Every now and then in the beer world something outrageous happens. Sometimes it’s a twist on a new style. Sometimes it’s a wild collab. And other times… it’s one of the most limited release beers in the world somehow finding its way across the Atlantic into our hands. Enter: Celly Drippins.

If you know and love Sierra Nevada’s iconic festive release Celebration. All pine, citrus, and unapologetically bold hop character, then imagine taking those legendary whole-cone dry hop bags… squeezing every last drop of flavour from them… and turning that concentrated hop essence into its own beer. That’s Celly Drippins. It’s deeper, richer, more intense. Like Celebration, but dialled up.

Until now, it’s been a beer known only to pour in Sierra Nevada taprooms. In Chico, California and Fletcher, North Carolina. Never brewed for distribution. Never exported. Never served elsewhere.

Until now.

We’re ridiculously excited to announce that next week, for the first time in history, Celly Drippins will be poured in the UK, and there’s only one place you can get it:

Beer Merchants Tap
London E9 5LN
Thursday 18 December, from 7pm

Pouring as part of a full Sierra Nevada Tap Takeover with the brewery's own International Ambassaor, Steve Grossman.

We’ve secured one 20L keg. That’s it. Around 100 one-third pours total and we’ll be serving it in thirds so as many people as possible can try it. Pour-reservation tokens will be handed out from 5pm with the beer going on tap at 7pm. There are no tickets, no VIP lists, no secret passwords, just get there early and stake your claim.

And the way we got the keg? That might be the best part of the story.

It all goes back to our charity event last year at Beer Merchants Tap, where a friendly game of fussball kicked off between the Cave Direct crew and members of the Sierra Nevada team. On the other side of the table? Chief Brewer Brian Grossman himself, alongside their team. On ours: Cave Direct’s very own Ben Selby and Eddie Hollis from Floc. Brewing.

A wager was made: if Team Cave Direct won, they’d secure a keg of Celly Drippins for the UK.

And so, fuelled by competitive spirit (and maybe a touch of pale-ale-powered confidence), our team delivered. Victory secured. Keg promised. Keg delivered. And as such, Ben and Eddie have earned themselves the first two of our one hundred pours.

But that’s not all, the Celly Drippins pour will be part of a wider Sierra Nevada Tap Takeover on the night, with Steve Grossman, Sierra Nevada’s International Ambassador, in attendance to oversee pours, talk beer and perform a very thorough quality check.

It’s not often the UK gets a true exclusive like this. A beer with zero history of export, zero previous appearances in Europe and a backstory that proves great beer and great connections make great things happen.

If you’re a Celebration fan, a Sierra Nevada devotee or just a beer enthusiast who loves being able to say “I was there that night,” you’re not going to want to miss this.

One keg. One night. One legendary pour.

The fussball table might have left us, but we’re taking ideas for our next wager with Steve, perhaps over a game of darts?

See you on the 18th.