Verdant Juicy Joy, Time & Tide + Track, Van Gogh x Domaine Due Meteore?!
H E L L O
C L A PT O N C R A F T
C R E W !
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Did you miss us? Hopefully not too much, but to make up for it we're back with a boozy bang this week as a way of apology! That means a headline slot for some of the juiciest in the business, with Verdant finally landing on these shores once more.
Next, we catch you up on last week's drops from Track and Time & Tide, featuring even more green glory from uber slurpable Pales to some downright dangerously dank DIPAs.
Then, we head to one of our most well-loved vineyards in Domaine Du Météore in somewhat of a left turn. Having starded working with them directly at the beginning of the year we're thrilled to be given the opportunity to offer two new pretty exclusive cuvees in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Finally, our ever-mega Manager's select choice cuts from some of our nearest and dearest. And, with free tastings from Howling Hops (E17), Diviner's Distillery (SW12), and ELB (NW5) all tonight, you needn't take our word for it, as you can try some out for yourselves!
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
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Easily one of the finest hop-forward producers in the UK, and dare we say the world, we never get tired of showering praise on the mighty Verdant. In fact, our collaboration two years ago still brings back fond memories, with Dream Within A Dream, well, a dream come true, lining them up as a shoe-in for our Brewery Of The Year 2021.
Thankfully, there's been no signs of them slowing down, building upon an already exceptional arsenal of juicy joy, with a cemented cask range, another core range addition in Sundialer, as well as their ever-excellent set of returning and brand-spanking new specials.
And, with their insane Sharks trilogy now all but disappeared undersea, we've doubled down on some more good old-fashioned hazy heaven in its place, and quite frankly, why wouldn't we?!
Kicking things off with the go-to's, Lightbulb is their original bright idea, and is back, in crisp, citrusy, crushable XPA fashion. In addition, Pale Ale Sundialer keeps things nice and pintable though with a little bit more of a saturated limey-grapefruit touch.
A true hall of famer, the all-Citra, I Played Trumpet is a tangy, mango-laden masterpiece that can do no wrong. Not content with just one Verdz IPA Sniffing The Wrong People makes its comeback nearly two years down the line. Expect a medley of grape and gooseberry notes, with intriguing, smoky-sweet Riwaka hops taking the lead here.
We then round things out in style with a duo of delectable DIPA's. Under The Same Sky is you heard us, a TDHND... Which means Triple Dry Hopped No Dextrose (sugar), so you'll get masses of creamy body, to support a lush and utterly OTT hop sensation. That's science baby!
Lastly, we've wrangled their collaboration the aptly titled, Cheeky DIPA, with titans of the US scene, in Californian's Green Cheek. This officially releases on Monday, but know that we've got the good stuff in reserve...
Rest assured though whatever you pick up from these fine folks, you'll be getting double loyalty points in-store, with 10% off 6 or more beers online. Long live these Cornish crackers!
T R E A T S F R O M
N O R T H
& S O U T H
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Flying out the fridge doors after each and every drop, we just can't get enough from Track at the moment! Thankfully, we've got another parcel of perfection with Sonoma front and centre. A masterclass of balance and sheer suppability, we've pretty much run out of hyperbole to describe this desert island drinking, citrus-packed SIPA.
Alongside we're thrilled to have zingy lemon Sour Lipari, as well as Never Learnt To Dance, a fresh Gluten Free Pale promising a silky body with bright, tropical aromas. Stepping things up a notch, there's the enticing Migrations, a Hazy IPA featuring Citra, Taiheke, and Cashmere hops.
As with Verdant we then finish off with two outrageous Double IPAs. For These Things think a full fruit salad of kiwi, pineapple and strawberry, while Turn On The Lights, their first Gold Top DIPA in over three months should need no introduction. An assault of hoppy goodness, matched with mouth-coating, oat-malt filled fun and a touch of velvety lactose, does it get much better?
Does anyone make as well-priced, drinkable, Pales and IPAs than Time & Tide right now? It's a debate we're more than willing to have over our third can of returning hero Spratwaffler.
However, if juicy single hop Citra SIPAs aren't your thing then frothy, floral Pilsner Wanderlust might do the trick instead... Failing that, zesty crowd favourites Manfred (IPA) and Rat Park (Session IPA) are back in fine fettle too. If that wasn't enough, The Immortal Jellyfish sees them team up with Manchester maestros, Cloudwater for a big-hitting New Zealand Hazy IPA featuring a maelstrom of soft lime, prickly passion fruit, and overripe mango flavour.
Sunshine-ready bevs galore from two heavy hitters, indeed!
N A T U R A L W I N E
M E E T S
C L A S S I C A R T
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Named after the two hundred metre-wide meteorite crater which lies at the heart of the domain, created some ten thousand years ago, Domaine Du Météore are based high up in the Languedoc mountains, spanning the schist soils of Faugères and Saint-Chinian. Sheltered by the Cevennes mountains to the North, a down-current of cool air brings freshness and acidity to their wines, along with the distinctive minerality found in this unique climate.
Surrounded by the garrigue (the open shrubby vegetation of the dry, Mediterranean region), a gentle scent of wild thyme, fennel and citrus drifts across the organic vineyards in an utterly picturesque setting.
It follows then that the Van Gogh Museum would select the vineyard to partner with on a project two years in the making, representing the link between nature and art, the South of France, and Vincent himself. Just as the artist found inspiration in the beauty of the world around him, Domaine du Meteore have drawn from the stunning landscape that surrounds their Languedoc vineyard to produce a duo of suitably artistic, vivid wines.
Decorated with a reproduction of Van Gogh's masterpiece Sunflowers, their Blanc is a delicate blend of Roussanne and Viognier grapes, lending a mineral nose of flint and chalk which opens up to reveal flavours of lemon, quince, pineapple and nutmeg on a long and elegant palate.
Meanwhile, the Rouge features Avenue of Poplars in Autumn. A deep and spicy blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre this features an intensely aromatic nose of ripe blackcurrants with a balsamic freshness and the wild mint, and lavender of the garrigue.
We're incredibly fortunate to be one of the few retailers able to distribute these wines in the UK, and we hope you relish them as much as we do!
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
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TOM - BALHAM
🍸 DIVINER'S DISTILLERY 🍸
Apparition - Classic Gin, w/ an Aussie twist! Native wattle seed binds with coriander, juniper, citrus & spice.
Outlier - Zesty, punchy Gin w/ fresh finger lime, plus strawberry gum & cassia lending sweetness & weight.
🗣 TASTING TONIGHT! 🗣
ILARIA - KENTISH TOWN
🍺 ELB 🍺
Twist - Slurpable Hazy Pale featuring notes of pine & prickly pink grapefruit.
Hopside Down - All NZ Pale, w/ a medley of tropical, vinous flavour.
Two Swans - Citric New England Pale Ale w/ a deft, herbal bitterness.
🗣 TASTING TODAY 5-7PM! 🗣
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🐺 HOWLING HOPS 🐺
Park View - Spritzy Summer Wit loaded w/ clementine & lemon panache.
Toko - Quenching, zingy Apple & Ginger Sour. Tantalisingly tingly!
I Said Good Day - Moreish SIPA sporting strawberry & orange character.
🗣 TASTING TODAY 5-7PM! 🗣
SAM - WOOD ST
😮💨 EXALE 😮💨
Skoosh - Full & juicy Pale w/ a melange of bright citrus notes.
Oona - Pillowy IPA that delivers drinkability & punchy flavour equally.
Zorc - Ever-dependable Dortmunder Lager. Aromatic w/ rich malty fun!
GUY - ST JOHN'S HILL
🏘 VILLAGES 🏘
Big Salad - Lean, fleshy-fruity NEIPA full of stone fruit succulence.
Lil' Oboe - Effortlessly drinkable Porter. Nostalgic, toasty, roasty, chocolatey fun.
Bim-Bom - Vibrant Sour w/ a full fruit bowl of freshly cut flavour.
LARA - FOREST HILL
💦 PRESSURE DROP 💦
Astrid & Sami - Radiant California IPA boasting fresh pine meets fruit flavour.
Am I Being Basic? - Maybe a little, but we always need another brazen NEIPA!
Catamaran - Soft, trademark Hazy Pale Ale, a true tangerine dream.
JOEL - CLAPTON
👣 TRACK 👣
Sonder - Zesty Witbier loaded w/ freshly peeled citric flavour.
Turn On The Lights - Monstrously dank, luscious Gold Top DIPA.
Migrations - Hazy IPA exploding w/ sweet lemon-lime & grapefruit rind.
ORLANDO - FINSBURY PARK
🕳 ABYSS 🕳
Wah Wah - Juicy, layered IPA w/ a subtle twist of earthy aromatics.
LILO - Hazy Pale doused in papaya, blossom & stone fruit goodness.
Rave - Tart, party-primed peach & mango Sour launched in N4!
Have a great weekend, with hopefully some top notch booze too! - Cheers, Team CC