Fresh Vibrant Forest, ELLC x Kernel x Clapton Craft Whisky & Oktoberfest Online!
H E L L O
C L A PT O N C R A F T
C R E W !
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We're back again in full swing this week, as if we do it any other way! Opening proceedings our pals, and customer favourites, Vibrant Forest make their long-overdue comeback, with some smashable brews in tow.
Darting from suds to spirits, we then have something really rather special for you, with a collaboration between East London Liquor Company, The Kernel Brewery, and ourselves. Following our supreme Pillars bottle, we have our own Single Malt Whisky cooked up by some absolute legends, and exclusive to us with only 280 bottles made.
Of course, we'll be having a big knees-up in it's honour, with the Launch Party taking place a week today, on Friday 22nd September at the Wood St Depot. Expect custom cocktails, whisky by the dram, DJs, Yard Sale Pizza and more.
Meanwhile, over online, we highlight some festive fun, with the world's largest beer festival, Oktoberfest, kicking off tomorrow in Munich. Of the official beers, we've got Augustiner, Paulaner, Spaten, and Flotzinger involved with plenty of UK crispies to keep you happy.
As to our weekly wonders around the grounds, we have Pastore, Howling Hops and more, plus tastings in-store tonight with Queer Brewing (NW5), Siren (E17), Wiper & True (SW11). Now, let's get moving!
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
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With it being nearly three months since last showcasing the New Forest dons, we'd like to reassure you we've not forgotten about our buds at Vibrant Forest. Having worked with them since the early days of CC, and journeying to their idyllic homeland for the perennial perfection of collab Misty Woods since 2019, it's been a joy to see them continually grow.
Packing passion and sheer flavour into every last drop of their beer, they've become renowned for their hop-forward brews, alongside a smattering of fresh, fruity sours, and zippy Lagers. So, what's not to love?
And, it just wouldn't be a haul from Vibrant without their perfect Pale, Pupa. Straddling East and West Coast styles, think Steady meets Pintle; here glowing citrus and ripe tropical flavour coalesce with a full, oat-laden finish and a touch of refreshing stone fruit sharpness.
In a similar vein, Session IPA Summerlands is a 3.5% hop juggernaut marrying luscious grapefruit with prickly pine, and an accompanying rounded bitterness for maximum gluggability. Meanwhile, West Coast pine bomb Kaleidoscope delivers big on pithy mandarin, with a resinous twang to warm your tongue long into the evening.
Moving onto some Pils precision, and a bit of welcome balance, we have Faithful Steed a lean, crisp and refreshing Lager, with a delicate floral-citric bite. Finally, Free Floating is a much-needed quenching Sour made with fuzzy peach and passionfruit. Think big fleshy tropical vibes, with a deftly tart lick.
Thankfully, we also have a few more belting Vibrant Forest specials dotted around the shops, like zingy dry-hopped Helles Doubtful Sound, tangy strawberry and lemon Sour Hey Saturday Sun, and the dank, tangerine dream of a DIPA, White Tail, Blue Pine.
What's more, you can grab double loyalty points in-store, or 10% off six or more online across their range to toast these stalwarts of the scene. Cheers!
T H E W H I S K Y
T O E N D
A L L W H I S K I E S
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Yes, you're seeing that right! We've teamed up with London's top distillery in East London Liquor Company (aka ELLC) for another of our own Whisky labours of love.
Moving on from the decadent, malt-driven ex-Icebock cask from our E17 neighbourhood pals and Lager legends, Pillars we were honoured to work alongside The Kernel and use one of their ex-Biere De Saison barrels for a vibrant, fresh take on a Single Malt!
Mashed with 100% Maris Otter malted barley from Norfolk, this was then fermented with select Belgian Saison and Scotch grain yeasts. Following a 4 year (!) stay in a single cognac barrel, this was then finished in the Bermondsey-born pioneers' freshly emptied farmhouse Saison barrel.
Masters of funk, balance and floral complexity, it's immediately apparent that The Kernel's mastery has followed through into this bottle. Immediately upon pouring this light, golden nectar you'll pick up aromas of caramelised apricot, subtle wild yeast, dried grass, and herby clove.
If that was all sounding a little too experimental, there's welcome indulgent malty goodness following through on the palate to keep the vibrant fruitier fun in check. Think nougat, toasted almonds, and cacao - basically a boozy liquid Mars Bar.
Priced at £68 with a limited run of 280 bottles spread nearly entirely across all of our eight shops and online, we don't expect this to hang around too long. We've certainly got a Christmas present of our own sorted early!
But, if you don't somehow fancy pulling the trigger now at the link below you'll be pleased to know we have a sample bottle at each location, so if we're feeling nice - we might even give you a taste of the real deal...
To honour our continuing East London alliance, we'll be raising a glass with ELLC next Friday, from 5pm over in Wood St. We'll be serving an Old Fashioned, Whisky Highball, and more featuring our new number, alongside Whisky by the dram, and plenty of free tasters to get you in the party spirit.
Add to that outrageous 'za from Yard Sale, and some top-notch tunes with live DJs, and who knows, the Costa Del Depot might be the hottest ticket in town...
D O N Y O U R
V I R T U A L
L E D E R H O S E N
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That's right we've just received a bevy of Germanic greats fit for the season, over on our illustrious Webshop. Originating way back in 1810 as a celebration of the royal marriage, citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates.
An important part of Bavarian culture, the last day of the festival is always held on the first Sunday of October, with its growth in popularity meaning the organisers have worked backwards to capitalise on September’s warmer weather.
As to the beers themselves, Lager is the name of the game, coming under two main sub-categories. The more historic, dark, malt-forward Märzen and the lighter, hoppier, more modern Festbier. We've got coverage of both across four of the official beers with Paulaner, Augustiner, Spaten, and even a Wheat Beer from Flotzinger, with a few more to come.
Adding to the handsome array from the UK including Newbarns, DEYA, with Signature, Pillars et al arriving next week, and who really needs to book some cramped, inevitability delayed Ryanair flights?
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
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MELINDA - WALTHAMSTOW
🚨 SIREN 🚨
Calypso - Sharp, spritzy & citrus Sour sensation, finally returning.
Maiden - Complex, celebrated annual Barley Wine. A true classic!
Pastel Pils - Clean, harmonious Lager dialled in for maximum drinkability.
🗣 TASTING TODAY 5-7PM 🗣
GUY - ST JOHN'S HILL
🍻 WIPER & TRUE 🍻
Lemondrop Hill - Light, bright, citrus-flecked Gluten Free Pale Ale.
Meadow Land - Juicy IPA brewed w/ a rare Slovenian yeast for lush tropics.
Today - Crisp, herbal & dry Munich-style Helles Lager.
🗣 TASTING TODAY 5-7PM 🗣
ILARIA - KENTISH TOWN
🏳️🌈 QUEER BREWING 🏳️🌈
Michael Romance - Refreshing, gently tart raspberry Wheat Beer.
Pendant - Floral West Coast IPA w/ a resinous, lemony finish.
Softboi - Slurpable Table Beer w/ grapefruit rind & soft gooseberry notes.
🗣 TASTING TODAY 5-7PM 🗣
JOEL - CLAPTON
🕳 ABYSS 🕳
Force Majeure - Luxurious DIPA saturated in fleshy, herbal kiwi notes.
Tropical Thunder - Their bestselling IPA, a juicy bolt of ripe fruit flavour.
Dirty Joe - Unctuous, yet utterly drinkable white Coffee Stout.
LARA - FOREST HILL
😮💨 EXALE 😮💨
Zorc - Ever-dependable Dortmunder Lager. Aromatic w/ rich malty fun!
Garden Parti - Crisp, sessionable Belgian brewed w/ citrusy botanicals.
Dinky - Silky Micro IPA bound for all day (& night) drinking at just 2.8%.
SAM - WOOD ST
😛 OMNIPOLLO 😛
Barrel Aged Lorelei - Hedonistic coconut maple toast Imperial Porter!
Ranch Water Pink Grapefruit Lime - Zappy Sour, Summer personified.
Solar Session IPA - Freshly cut pineapple meets gentle honey & mint.
ORLANDO - FINSBURY PARK
🍋 PASTORE 🍋
Peach & Apricot Waterbeach Weisse - Trademark tartness w/ zippy acidity.
DDH Onda w/ Gamma - Zesty lime & melon-mango sunshine Sour.
Talus E Pompelmo w/ Burnt Mill - Outrageous grapefruit Sour IPA!
TOM - BALHAM
🐺 HOWLING HOPS 🐺
Through The Trees w/ ABYSS - Dank, passion fruit-packed Pale Ale.
Secret Hotel - Complex, spicy Rye Pale Ale w/ a coconut-tinged flourish.
Enhanced Recoil w/ Boxcar - Juicy mango Pale Ale, Solero anyone?
We hope you have an amazing weekend, whatever you're up to! - Team CC