Kent brewers Shepherd Neame have rejoined the bottle conditioned beer ranks. Sheps were an early advocate of this style with their Spitfire, but for a number of reasons this was dropped some years ago. Well now Production Director, Ian Dixon feels that their control over quality and distribution is so far advanced that they can return to the fray. And what a beer they have returned with. Its a 6.5% brew called 1698, the year the brewery was established, and packs a great bitter punch being thrice hopped - Target hops at the start of the boil, East Kent Goldings at the end and finally even more Goldings are added after the beer is transferred to the whirlpool, to produce a pronounced, uniquely Kentish aroma. As the hops are Kentish, and the Pearl malted barley is Kentish, its truly a Kentish brew.

It is hoped to have some bottles available at the London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival in March.

John Cryne