founder Adam and chief of fun Billy from Verdant for six lines of straight Falmouth firepower, including Quiet Charge, Seedfall: German Pilsner (usually exclusive to Cornwall), I Played Trumpet, Export Stout, Fashion Is Danger, and rather obviously, A Dream Within A Dream. We're running from 6pm-late but we definitely recommend arriving early if you want to secure a seat...
Of course, it's not all wall-to-wall collab! We've got a quartet of Verdant brews in fine cylindrical support arriving across the shops including succulent Session Pale, Quiet Charge. Meanwhile, West Coast classic Out From Out Where is their first Gluten Free great, with clean, crisp, and bitter grapefruit in abundance. With lashings of roasted character and cacao and coffee undertones, their Export Stout certainly plays by the no-pastry rules. Crazy smooth with a molasses richness, this is a true winter warmer. Finally, Fashion Is Danger marks their first collaboration with cult heroes Polly's Brew Co. A DIPA to end all DIPA, this combines some of their favourite hops for prominent flavours of pineapple, citrus fruits, and a heavy dose of deep white grape.
As usual, we've got a cracking 10% off six or more Online from the hop gods, with double loyalty points in-store around the grounds. Make sure you pick up a can or two of our collab, we bet you won't be disappointed, and be sure to swing by any of our launch parties!
T W O A B S O L U T E
F A V O U R I T E S
A R E B A C K
It's fair to say we were definitely in need of a major restock from Vibrant Forest and DEYA, having gone down an absolute storm last time around - so we've righted that wrong with four banging brews apiece. You can catch the list below for the full drop, but take our word for it these are some absolute essentials!
Misty Woods - Our Mountain IPA returns, a juicy, pithy, stone fruit slammer!
Pupa - Light citrus & ripe tropical fruits combine in this smooth, suppable Pale.
Illusory Walls - Crushable IPA fermented like a Lager w/ West Coast hop character.
Black Forest - Rich, roasty Porter balancing drinkability w/ dark decadence.
Texture Like Sun - Zippy Golden Ale! Restrained, fruity & utterly moreish.
Other Side - Juicy, clean & expressive IPA w/ a complex hoppy quality.
Stop Making Sense - Fruity belter, think freshly cut pineapple & prickly passionfruit!
Gently Down - Fluffy Ekuanot & Simcoe DIPA. Dangerously drinkable.
A U S T R I A N A C E S
F R O M
O B E N A U S
Working in Weinviertel (the northernmost Austrian winegrowing region), we're ecstatic to introduce a new producer, Martin Obenaus into the fold! A young and infinitely passionate biodynamic maker, with a central credo to 'unchain' the vineyards, he has been tirelessly at work to reduce intervention and return the area to a fully functioning ecosystem. Harvesting grapes at their absolute ripest, he focuses on a gentle press and maceration for almost all his wines in order to extract greater aroma from the skins which gives these low alcohol, juicy wines, great structure, and deep flavour. This week we have a trio from his approachable Mo series on offer, where it's clear this method has yielded fantastic results. With pure and elegant fruit character at the forefront alongside palpable acidity, these are deceptively simple, super sluggable wines!
Made from organic Gruner Veltliner with a touch of Muller Thurgau his Weiss, or white, is a ripe and tropical expression of Austria's star grape with creamy lychee and pineapple aromas balanced with stony minerality. Alongside, his Rosé is made only from the free-run juice (that which flows naturally from the grape's own weight after harvest). The result is a Zweigelt star fresh with wild strawberries and a firm lick of acidity. Lastly, his Red from the same grape, is a crunchy biodynamic beaut, think bright cherry and raspberry with a green pepper freshness. Unfined, unfiltered, and low in sulphur, Obenaus' efforts are all absolutely delectable, and a beer lover's dream destined to transport you to a sunnier time.
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
HANNAH - FINSBURY PARK
🌧 CLOUDWATER 🌧
🤝 TOGETHER AGAIN SERIES 🤝
A celebration of (& exclusive to) independent venues, we're delighted to have the complete set running from a Table Beer, Raspberry Stout, Smoked Baltic Porter, TIPA & more with seven supreme breweries. Act fast to grab them all!Oka - Soft Ginjo w/ precise & clean floral cherry flavour.
Tobiroku - Dry, crisp sparkling Sake perfect for Belgian beer aficionados.
DAVE - BALHAM
☕️ ELB ☕️
Coffee Imperial Stout - Indulgent Stout w/ fresh coffee from Wood St Roasters!
Foundation - Robust Best Bitter w/ marmalade flavour & a crisp finish.
Pale Ale - Their flagship Pale, light & hoppy w/ a pleasant, floral bitterness.
LARA - FOREST HILL
🏆 VICTORY 🏆
Gin - Clean, cold distilled gin. Juniper-forward & floral, yet extremely versatile.
Vodka - Made w/ raw, green coffee beans for a light, savoury touch.
Pink Gin - Feat. natural Verjus, expect notes of spring cherry & cranberry.
FRANKLIN - KENTISH TOWN
🐺HOWLING HOPS 🐺
Jairo & The Juice - Funky, fresh Coffee Sour w/ Dark Arts. Weird & wonderful!
Swing Time - Clean DDH Pale w/ notes of citrus, pineapple & pine.
Tropical Deluxe - Tropical hop tango meets a pillowy soft body in this Pale.
ELLA - WOOD ST
❄️ PILLARS ❄️
Pils - Gluggable & Gluten Free, an eternal, crispy crowdpleaser.
Dark Lager - Smooth, nutty Schwarz w/ a precise, caramel finish.
Hop Lager - Quenching, zingy Lager w/ a bracing bitterness.
OPHIE - CLAPTON
💥 PARTIZAN 💥
New England Saison - Soft, delicate, dry & juicy, a welcome contradiction.
White IPA - Fragrant, zesty Wit Bier made w/ pals Abyss.
IPA - Fresh, vibrant banger from the Bermondsey mainstays!
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
💦 DROP PROJECT 💦
Crush - Ultra sinkable & silky New England Session Pale. Built for the sesh!
Shifty - Their Steady-esque smasher. A future NE Pale classic.
J-Tear - Zesty, biting apricot, peach & mango Sour.
U P C O M I N G
T A S T I N G S
& E V E N T S
🎉 WOOD STREET 🎉
VERDANT 6-LATE TODAY
Launch, Tap Takeover & Meet The Brewer With The UK's Finest!
PASTORE 19TH NOV
🍺 BALHAM 🍺
VERDANT TTO TODAY!
MACKMYRA 18TH NOV
🥇 FOREST HILL 🥇
VICTORY 6-8PM TODAY!
WORLD SAKE 19TH NOV
🌱 FINSBURY PARK 🌱
VERDANT TTO TODAY!
FELIX NASH 26TH NOV
🐺 KENTISH TOWN 🐺
HOWLING HOPS 5-8PM TODAY!
HAMMERTON 26TH NOV
🗣 CLAPTON 🗣
EXALE FROM 3PM 13TH NOV
MACKMYRA 25TH NOV
👌 WALTHAMSTOW 👌
ELB 3RD DEC
FREE TASTING!
Thanks for joining us on another rather epic rundown, enjoy your weekend!