Welcome to the latest Shepherd Neame newsletter. I met with Mike Unsworth, Director of Brewing, towards the end of January. He informed me that last year’s Christmas Ale was very well received, outselling that for the previous 3 years. It had been brought forward to 24 th November to coincide with the switch on of the Faversham Christmas lights. The first on this years Cask Club selection is Cobnut, a ruby ale, malty and nutty at 3.4% abv, very drinkable. It should be out for the beginning of February until the end of March. Sheps are also brewing two beers for the J D Wetherspoon Spring Beer Festival, Wednesday 6 th to Sunday 17 th March 2024. Firstly, Disco Macaw a collaboration with international brewers Redpoint Brewing Co, Taiwan, plus Sheps own a strong ale Grizzly Bear at 6% abv. There are no plans for Early Bird this year. First Drop 4.3% abv is a keg unfiltered hazy IPA from the onsite small batch brewery. Don’t forget……Shepherd Neame are offering an exclusive 20% discount for card bearing CAMRA members on cask club beers at participating pubs.

Thanks very much, Cheers, John CAMRA Brewery Liaison Officer for Shepherd Neame

Downloadable Version Here- Shepher Neame BLO Report JK2402

Shepherd Neame Newsletter JK11 20.11.2023 Hello, Welcome to the latest Shepherd Neame newsletter. My latest visit accompanied by Linda Thompson we met with Rupert Hodgkins, who gave us an excellent tour. We viewed the steam engines, not now in use but still in working order, then inside the malt kiln an exceptionally well preserved part of Sheps brewing history. Rupert showed us around the small batch plant, capable of producing 15 brewers barrels, and the main plant, coppers mash tuns etc, capable of 100 brewers barrels. We then ventured to the cask cleansing plant. The barrels are manually stripped of all labels before advancing through various automated chemical and steam pressure cleaning processes. Finally all barrels checked for absolute cleanliness to be refilled. All fluids used in these processes are treated and recycled. Finally stopped at the sample room, where Master Brew, Late Red, Spitfire and Whitstable Bay were being monitored. Whitstable Bay was the favourite on the day. Cobnut has been postponed with Christmas Ale brought forward. Christmas Ale in bottles is the same recipe as always. The cask Christmas Ale is still 5% abv but with a slightly tweaked recipe. It still a Kentish ale using East Kent Goldings, Target, and Challenger Hops all locally grown. British Ale Malt and British Crystal Malts being used. Spitfire Gold is currently only bottled, sold in the UK and China. The small batch brewery has already run 2 trials, First Drop cask edition and Heart of Africa, which were well received. First Drop is now keg conditioned only at present, being a session IPA at 4.3%abv with notes of passion fruit, mango and peach, It is not thought to be a permanent brew but neither was Spitfire! A full calendar of Cask Club real ale’s from the main brew house as well as keg ales from the small batch brew house is scheduled for next year. The Railway Hotel Faversham: Donna and Dave have now settled in as new licensees, and are soon to announce the opening of the kitchen and hotel rooms. The Anchor Inn Faversham: Josephine and Patrick, experienced licensees, opened on the 16th November.

Thanks very much, Cheers, John CAMRA Brewery Liaison Officer for Shepherd Neame