Mr.R has always enjoyed a decent real ale, whereas I've only been a fan since I got a taste for real ale during our most recent World travels.
Now we're back in Blighty we have been enjoying some English real ales.
Mr.R recently bought a bottle of Shepherd Neame 1698, bottled conditioned Kentish strong ale.
He really liked this beer, and so did I.
The Shepherd Neame website says this about the beer -
1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale 6.5%
Thrice-hopped and bottle conditioned, 1698 is the connoisseur's choice, a beer to be savoured.
Originally brewed to celebrate the tercentenary of Britain's oldest brewer, 1698 is a characteristically hoppy Kentish ale, and has Protected Geographical Indication, the same unique regional protection afforded to Champagne and Parma Ham.
The ale matures naturally in the bottle and can be enjoyed fresh or allowed to settle for a few months to mellow. The natural effervescence produced by bottle-conditioning – the interaction of yeast and brewing sugars – gives 1698 fine, champagne-like bubbles that further enhance the fragrance, flavour and overall drinking experience.
A silver medal winner in the Taste of Britain Awards, 1698 has been included in the International Beer Challenge's World's Top 50 Beers and has won a Gold Award from the British Bottlers' Institute.
Tasting Notes
First brewed in 1998 to celebrate Shepherd Neame's tercentenary, this copper-bronze, bottle conditioned beauty is an intense yet uniquely intricate offering thrice-hopped during the brewing process. This adds rich resinous notes and spikes of citrus to a moreish strong ale already rife with notes of liquorice, Masala wine, caramel and spicy orange. A frisson of dark fruit freshens the finish. Serve with smoked cheese.
We really liked this lovely real ale. It was spicy, fruity and malty, with a hop finish, it had a nice mouthfeel, and we would definitely buy it again.
Have you tried Shepherd Neame 1698 Ale?
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