Skip to main content

Beer banter with Clapton Craft

The craft beer movement is huge in London right now. I mean, really huge. So local craft beer connoisseurs rejoiced when Clapton Craft opened in East London earlier this year. The store, founded by William Jack and Tom McKim, has already gained a loyal following of regulars who can’t get enough of the fine brewed produce and the growlers – just to clarify, a growler is a large bottle that can be refilled over and over again by the beer of your choosing.

Recommended Videos

The Manual caught up with the guys to talk shop and bottles for all occasions.

How’s business been so far this summer?

Good! We got a taste of what the fine weather would mean for us with a few hot days in Spring. Thankfully people also love a beer when the weathers rubbish . . .

Can you remember your first introduction to the craft beer movement?

Will: I did an internship for a New Zealand micro brewery called Limburg back in 2005 when I was in my last year of high school. They made an NZ hopped pale ale called ‘Hopsmacker’ which I’d get refills of direct from the brewery. The brewer was really into Lambics and Belgian styles too so I started getting into these.

How was Clapton Craft born?

We’d been discussing the potential for a beer specialist for a while and in the middle of last year decided it was viable and we started looking for a location. We had both lived in or around Clapton for years and decided Lower Clapton Road would be the area of focus. It was then a matter of scraping together some capital, planning, designing and executing. We did just about everything ourselves, from gutting the premises, taking out walls and plastering and painting. There was plenty of swearing, late nights, asthma and lots of stock went missing.

The store opened at a time when people seem to care so much more about what they’re eating and drinking. Any thoughts on how this shift has come about?

It’s probably due to a number of factors – health, environmental, education and taste, but I also think that Londoners, or people that live in London, are increasingly proud of their city and are keen to improve it. I think beer is a great example because it’s been so essential to peoples lives forever and it really suffered from the industrialization of the industry. Many of the beer styles are just replicas of old recipes, just with the bonus of New World hops and a huge dose of creativity and freedom.

Tell us about the growler concept.

Pretty simple, we sell 1.89 litre glass Growlers or 1 litre plastic bottles which customers can come back and have refilled with any one of 8 different beers. We use a counter pressure filling system, which means the beer stays fizzy and fresh for up to 6 weeks from filling.

What is the single best thing about craft beer?

It’s delicious.

What kind of beer would you recommend for the following…

1. A BBQ –
Beef – Black IPA or Porter
Lamb – Belgian Dubbel or better still a Flemish Sour
Pork/Chicken – Saison or Farmhouse IPA
Fish/Veg – Hefewizen, Session IPA, Berliner Weisse

The best thing about beer though is that it’s pretty flexible with food and if you get it wrong you can move on to something else fairly quickly . . .

2. A night in with friends –

A bit of everything, save the double IPAs til’ later, they really do ruin your palate

3. A whisky chaser –

Rye IPA

Thanks guys!

Jodie Kharas
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jodie Kharas is a style, art and culture writer who lives in London. She has contributed to the online platforms of POP…
I learned the secrets of the Mai Tai at Hawaii’s most iconic beachfront bar
You can try three variations of a classic Mai Tai
Mai Tai Bar

The Mai Tai is one of the most popular Tiki drinks in the world, known for its sweet and slightly almond-flavored flavor. Until I visited the Royal Hawaiian, I had no idea just how much history lies behind this fruity cocktail. Initially created by "Trade Vic" Bergeron in 1944, the Mai Tai drink later made its way to Hawaii in 1953.

When Bergeron was hired to develop menus for the Royal Hawaiian, he introduced the classic Mai Tai recipe to Hawaii's most iconic beachfront bar, now known as the Mai Tai Bar. During my visit to the Royal Hawaiian, I stopped by the Mai Tai Bar for a special look at how the bartending team makes three of the most popular Mai Tai variations available on their menu today. You can't go wrong with any of these three drinks -- whether you prefer something more subdued or something fruity and sweet.

Read more
Luckin Coffee opens in NYC, bringing its Starbucks rivalry to the U.S.
The first two U.S. locations of this Asia-based coffee chain are now open
Luckin Coffee

Starbucks appears to have a new rival in town in the U.S. market. The first two US locations of China's fastest-growing coffee chain, Luckin Coffee, are now open in NYC. Luckin' Coffee opened two NYC locations yesterday: Greenwich Village near the NYU campus and NoMad. Founded in 2017, Luckin' Coffee has taken off across China, catering to younger guests in China, Singapore, and Malaysia. The chain has over 24,000 locations across Asia but has entered the U.S. market. The chain is known for its simplified menu and "bare-bones" stores, which accept only cashless payments and mobile orders.
For the launch of the first two U.S. locations, Luckin announced steep promotions such as $1.99 drink deals and 50% off beverages for the grand opening, as well as free tote bags for the first guests to enter the store. The menu at this Asia-based coffee shop offers everything U.S. coffee and tea drinkers are used to, from cold brew coffees to matcha drinks to flavored lattes. The menu also includes a small selection of light bites and pastries. Per the brand's website, Luckin Coffee uses only the finest Arabica coffee beans that are sourced directly from renowned coffee-producing regions. Other menu specialty coffees include the Apple Fizzy Americano and Pomelo Americano.
Though Luckin may only have two U.S. locations at the moment, rumours suggest the brand plans to expand quickly in the U.S. market. With low prices and an app-based model, the chain can keep prices low and could soon become a strong competitor for Starbucks.

Read more
These coffee cocktails are the unexpected summer drinks you’ll crave all season
Summer coffee cocktails that aren't another espresso martini
Mr Black

I could sip on espresso martinis and frozen espresso martinis year-round, but sometimes, on hot summer days, you need something a bit sweeter and fruitier. These fruit-inspired summer coffee cocktails blend traditional summer flavors, like pineapple and strawberry, with Mr Black Coffee Liqueur for a caffeinated and alcoholic twist on your standard summer iced coffee.

Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, made with 100% specialty arabica coffee, Australian wheat vodka, and a touch of cane sugar, is the perfect base for creating unique summer cocktails with a caffeine boost. My favorite is the Café Colada, a drink that makes a great choice when you can't decide whether you want a fruity, frozen drink or an iced coffee (a frequent predicament I face). Here's how to make three fruity, summer coffee cocktails using Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur.

Read more