New Forest Favourites, Mackmyra Month, Desert Island T-Shirts!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
We hope you're all doing well in your respective areas of the big city, or even the country itself! We're delighted to be back, serving up your usual dose of content-filled, beery bliss. Up top though, we'd like to say a fond farewell to Mr Clapton Craft, and a true servant of the shops and the London Craft Beer scene in Joakim Hellborg. It's only fitting then we're also singing the praises of another great Swedish export, Mackmyra, with an all-October-long celebration of Whisky with tastings across the shops, giveaways, new specials and more.
As to our headliners, we've opted for another dose of Southampton suds, with some of our favourites (and yours), in Vibrant Forest making a long-overdue comeback. In addition, with our Desert Island Drinks Tote Bags in collaboration with Gavin Connell going down an absolute treat, we've got matching hand-printed T-Shirts on the way to boot!
If that wasn't enough, over on the Webshop there's heavy hitters galore with a raft of Imperial Stouts from rising stars Low Key Barrel Project, as well as certified greats courtesy of Cloudwater, Pressure Drop, and Gravity Well. Whereas our Manager's single out Vault City, Polly's, Partizan, and more for their top spots. Now on we go...
S H O U T O U T
T O T H E
S W E D E
We're only just about coming to terms with the fact, but our beloved Operations Manager, Joakim Hellborg is leaving us for pastures new, to go travelling in New Zealand. Originally manager of Kentish Town (and fighting fires) since 2017 when we had just the four shops, Joe has since ensured incredible growth for us at the company, while upholding the highest of standards across double the sites (and online). As OPs manager, and far more besides that, he has truly made the Clapton Craft experience what it is!
From hiring most of us currently at the company, to being a shoulder to cry on, and more often than not a shoulder to spill beer on, he will be hugely missed by us all. We were fortunate enough to have a big send off for him last Thursday at the mega Bethnal Green Tavern, but if you see him on either side of the continent, or are just in need of an encyclopaedic knowledge of Malmo Football Club, be sure to buy him a drink... he's earned it!
B R E W E R Y
O F T H E
W E E K
Quite frankly it's been far too long since last having New Forest dons Vibrant Forest on these shores. Working with them since the early days of CC it's been a delight to see them progress and expand while continually packing passion and sheer flavour into every last drop of their beer. As such we're thrilled to right the wrong of their absence in a pretty major way with six slammers dropping including some long-time favourites, and of course the comeback of our perennial collab cracker, Misty Woods.
First brewed way back in November 2019, this collaboration helped cement our friendship with these underrated stars of the scene. Now, a long-standing seasonal rebrew, this East-meets-West Coast (otherwise known as a Mountain) IPA combines our favourite aspects of both styles. Uniting juicy, pithy stone fruit flavour with fiery resinous undertones, we've never been known to turn away a can of Misty. Of course, we also have their inimitable Pale Ale Pupa, which sees light citrus and ripe tropical fruits coalesce for a smooth, dangerously drinkable effort akin to your Steady Rolling Man's of the world.
Session IPA Summerlands rounds off this set of green glory. A 3.5% hop juggernaut this marries luscious grapefruit with prickly pine, and an accompanying rounded bitterness for maximum gluggability. Providing some Pils precision, and a bit of welcome balance Faithful Steed is a lean, crisp and refreshing Lager, with a delicate floral-citrus bite. While, Grizzly Pear sees them team up with Affinity for a zingy, Gose guzzler that sees gooseberry collide against sticky-sweet pear sumptuousness. Finally, offering up some malt magic, we have Kick-Start an Oat & Coffee Stout made with freshly roasted Colombian Coffee beans for rich espresso aroma underpinned by a comforting cacao backbone. Breakfast, wake-up juice indeed.
We're offering up a rather enticing 10% off six or more online, or double loyalty points in store to help you familiarise yourself with (for our money) one of the most underrated breweries in the UK right now. So, get to know, fill that fridge and save in the process!
I T ' S O N L Y
M A C K M Y R A
M O N T H !
Having been admirers (and stockists) of Mackmyra for nearly four years to the day, we thought it was only right to celebrate some Swedish sensations properly. Consequently, we're dedicating October to some Whisky wonders, with Free Tastings(!) at all of our locations listed below, kicking off with Balham and Forest Hill TONIGHT. As well as that we're going to be offering some freebies to our Webshop goers, alongside a pretty mega giveaway later in the month.
If you're yet to get to know the best thing since Abba, Mackmyra was conceived by a group of eight friends studying engineering, in a mountain cabin back in 1998. By tradition they would meet up in Sälen (a rural town in the West, near Norway) once a year. However, this time purely by chance, everyone had brought along a bottle of whisky. During dinner, one of them wondered why there was no Swedish malt whisky, if it was even possible, and if so, why hadn’t anyone already done it before? Soon the ambitious vision took shape, and one year later, Mackmyra Svensk Whisky was established.
Making quintessentially Swedish single malts using local barley, spring water, and Swedish oak from the world's most climate-smart distillery (thanks to their scientific background) they are forerunners and affociando favourites in equal rights. Amongst our picks of their hits include effortless sipper, and true crowd pleaser Mack. While, Svensk Ek is full to the brim with dark fruit, vanilla, and spicy toffee gloriousness. Meanwhile, Rok takes up where Islay whisky left off with alluringly saline, peaty notes present that give way to a surprisingly drinkable, clean dram.
Be sure to swing by for a taste of the real deal at your local, and who knows you might find a new favourite from where you might least expect it!
W H E N T O
H E A D O N
D O W N !
BALHAM FRI 7TH 4-8PM
FOREST HILL FRI 7TH 4-8PM
WOOD ST SAT 8TH 4-8PM
CLAPTON FRI 14TH 4-8PM
ST JOHN'S HILL FRI 21ST 4-8PM
FINSBURY PARK FRI 21ST 4-8PM
WALTHAMSTOW SAT 29TH 4-8PM
KENTISH TOWN SAT 29TH 4-8PM
D E S E R T I S L A N D
D R I N K S
T - S H I R T S
No, it's not a mirage! After the success of our Mezcal Margarita we jumped at the chance to work with Gavin Connell on a Limited Edition Tote Bag, but we just couldn't stop ourselves there... Following on from your response we're delighted to have crafted a matching T-shirt to celebrate a true oasis, no matter the season - the beer shop.
Emblazoned with a green Clapton Craft logo on the front and our Desert Island Drinks design on the back, this is printed on a 100% Premium Cotton White Gildan T-shirt. Debuting now online at the link below with a pre-order, we don't expect these to hang around, with only around 25 pieces (of varying sizes, S-XXL) heading out to each location next week, on Thursday 13th October. Island vibes aren't just for Summer!
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
ILARIA - KENTISH TOWN
🍹 VAULT CITY 🍹
Pineapple Habanero Sour - A sweet, fleshy fruit meets spicy taste sensation.
Lychee & Ginger - Asian fusion-inspired Sour w/ citrus & herbal notes aplenty.
From A Gaelic Sea w/ Emperor's - Islay whisky Pastry Impy. Sublime.
FIONN - FINSBURY PARK
⚓️ UNITY ⚓️
Spine Tingling Adventures - Juicy Yuzu & Vanilla Sour w/ pals Mondo.
Sports - Hazy Pale w/ dank grapefruit & hoppy earthy aplomb.
BRB - Super refreshing English-hopped, German style Pilsner. Crispy!
SAM - WOOD STREET
🃏 WILD CARD 🃏
Live Laugh Love - Peachy pale, w/ a mouth-coating malt bill.
Stop Trying To Make Fetch Happen - Zesty IPA w/ a lick of pine bitterness.
Mother Damnable - Slurpable grapefruit & lime Berliner Sour.
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🙌 PARTIZAN 🙌
Raspberry Lemon Saison w/ Clapton Craft! - Crisp acidity meets jam fruit fun.
Lemon & Thyme Saison - Zesty, dry & subtly herbaceous Belgian Ale.
Porter - Light, uber drinkable dark beer w/ notes of caramel, coffee & cacao.
EDDY - CLAPTON
🍷 NIBIRU 🍷
Tradition White - Funky, rich Austrian field blend w/ zippy citrus acidity.
Tradition Red - Crunchy blend packed w/ ripe red fruit & a rosemary tinge.
Grundstein Rose - Pale & elegant, w/ a tart, mineral, raspberry sorbet finish.
TOM - BALHAM
🇩🇪 DARK GERMAN SPECIAL! 🇩🇪
Augustiner Dunkel - Deep, yet clean amber Lager w/ liquorice fun aplenty.
Schlenkerla Rauchbier - Classic smoke beer w/ peaty wood & nutty choc notes.
Ayinger Celebrator - Famous doppelbock w/ cascading malt layers.
LARA - FOREST HILL
🦜 POLLY'S 🦜
Sloe Down, You Crazy Child - Fresh, tangy Sloe-Juniper Sour!
Red Odyssey - Mammoth, saline triple fruited Cherry Gose.
Good Nature - Super ripe, well-rounded Azacca & Mosaic hopped DIPA.
CHIPPY - ST JOHN'S HILL
🛹 DROP PROJECT 🛹
Dawn - DDH DIPA boasting sweet, sticky stone fruit succulence.
Crush - Ultra sinkable New England Session Pale. A tangerine dream.
Shifty - All-star Pale! Punchy citrus combines w/ sheer sluggability.
W E B S H O P
W O N D E R S
T H I S W E E K
🔬 LOW KEY BARREL PROJECT 🔬
Unravel Heaven Hill, Rum & Rioja - A trio of Raspberry & Cacao BA Imperial Stouts! Sweet, tart, deep, smooth & layered with a subtle smoke. Something truly special...
Lizard King Speyside w/ Vault City - Luscious cacao & blueberry Impy Stout.
🌧 CLOUDWATER 🌧
Persistence Is Utile #V - Famed coffee, tonka, cacao & vanilla Impy Stout.
The Lighter Grey One - Pillowy soft, yet punchy, dank & delicious DDH IPA.
💦 PRESSURE DROP 💦
Do It For Her - Uber sessionable Cryo Table Beer crammed w/ tropical hops.
Fødj w/ Amundsen - Decadent Impy Stout w/ cacao, fudge & toffee.
🛰 GRAVITY WELL 🛰
Lagrange Reborn - Zingy 4.0% Pale, a true bright citrus crusher!
Phantom Energy - Rich, creamy NE Pale feat. juicy NZ Nectaron hops.
Thanks as always for joining us on another mega rundown! - Take it easy, Team CC