Leeds Legends Return, Cult European Natural Wines & Party Keg Hire!
H E L L O
C L A P T O N C R A F T
F A N S !
Here we go again, and boy howdy is this week's boozy rundown a doozy! We've got a record-breaking nine(!) beers from the North stars, plus some under the radar natty belters from Slovakia and Serbia. Meanwhile, manager spotlights run the gamut from Siren to Howling Hops via First Chop and more. Not forgetting of course your usual dose of juicy goodness online with highlights from Vault City, Cloudwater, Burning Sky, Pastore, Howling Hops and Brick. Now if you'll excuse us we're about to run off and push the limits of being fashionably late over at the London Craft Beer Festival...
B R E W E R Y O F
T H E W E E K
N O R T H
Quickly becoming some of the most sought-after in the scene, our Brewery Of the Week was founded back in 2015 by John Gyngell and Christian Townsley, the pioneers behind legendary Leeds beer venue North Bar. Their impeccable core range and seasonal specials epitomise what they (and we) look for in beer: big juicy flavours with tonnes of hops; playful and inventive flavour combinations, and a few classics all thrown in for good measure. And, with a veritable treasure trove heading to the shops and online later today, the only question is where to start?!
If you're after crispy-clean goodness, with precise flavours look no further than their mega Springwell Pils or brand new West Coast IPA The Eighth Chamber which packs biscuity, malty fun against sticky roasted grapefruit notes. While, zesty Session Pale smashers The Order Of Things and Sea Of The Curve provide some much needed all-day drinking support.
Sour Stans need look no further than their Bundobust and Queer Brewing collabs. The former is based on Indian Lemonade aka Nimbu Pani for an incredibly tart, dry and ridiculously refreshing sour beer made with unwaxed lemon zest, freshly squeezed organic lemon juice and salt. For their Queer collab they've opted for a jammy raspberry and passionfruit number, with sharp sourness matching vegan friendly sweetness. A GF bonus arrives in the form of Open Space, a citrusy, piney Pale with a floral bouquet, that's suitable for all. Finally, we complete the set in style with a duo of super juicy, fruit-gummy DIPAs in Watching Light Move and Fading Frontier, both of which come highly lauded from that ever persuasive internet.
To celebrate we've got a rather irresistible offer of x2 loyalty points in store plus 10% automatically off 6 or more North beers online - how about that to cap it off?!
S T U N N I N G
S E R B I A N & S L O V A K I A N
N A T U R A L W I N E
Having championed skin contact Serbian sensation Kovidinka since day one we're delighted to welcome in the first of the 2020 vintage. Made from a plot of vines planted in 1925 expect savoury notes of baking spices and plenty of volcanic minerality on the nose. Grippy, juicy and generous on the palate with more quince carried by refreshing acidity, this is a real favourite of ours, but with less of it than ever this year grab it before it's gone!
Adding to our European ranks we also have the latest field blend from lauded Slovakian winery Strekov, Fred #8. Vibrant and energetic, this is another all natural entry with crunchy blackberry and ripe plum notes, soft supple tannins and an invigorating, herbal quality.
Bordering the Slovakian-Hungarian border, located on sloping hills next to the Garam river Bott Frigyes has 10 hectares of organic vines with volcanic soils rich in limestone and minerals. As a result Granum is a rare blend of Furmint, Juhfurk and Harslevelu aged in Hungarian oak barrels for rich and waxy, pastry perfection. With hazelnut, brioche and baking spice aromas beautifully balanced by green apple acidity and steely minerality on the palate this is one for fans of white Rioja or good burgundy with a twist. A tentative bridge between Summer and Autumn, this trio screams warming depth from some truly underappreciated regions!
P A R T Y
K E G
H I R E
With a fresh new fleet of top of the range Lindr kegerators, we thought it was well worth reminding you of our keg hire system! Whether it's a party, wedding, park get together, or if you just want to see what 53 pints of beer looks like, you can pour chilled draught beer from all of our favourite breweries including Howling Hops, The Kernel, Siren, Verdant and more. Available for collection only from any of our stores, purchase a keg and hire one of our professional dispense units for just £50 to secure the ultimate supping satisfaction. Drop us a message on info@claptoncraft.co.uk if you fancy it or hit the link below for more info!
M A N A G E R
P I C K S
T H I S W E E K
ELLA - WOOD ST DEPOT
🐺 HOWLING HOPS 🐺
Balance Point Spring - Peachy & snappy Hazy IPA from the Hackney Wick heroes.
Lonely Town - Resinous, citrusy & ultra sluggable Session IPA.
Here Comes Trouble - Polly's DIPA collab! A tropical cocktail of passionfruit & pineapple.
FRANKLIN - KENTISH TOWN
🙅♂️ FIRST CHOP 🙅♂️
POD - A rare GF stout, rich, roasty & full of irresistibly velvety vanilla.
AVA - Quenching, sessionable Blonde Ale, with a zesty, hoppy kick.
MCR - Malty & clean GF Bitter, a throwback of the finest kind.
HANNAH - FINSBURY PARK
🚨 SIREN 🚨
Okay, I'll Bite - Oh so crisp California IPA, an equally pithy & punchy big hitter.
High Water - Lakes Brew Co. Collab! Clean & classic unfiltered Helles Lager.
Cosmic Collider - Big Smoke Collab! Cryo Pop Pale w/ stone fruit slickness.
DAVE - BALHAM
🧔 WEIRD BEARD 🧔
Mariana On Mango - DDH, fruit-spin on their classic Pale. Saturated in Mango!
Acid Black Coffee - Barmy Sour Black IPA w/ coffee. Complex & intriguing.
The Manipulated Living - Smooth & succulent, easy-drinking Hazy Pale.
LARA - FOREST HILL
🎤 SIGNATURE 🎤
C-Sharp - Zingy Sicilian Lemon Sour w/ hints of meringue, lime & elderflower.
Rewind - Clean, piney & refreshing Gluten Free India Pale Lager.
Roadie - A classic, dependable, yet always impressive citrus SIPA.
OPHIE - CLAPTON
🌤 BURNING SKY 🌤
Arise - Peachy, piney & bracingly dry Session Pale. An all-time classic!
Saison Été - Made w/ fresh elderflower & whole gooseberries. Tart & refreshing!
Rustic Table Beer - Light, crushable & simple, yet packed full of flavour.
MEL - WALTHAMSTOW
🏖 POLLY'S 🏖
The Rivalita - Russian Impy Stout loaded w/ cacao, coffee & dark fruit goodness.
Positively Unattached - Tantalising TIPA, dripping in tropical juice.
Lotus Water - Bombastic DIPA bursting w/ bubblegum & blueberry flavour.
W E B S H O P
W O N D E R S
T H I S W E E K
🌧 CLOUDWATER 🌧
A New Level - Simultaneously brewed Strata DIPA collab w/ Highland Park.
Danaus Plexippus - DDH IPA combining zesty Motueka w/ vibrant, tropical Idaho 7.
Peony - All Simcoe Pale. Think pineapple & apricot w/ a dank, herbaceous edge!
The Little Pumphouse At Kinder... - Fresh and clean DDH Pale, a CW speciality.
🔥 BURNING SKY 🔥
Full Circle - Thornbridge collab! Burgundy barrel-aged Vicious Circle aged in Burning Sky's barrels & blended with a mixed fermentation saison for a true reflection of their cellar programs.
🧱 BRICK 🧱
Strawberry & Cucumber Sour - A true fave & an infinitely crushable Summer Sour.
Peckham Session IPA - A core range classic. Peachy, pillowy soft banger!
🍋 PASTORE 🍋
Wild Waterbeach Weisse - Berliner fermented w/ wild, complex & fruity yeast.
Il Rabarbaro - Wild Ale conditioned on whole juicy Norfolk rhubarb & puree.
🍹 VAULT CITY 🍹
Veeky Chimpto - A heady mix of blue alcopop & tawny port for a nostalgic bubblegum blast!
Havana Session Sour - Mojito-inspired, simultaneously sweet & sharp mouthwatering sour.
Thanks for joining us this week, and we hope you found something fun along the way!