Howling Hops Giveaway, Spring Specials & Catalunya Qveri Wine!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
We're thrilled to return this week with yet another all-star craft cast! Featured are London legends like Howling Hops and Gipsy Hill, while ex-Clapton Crafter, now illustrator extraordinaire Korinna talks us through the latest Wild Card specials. There's also ample juicy fun from DEYA, Cloudwater (including the latest in the chubbles-a-thon) and BBNo. And, to round things off rather nicely, we celebrate some Catalunya classics from Costador. Now onto beery business...
B R E W E R Y O F
T H E W E E K
H O W L I N G H O P S
Having cut their teeth at cask haven The Southampton Arms before moving to the Cock Tavern, and now their own canal-side mecca, the Tank Bar, there’s not much this lot can’t do. Despite being best known for equally bold and sessionable, hop-forward pales and IPAs, their impeccably balanced Lagers and decadent Stouts make a case for Howling Hops being one of the hottest brewing properties in London town. This week we're delighted to celebrate their efforts by highlighting five of their finest, alongside hosting a good old fashioned giveaway!
Up top, it's the holiday in a can smasher Tropical Deluxe. This pineapple sensation never truly hangs around long enough in the shops, or in your glass for that matter. We also have their latest DDH delight, Fun Loft. A dank, peach party, this might be one of their best to date - and that's saying something considering their standards, and immense output. Turning the juice-factor to eleven, Free Fall is their latest NEIPA, utilising Mosaic, Citra and Idaho 7 aloft a pillowy soft body to stick the landing. Finally, One Ton Camp and Soothing Fidelity arrive as roasty reinforcements. The former is billed as a supremely sluggable malty, hoppy hug of a porter. While, the latter is an unadulterated, old-school Imperial Stout. Leave your pastries at the door, this has all the boozy heat and dry drinkability that you could ever sneak into a 10.5% behemoth.
This week we're not only offering double loyalty points in store, but we're also giving away two Howling Hops 12-packs and glassware. To enter online head over to Instagram, or if you're a loyalty club member purchase any HH beer in store to be in the running for a separate draw. Of course you can also do both, in fact you probably should...
F R E S H
W I L D C A R D
W O N D E R S
Having previously been a part of the Clapton Crew we were overjoyed to recognise Korinna's brilliant handywork on Wild Card's latest specials (good spot Joe). And, we caught up with her for a bit of background on the vibrant aesthetics, and their contrasting inspirations.
Wild Card Brewery's branding has always been one of my favourites so I was super excited when they asked me to design their Spring specials! Tarot cards and the occult are the throughline in their artwork, but they wanted something extra summery... And then Covid hit... I spent all of the first lockdown craving a pint with every fibre of my being and was really frustrated by the fact we'd essentially be losing an entire summer stuck indoors. The main theme was visual escapism - I wanted to create the most refreshing looking illustrations I could, using as many bright colours and as many tasty little details as possible. If we couldn't drink beers on the beach, then I'd try my best to bring the beach to the beer - its basically FOMO in a can! - Korinna Veropoulou
It's fair to say that goal was definitely achieved - if you haven't already done so, give Korinna a follow on Instagram or check out her other work here!
As for the beers the E17 stalwarts certainly aren't messing about. Opening proceedings, Lucid Dreams is a super fruity NEIPA, with Idaho 7 providing the pineapple punch and Azacca that watermelon quench. In contrast, mango, apricot and passionfruit sour Proving Ground offers a fusion of tart tropical goodness. A faithful taken on the inimitable Tropical Stout (think amped up Guinesss Export or Red Dragon) False Gods brings a harmonious balance of roasted, malty joy and lightly fruity fun thanks to molasses and Norwegian Kveik Yeast. Quite the sunny set then...
G I P S Y H I L L
S P R I N G A
J U I C E T R A P
It's been far too long without some fresh Gipsy Hill in our lives, but thankfully we've just righted that wrong! With Tom Jay's impeccable designs in tow we've got a quartet of zoom-guzzling newbies, aka 'The Work At Home Series'. SIPA Road Hog starts our engines with zingy NZ hops and a beautiful grape-like aroma for soft, hazy easy drinking. Meanwhile, Loafer sees Verdant's yeast utilised for a vibrant, pithy, full-on NEIPA. An increasingly rare English IPA, Sole Seller (a collaboration with Brook House Hops) features the finest in herbaceous UK hops. Expect blackcurrant and dark citrus flavours, with a rolling earthy bitterness. To seal the deal their DIPA hot streak continues with the Citra and Mosaic-hopped Tankslapper. Churning out huge candied-canteloupe notes, this isn't one for the faint-hearted, but it's all the better for it.👓 BROWSE GIPSY HILL 👓
C A T A L U N Y A
C L A Y
C R A Z E
Growing up in Priorat, Joan Franquet was surrounded by his parents own vines and olive trees. After a long culinary exploration he realised his dream to return to his roots, setting up Costador Terroirs Mediterrani with old vines from both his wife’s family, and his own. Located up to 800m above sea level with vines as old as 110 years they constantly experiment in new styles, with indigenous, often extinct varietals and a focus on long maceration times in clay amphora (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 incredibly well rounded, clean and elegant, yet completely untamed, and terroir expressive.
Equally appealing to classic lovers, and the more experimental we first have their Trepat. Here, aging in Qveri for six months makes for a complex, wild and brambly natural red with a good lick of acidity. The old Catalan word for orange wine, their Muscat Brisat is fermented and macerated on skins in amphora for a lengthy 6 weeks. The result is an exotically perfumed wine reminiscent of souk spices, sour dried fruit and wild Mediterranean herbs. With both available online and across the shops, there's truly never been a better time join the clay cult!
M O R E
H I G H L I G H T S
T H I S W E E K
☁️ CLOUDWATER ☁️
(WEB, N4, E5)
Chubbles - The OG collab TIPA with US greats The Veil.
Physical Research - Pastry. White. Stout. Equally indulgent & ridiculous.
Littoral Drift - East meets West Coast IPA, pithy banger w/ Unity.
Everyday Affairs - Palate coating, punchy DDH IPA with barmy hoppy aromas.
🚨 SIREN 🚨
(WEB, N4, E5, SW12)
Shattered Dream Nitro - Intense impy stout dishing out unctuous espresso heaven.
Granola Coaster - Bonkers Brown Ale w/ toasted coconut, rich maple & spicy wood notes.
🐊 DEYA 🐊
(WEB, N4)
Sound Machine Groove - Juicy DIPA with rounded tropicality & complex citrus.
Meet Me In The City - Massively dry-hopped IPA, ultra soft & smooth stonker.
Bad Luck City - Jammy, dry & bitter West Coast(!) belter from the crocs.
(SW12, E5, E17)
Into The Haze - Soft, vibrant IPA soaked in beautiful tropical fruit hop aromas.
We'll Take It... - Simcoe & Idaho 7 IPA w/ mango & white grape vibes.
(NW5, SE23)
Into The Haze & Best Foot Forward - Nostalgic & moreish biscuity Best Bitter.
🔢 BREW BY NUMBERS 🔢
(WEB, N4)
Double IPA Mosaic & Amarillo - Thick, ripe DIPA with tangerine dream layers.
Witbier Orange Cream - Zesty citrus & Belgian spice meets vanilla luxury.
🗝 LOW KEY 🗝
(WEB)
Last Gunslinger - Exceptional Speyside BA Imperial Stout with Chocolate & Tonka!
We've always got more treats across our six locations and online, so be sure to give them a visit... Thanks as always for reading!