For centuries, brewing has been at the very heart of Belgium and forms a large part of the country’s culture. Golden or blonde, dubbel or tripel, white or wheat, lambic or Flemish red to name just a few - with the scale of beer types in Belgium it is hardly surprising that when all specialist and one-off brews are included there are an estimated 8,700 different beers.
Beer is an essential element of German culture and is intrinsic to its national identity, however this is not to say that there is a beer ‘monoculture’ within the country. The country itself was only unified in 1871, turning 26 separate state kingdoms into a single nation. Each of these separate states had their own takes on beer culture, many of which survive to this day.
The United States has a wonderful heritage of brewing which can be traced back to Dutch, English and German settlers, with India pale ale, brown ales, porters and stouts, as well as the more familiar pilsner-style lagers, being widely brewed. Because of the distinctive flavours of American hops, pale ale and IPAs are considered to be a type in their own right, not forgetting ‘steam’ beer, the first style of beer to originate from the USA.
Where it all started for James Clay. The desire to source the best specialist beer in the world and deliver these drinking experiences to the UK has resulted in a collection of world beers second to none. From the award winning Hitachino Nest, through to Lindeboom, the first beer James Clay ever imported back in 1982.
Beers that are forging their own path, and telling their own story. Some loudly, some quietly. The world classics and iconic brews of the future, beginning to tickle the tastebuds of global drinkers once more. The British think they gave the world beer. And now the world has given it back.
We also stock ciders, Dutch Jenevers and a refreshing range of non-alcoholic beverages.
To be allowed to use the Authentic Trappist Product logo, these beers must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, either by the monks themselves or under their supervision, on a not for profit basis. There are 14 Trappist monasteries producing beer worldwide, 11 of which are allowed to carry the official Authentic Trappist Product logo on their label. Abbey beers are brewed in the same styles as the classic Belgian Trappist beers but not within the monastery walls. Trappist however is not strictly a beer style or set of styles, it is literally, a way of life.
Although defined by their colour on a spectrum from fine copper through to deep mahogany there’s a wide range of flavours in this category. Covering everything from the refined maltiness of a Düsseldorf Altibier all the way up to the chocolatey depths of Brown Ale, via the mouth watering acidity of Oud Bruin and Flanders Red.
These beers are closely related to tripels in terms of recipe and ingredients, but favour the expression of fruit fermentation aromas to spicy ones. Within this style we see a crossover between Belgian and British brewing heritage, as the yeast strain used to create duvel (the benchmark of the style), was originally propagated from McEwan’s Scotch Ale shortly after the First World War.
Although beer is without a doubt our true focus, we take pride in careful curation of a range of ciders too. We apply the same quality first approach as we would with beer and seek out the finest producers that align with our core values. Apples are one of the UK’s richest culinary treasures and we’re proud to show them off through these Ciders. Our range of cider includes the award winning Hogans among others.
Globally renowned as the most consumed style of beer, yet also the trickiest to technically accomplish. Without adjuncts to hide behind, a flawless lager is a Brewer’s magnum opus. It requires complete control over fermentation and patience in conditioning, with the one ingredient that can never be scrimped on, time. Herbaceous noble hops, crystalline clarity, and stunning drinkability.
With a growing number people choosing to monitor or temper their intake the low and no alcohol sector is booming. We’ve sought out the best in the world to provide a genuine beer experience packed full of flavour and a diverse range of options.
The history of the meteoric rise and success of craft beer in the USA is dominated by IPA, a style rebirthed in America borne out of disappointment and boredom with the status quo. This is a rapidly changing category with developments in hop utilisation and fashion affecting it almost immediately. In here you’ll find everything from crystal clear West Coast pale ales and bitter Belgian pales through to fruited murky New England style IPAs.
A Belgian oddity that is tricky to simply define. Essentially a truly refreshing, bone dry beer, typically brewed with wheat and other common European cereals such as Spelt. Usually fermented with an array of yeast strains, including Brettanomyces, and in some cases lactobacillus too. In the past these were produced with whatever ignredients were to hand, something modern brewers have taken as a licence to run free with adjunct additions such as herbs and fruits.
In a category dominated by a tiny handful of enormous multinational brands we’re fiercely proud to champion independent options. These brands are focused on producing delicious sodas and juices from natural ingredients and expanding the flavours available in the category as a whole.
A unique speciality of the Pajottenland region surrounding Brussels. An incredibly complex style involving a baffling mash schedule that creates cloudy protein rich wort, boiling with aged hops, and cooling in an open coolship to allow inoculation with wild yeasts and bacteria that will eventually develop complex sour flavours in the beer over years of fermentation. A confluence point between art, science, and faith. These are then often blended together, with fruits added for an even deeper flavour.
What James Clay does best. Speciality beers from innovative breweries across the world. Not all beer can be neatly put into a style based box. In here you’ll find alternative fermentation, unheard of adjuncts, and truly pioneering processes.
The dark side of our beer spectrum, but filled with it’s own array of flavours. Luxurious dark chocolate, bitter roasted coffee, and a dash of lactose sweetness are all available inside.
The immediately refreshing cloudy classic, wheat beer, filled with flavours and aromas of bananas and clove produced by the yeast during fermentation. Due to the Reinheitsgebot the commercial brewing of wheat beer was only allowed by being granted a licence by the Duke of Bavaria until 1872 when Georg Schneider was the first commoner to be granted a licence.
In addition to some of the world's greatest beers, we also offer a small selection of spirits and cocktails, including rarities from our brewery partners who have distilled their own beers.
Beer packaged in bottles. Did you know, brown glass is predominately used as darker glass helps block harmful UV light that degrades hop aroma compounds in many beers. Bottles come in non-returnable and returnable cases - returnable cases are denoted 'Btls RB' and carry a deposit.
Beer packaged in kegs. Kegs come in returnable and non returnable formats and some carry a keg deposit (denoted 'Keg Dep'). We offer draught technical support for installations and servicing - please ask for further information.
Our selection of canned beers from around the world.
Beer packaged in casks. Casks come in returnable and non-returnable formats depending on whether the brewery use their own fleet or E-Cask/Kegstar. We offer draught technical support for installations and servicing - please ask for further information.
The new James Clay brochure is now available.