Drink In Reopens, Verdant Indie Exclusive Plus Wild Rum & Mezcal!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
We're back with all guns blazing this week, lead by a hazy embarrassment of riches from our Brewery Of The Week Verdant! In addition we have exciting Wild Rum and Mezcal from El Destilado, and some tip-top picks from across the shops including brews from Braybrooke, Mikkeller, Orbit and more. Of course there's also a tasty drop online including a deadly duo from Northern Monk, and lest we forget first details on our reopening for drink in - including our Wood Street Depot debut. Now, the only thing left for you to do is get readin'...
B R E W E R Y
O F
T H E W E E K
What can we say that hasn't already been said about the Cornish haze merchants, Verdant? They've truly changed the landscape of Craft Beer in the UK, both in sheer standards of flavour, but also with a distinctly juicy cultural imprint. Having once gone hand-to-mouth with drops from the hop aficionados, we're thrilled to have new beers from them in (relative) abundance, following their move to a bigger brewery last year. And, though perhaps more readily available we're arguably as excited as we've ever been to see them head through the doors right now, with a real banquet of different beauties on offer this time around.
Up top is a name we really didn't think would resurface, I Played Trumpet On That Tune is an OG, all-Citra IPA banger. We remember this beauty in those heady 330ml days, and now it returns, exclusively for indie retailers. And, just for a little treat we've also nabbed a keg for our drink in destinations! Joining alongside we have two heavyweight collabs including Unplanned Alignment with Italian hopheads CRAK. Utilising a brand spanking new Australian hop variety, 'Eclipse' this packs a mighty tangerine punch backed up by deep resinous notes, all while maintaining a remarkable drinkability. Stu Mostow have passed on a few crispy tips for Verdant's inaugural Munich Helles, having made wonderful lagers for years in their beautiful Wroclaw brewery. A complex decoction mash adds delectable malty complexity so classic to the style, in turn harmonising with a smooth, clean finish and a subtle touch of floral hop bitterness.
And, this week we have double loyalty points across a pretty untouchable lineup including recent hits like Dipper's Delight, Enjoy The Uncertainty, Horizon Balance, Headband and more. So, take a peek online, or in store - and make sure to dive into the murky water!
T A P R O O M
R E O P E N I N G
T I M E !
We can't quite believe it, but the time is finally upon us to welcome you back for drinks inside! From this Monday we'll be able to see your beautiful faces in Finsbury Park, Balham and Wood Street. We're particularly excited for you to visit our Depot in action for the first time. And, with a capacity of nearly forty people, eight draft beers, two natural wines pouring (our fave Arndorfer & a juicy Beaujolais) plus Black Lines' mega Paloma on tap, all with extended hours, we reckon it'll be a boozy haven. For now there's no reservations across the board, so just pitch up and join the party, we absolutely cannot wait to see you all for a beer or two...
E L D E S T I L A D O ' S
W I L D R U M
& M E Z C A L
Founded by Michael Sager of Sager + Wilde, Alex Wolpert of East London Liquor Company and independent creative director Charlie McKay, El Destilado were aways going to hit the nail on the head with their experimentational spirit sourcing business. Working ethically alongside tiny distillers, with full traceability throughout the journey to your glass we're delighted to present some incredibly rare, and ingenious single distillations, fully expressive of their terroir.
Up first their Oaxacan Wild Fermented Rum. Harvested by hand, at 800-1400m above sea level, the high altitude, coupled with low temperature causes the Java sugar cane varietal to have an extended growth cycle of around 18 months. And, this slower fermentation process with wild yeast gives the rum a distinct flavour and aroma profile. Featuring notes of stone fruit - most notably apricot, ripe banana, cut grass and flanked by a lactic tang, this is straight syrupy joy.
A fantastic rebuke to Mezcals just being some smoky Tequila spin-off, their Tobaziche pushes the tropical boundaries while remaining entirely accessible. Taking roughly 12-15 years to reach full maturity this is carefully cultivated, cooked and fermented by one of our favourite Mezcaleras Berta Vasquez and features notes of unripe banana, pine, and thick citrus. Though hardly an every day pick-up we thoroughly encourage rewarding yourself with one of these special bottles, having just had a tasting with the team we definitely think they live up to the hype!
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
ELLA - WOOD ST
🇩🇰 MIKKELLER (ALC FREE) 🇩🇰
Henry Gose Lightly - Quenching & tart with a hint of herbal coriander.
Limbo Yuzu - Light, fresh & packed with zingy fruity goodness.
Henry & His Science - Tropical ale, made w/ their inventive house yeast.
Drink'in The Sun - Delicate, hazy wheat beer w/ grassy, peachy notes.
DAVE - BALHAM
🌈 QUEER BREWING 🌈
Existence As A Radical Act - Juicy pale w/ tropical, clean Kveik yeast.
Flowers - Vibrant, snappy wheat beer balancing herbal & citrus notes.
Flavourtown 2 - Decadent cacao & toffee Imperial Porter collab w/ Salt!
LARA - FOREST HILL
💯 ANSPACH & HOBDAY 💯
Pinapple Gose - Lightly tart, delicately salty & gloriously pineapple-some!
Springtime Lager - Fresh, zesty seasonal lager with a dry, moreish finish.
Gluten Free Pils - Smooth, massively drinkable & GF, what's not to love?
FRANKLIN - KENTISH TOWN
🏰 BRASS CASTLE 🏰
Meet Me Underwater (GF) - Bonkers seaweed Red IPA, umami meets saline fun, backed up by punchy hoppiness.
Pizzaz (GF) - Sun-dried tomato & sweet basil gose, you heard us right... Straight savoury za alchemy!
HANNAH - FINSBURY PARK
🥇 ONE MILE END 🥇
Lager - Unfiltered kellerbier w/ malty sweetness, yet impeccably balanced.
Juicy 4PM - Beautifully hazy, sinkable DDH Pale Ale. Post work perfection.
Boom Boom - Sticky, sluggable Pale hopped w/ citrusy Mosaic & Amarillo.
OSCAR - CLAPTON
❄️ BRAYBROOKE ❄️
Baltic Porter - Rich coffee & bitter cacao coalesce in this dark belter.
Keller Lager - Superbly crafted, truly proper lager. Full bodied & refined.
Session Lager - Pale in colour, super sessionable & delivers big crisp flavour.
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
💫 ORBIT 💫
Hefeweizen - Soft w/ subtle fruity banana & spicy clove yeast esters.
Cuvee de Cologne - Anniversary blend of barrel aged Nico Kolsch.
24 Hour Party Pils - Citrus, crisp-clean goodness made for all day & all night.
W E B S H O P
H I G H L I G H T S
T H I S W E E K
🙏 NORTHERN MONK 🙏
Smugone // The Pilgrimage - First release of a new Patrons series, all star, truly tropical TIPA!
OFS036 Brazil Decadent Stout - Ultra indulgence w/ Brazilian coffee, coconut & cacao nibs.
❄️ PILLARS ❄️
Vienna - Toasted malt meets subtle tangerine in a timeless, precise lager.
Pilsner - Gluggable & Gluten Free, an eternal, crispy crowdpleaser.
Helles - Clean, super drinkable golden lager filled w/ full-bodied flavour.
🍋 VAULT CITY 🍋
DDH Hard Lemonade - Vibrant cloudy lemonade taken to the hoppy pinnacle.
Key Lime Pie - Simultaneously sweet & sour pastry-inspired perfection.
Pomegranate Session - Thick fruited sour perfectly capturing a unique fruit flavour.
🌋 BENJE WINES 🌋
Benje Tinto - Volcanic field blend, pure & lifted w/ notes of ripe raspberry, peppercorn & flowers.
Lousas - Mencia blend made in tiny quantities. Lifted, brambly aromas & delicious savouriness.
Thanks for reading - enjoy your week & just maybe we'll see you for a drink!