Kernel Classics, El Rayo Tequila & A Mega Web Drop!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
Though the Bank Holiday brews are in the rearview mirror, there's mountains of exciting drops heading through the doors to look forward to this time around! The perennially underrated Kernel are this week's headliners with some exceptional new specials, and after selling out in record time El Rayo return with some tantalising tequila. Add to that manager picks from Vault City, Howling Hops, and Rock Leopard, plus another mega web drop featuring Cloudwater, Lambiek Fabriek, Siren, and newbies Floc. and you've got quite the booze equation...
B R E W E R Y
O F
T H E W E E K
Having scanned the archives it's pretty mad (and we're a little ashamed to admit) that The Kernel have just once previously been our Brewery Of The Week. Though entirely unassuming their ability to produce cult classics and bestsellers alike truly puts them in a league of their own. Over a decade old, they’re still at the forefront of the scene, with an ever-growing array of hop-forward belters, complex barrel aged saisons and historical, decadent stouts. In fact their omnipresence across London, and Europe from cornershop to craft beer festival, has led many to remark there are only three certainties in life: death, taxes, and The Kernel.
Leading the way is their Export Stout Damson, a beautifully mellow, silky stout which sees 6 months in tank with 250 grams/litre of British Damsons, for a lightly tart, fresh undertone. With a mixed culture programme that would have the finest Lambic producers blushing, we've also secured fresh stock of their Biere De Saison Cider Apple and Sour Cherry. The former is made with whole cider apples from Tom Oliver offering farmhouse funk and tannic complexity in equal measure for a very special beer-cider hybrid; while the latter opts for floral, sharp fruit flavour with tangy sour goodness in toe. Of course, we also have ample supplies of our number one, Table Beer, plus fresh IPA and Pale Ale. There's also their impeccably crafted crispy Pils, and that mammoth Imperial Brown Stout for sheer boozy comfort, boasting caramel-cream and chocolate aromas, followed dense dark fruit notes.
And, this week we have double loyalty points across their extensive range, so be sure to take a look online or in store and crack open one with us in celebration of the greats!
T A L K O F
T H E T O W N
T E Q U I L A
Translated as 'the lightning' Peckham's El Rayo brilliantly pay homage to Mexican folklore, when a local farmer was said to have witnessed the moment a blue agave plant was struck and set alight, and having followed the burning glow in the distance he discovered what we know as Tequila today. All made by a single variety of agave, grown for at least eight years, their Tequilas are hand-harvested, and hand-planted, with their quality and attention to detail shining through even the darkest clouds! Twice distilled for clean, natural flavour their Plata packs a range of vibrant, fresh herbal notes. While, their No.2 Reposado features a complex mix of vegetal and caramel notes, softened over 7 months in American white oak whisky barrels. We thoroughly recommend trying these out straight up, or with fresh tonic and a grapefruit garnish for a subversive spin on a classic and a late, great Cinco De Mayo celebration!
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
ELLA, WOOD ST
💦 PRESSURE DROP 💦
Choice Of Dessert - B-A-N-A-N-A-S Impy Choco Stout. Indulgent & silkily smooth.
Lucky - A straight Simcoe stunner. Juicy NEIPA w/ a piney, floral-bitter twist.
Why Do You Always Do This? - Coconut & mango Sour, a tropical getaway!
OSCAR, CLAPTON
🐆 ROCK LEOPARD 🐆
Hops Of Ages - Fresh New England, a stone fruit sensory overload!
Seventh Son Of A Mumu Cat - Bright, tropical IPA w/ a clean, resinous finish.
Step Up - Easy-drinking, rich & roast Stout collab w/ Cloudwater.
MEL, WALTHAMSTOW
🤖 MONDO 🤖
Homing From Work - Super sluggable & soft IPA w/ low-to-no bitterness.
All Caps - Crispy-clean Lager, with a refreshing, biscuity bite.
Capra - Strong, dry Hellerbock. Moreish, malty & kind of ingenious.
DAVE, BALHAM
🌍 LOST & GROUNDED 🌍
Keller Pils - Top-tier UK Lager now in an even more generous, Germanic form. Bright & wonderfully balanced.
Helles - A much-anticipated addition to their core range. Half litre of a soft, bready, floral future-classic.
ROB, FOREST HILL
🍋 VAULT CITY 🍋
Key Lime Pie - Simultaneously sweet & sour pastry-inspired perfection.
Mango Inferno - Rich mangoes combine w/ floral, citrus-kicking habaneros!
Pomegranate Session - Thick fruited sour perfectly capturing a unique fruit flavour.
FRANKLIN, KENTISH TOWN
❄️ 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.
HANNAH, FINSBURY PARK
🔤 ALPHABET 🔤
Charlie Don't Surf - A Session SIPA supreme, waves of citrus & peach.
Juice Springsteen - The Tropical GOAT. One of our most requested beers ever.
Metamodernism - A rare, unironically (and lovingly) brewed traditional bitter.
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
☁️ CLOUDWATER ☁️
We Say You... - Amped up version of last year's favourite, TIPA madness ahoy.
PM Pic At The Pike - Bright, juicy & light Pale Ale. Blink & you'll miss it drinking.
The Interior Life... - Bold, fresh & hoppy pale fermented with tropical Kveik yeast.
🍾 LAMBIEK FABRIEK 🍾
Fontan Elle - Limited blend of one & two year lambics from the exciting, young producer.
Brett Elle - Beautifully bretty, blended Geuze. Think apple acidity & funky citrus fun.
Jart Elle - Traditional, sharp Kriek with gloriously fleshy farmhouse fruit flavour.
✨ FLOC. ✨
Rising Of Dreams - Pillowy soft IPA, the first & definitely not the last from the rising stars.
🚀 GRAVITY WELL 🚀
Endymion - Smoothie-esque sour packed with raspberries, blueberries & blackcurrants.
Kveik It Simple - Mosaic-hopped Kveik IPA. A clean pineapple dream!
🚨 SIREN 🚨
High Definition - Collab w/ US greats Green Cheek, a resinous, delectable TIPA.
White Tips - Springtime special! Floral spice meets orange zest & grapefruit goodness.
Pastel Pils - Clean, harmonious lager dialled in for maximum drinkability. A real highlight!
As always, thanks for reading - we hope you have a fantastic weekend!