East London Royalty, A Catalunya Clay Craze & Big Smoke Debut!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
With the weather changing from one moment to the next, we're giving you some consistency with a non-stop flurry of brilliant bevs this week. Having mostly avoided a flooding disaster here in Wood Street (thanks to some long hours from the team) we're no longer looking like an East London Atlantis, and it's back to purely raining booze indoors. Up top we have a long overdue showcase of ELB alongside a debut from Big Smoke. There's also new vintage vinos from cult stars Costador, as well as a whole host of essentials across the shops. Think pastry sours from Vault City, Brewski and Mikkeller as well as refined excellence from Tillingham and Lost & Grounded. Over on the 'ol webshop we have a last minute DEYA drop (heading to all stores soon), plus fresh Cloudwater, Braybrooke, Umbrella Cider and more. All in all it's another stacked line-up, so we recommend you make haste and get reading!
B R E W E R Y O F
T H E W E E K
E A S T L O N D O N B R E W I N G
A fixture of the London scene since 2011, ELB are truly passionate about beer, and celebrating brewing as one of the many wonderfully diverse, creative and innovative traditions of East London. Their logo was letterpress-printed by the London Centre for Book Arts in Hackney Wick, while their locally-designed labels demonstrate some of the wonderful texture of the area. That's not to say they've become stuck in their way, (though their traditional ales like Foundation or Quadrant have never tasted better) but they've also delivered new wave canned goodness akin to recently focused legends Time & Tide.
As such we're delighted to have a blend of the two approaches, including new entries like their Dragon Pale, a single hop Session Pale ale brewed with Styrian Dragon from Slovenia for delicate flavours of melon, and passionfruit. In 440ml fun we have ample supply of Session smasher Beyond The Tower and crispy-clean Unfiltered Pils, East End Lager. For those after something a little more punchy look no further than Bow Creek or Hackney Cut. The former is a West Coast IPA with freshly squeezed citrus notes set against a bold, bitter and tropical finish, while the latter is all hazy goodness from start to finish. Double dry-hopped with Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin and Citra there's fresh pineapple aromas and zingy grape flavour to boot.
Basically, whatever you're looking for, this lot has you covered. And, with double loyalty points across their supreme selection we wholeheartedly recommend filling up that fridge!
C U L T
C A T A L U N Y A Q V E V R I
W I N E
Growing up in Priorat Joan Franquet was surrounded by the vines and olive trees that his parents grew. Inspired and informed by a long culinary exploration abroad he eventually returned to his roots, setting up Costador with old vines from both his wife’s family, and some of his parents own. Located at a treacherous 800m above sea level with vines as old as 110 years they've been keen to take risks, and push boundaries. Whether experimenting in new styles or utilising indigenous, often extinct grape varietals, their oeuvre remains long maceration times in clay amphora, or Qvevri (also up to a century old). With the majority of their wines spending at least some time in old French oak or acacia barrels, their offerings are however incredibly well rounded, clean and elegant, yet completely untamed, and terroir expressive.
Equally appealing to the more experimental and classics lovers, we're delighted to welcome back some absolute favourites including their Trepat. Here, aging in Qvevri for six months makes for a complex, wild and brambly natural red with a good lick of wild acidity. Meanwhile there latest orange is made with rare Sumoll Blanc grapes and is fermented and macerated on skins in amphora for a lengthy 6-8 weeks. The result is an exotically perfumed wine reminiscent of fresh Mediterranean herbs and sour dried fruit. With both available online and across the shops (in limited numbers we dare say) there's truly never been a better time to join the clay cult!
N O S M O K E
W I T H O U T
F I R E
A young brewery producing modern beer styles in the leafy suburbs of Esher in Surrey, we've heard nothing but good things about Big Smoke from festivals, to tasting events, or customers through the door. And, with a real space in the market for pocket-sized 330ml can crushers we're thrilled to have our first drop from the team. Leading the way is returning favourite Medicine Man, an IPA with enticing aromas of passion fruit that leaves a refreshingly dry, orange peel-esque mark. For something a little more easy-going Cold Spark remains dangerously drinkable at just 3.6% with a light malt body and bright lemon and grapefruit notes. Elsewhere their take on the most popular German beer style is a crisp, dry and light Helles with enough subtle fruit character to keep things interesting. Finally, their peachy New England Pale Fruju is a typically and brilliantly balanced big hitter. Thankfully there's plenty more where those came from with a bountiful supply across the shops and online - so dive in to see what all the fuss is about.
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
ELLA - WOOD ST DEPOT
🐦 BEAK 🐦
Gurr - Mammoth, quadruple hopped WCIPA. Think pine needles & preserved lemons!
Locals - All Nelson IPA w/ lovely white grape & candied melon flavours.
Parade - NEIPA w/ fresh, fruity bubblegum notes alongside a ripe, oily mouthfeel.
FRANKLIN - KENTISH TOWN
🍇 TILLINGHAM 🍇
Pinot Noir Oaked - Complex, bright, peppery & delightfully acidic Pinot. Equally beguiling & beautiful.
Pinot Noir Unoaked - Fresh, refined red w/ crunchy tannins, juicy strawberry notes & a flinty character.
HANNAH - FINSBURY PARK
🍹 VAULT CITY 🍹
Raspberry, White Choc, Honeycomb Sour & Stout - Two decadent B'day celebrations. Smoothie-succulence or impy indulgence?
Strawberry Stars - Strawberries, Hibiscus & Vanilla collide in a GLITTER-filled pastry sour. What's not to love?
DAVE - BALHAM
❄️ LOST & GROUNDED ❄️
Lasso My Heart - Classic, clean & citrussy West Coast IPA.
Newstalgic - Biscuity, impeccably crafted British Lager.
Keller Pils - Top-tier UK Lager! Bright & wonderfully balanced.
LARA - FOREST HILL
🇩🇰 MIKKELLER 🇩🇰
Deep Passion Pool - Imperial passion fruit Gose. Tangy & tantalising!
Henry Gose Lightly - Zingy & sluggable Alcohol Free Gose.
K:rlek - Summery & crisp organic Pale, born for easy slurping.
OPHIE - CLAPTON
🥧 BREWSKI 🥧
Strawberry Pie - Decadent sour w/ a lemon edge & a hint of biscuity vanilla.
American Pie - Pastry-like Berliner Weisse packed w/ jammy blackberries.
Key Lime & Coconut Pie - Boozy, cake-y, liquid-y joy. Brace yourself!
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🙏 ST BERNARDUS 🙏
Wit - Classic, hazy Wheat Beer w/ a lovely, tart citrus flavour.
Pater 6 - Abbey style Dubbel w/ malty notes of melon & overripe banana.
Tripel - Velvety Belgian Ale w/ a sweet aroma & orangey, grassy hop overtones.
W E B S H O P
W O N D E R S
T H I S W E E K
🐊 DEYA 🐊
(ALL SHOPS NEXT WEEK)
I Do This All The Time - Rhubarb & coriander Witbier. Spicy, floral & quenching.
Momentary Bliss - The glorious Glasshouse collab DIPA returns! Hazy, piney perfection.
Can We Get A New Aircraft? - Full, fluffy juice-packed IPA. A tangerine dream.
Steady Rolling Man - Consistently one of the best UK Pales out there! Nuff' said.
🌧 CLOUDWATER 🌧
Helles - Malty, yet delicate Lager. Pure refreshment from start to finish.
How Wonderful! - Pillowy soft Session Pale, succulent & zesty!
🍻 BRAYBROOKE 🍻
Session Lager - Pale in colour, super sessionable & delivers big crisp flavour.
Keller Lager - Superbly crafted, truly proper Lager. Full bodied & refined.
Helles - Straw-coloured, light & impossibly easy drinking.
💥 BIG DROP 💥
Coba Maya - Clean, Alc Free Lawnmower Lager. Add a slice of lime for max summer vibes.
Wildtrack - Dry & bitter Alc Free APA, w/ pine resin & tropical flavour.
☂️ UMBRELLA CIDER ☂️
London Apple - Thirst-quenching & easy drinking, made w/ apples from the capital.
London Rhubarb - Mouthwatering, fresh, tart & delicately fruity.
We hope you have a great weekend, and see you in store or online soon!