Shepherd Neame 1698 Real Ale

We like real ale.
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? 

Brakspear Triple III

I had never enjoyed the taste of beer, well, not until our recent World travels. Now I love it!
As we spent two years travelling, I'm sure you can imagine it was thirsty work, so I often refreshed myself with a nice cold beer - or three.
Now we're back in Blighty I still enjoy the taste of beer, and so does Mr.R which is why he bought a bottle of Brakspear Triple III to try.

So, what did we think of this beer?
I only had a sip from Mr.R's glass, I didn't like it, not for any particular reason, I don't think it's a bad beer, in fact I'm sure it's very tasty, it just wasn't for me.
Mr.R said he really liked it. Here's what he wrote about it on his blog -
''The Brakspear Triple III is a mighty fine ale. It is a proper beer for a proper people. 
On the palate it is fruity, spicy and hoppy with a good depth of flavours which are aided by it coming in at ABV 6.7%. 
I give it 8/10.
ABV: 6.7%.
Hops: Target Malt: Pale, Black Crystal and Oats.

The labels on the front and back of this beer bottle say -
Thanks to two fermentations in the Brakspear 'Double Drop' system & another in bottle, this highly aromatic & satisfying strong beer delivers its rich flavour with subtlety & balance. 
Crystal, Black & Pale malts provide the backbone of this outstandingly rich beer. Golding, Styrian & Cascade hops are added in both the Copper & the Whirlpool with a further late addition of whole Cascade hops during fermentation, to impart a dry hop character to this complex beer. 

Mmm, reading the description made me want to drink it. Maybe I didn't taste enough of it when Mr.R opened the bottle?
Have you tried Brakspear Triple III?
What's your opinion of this beer?