Our Brands / Beers / Bottled Ales

Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale

Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale was first brewed in 1990 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and to raise money for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. Since then, Spitfire has helped raise more than £250,000 for a range of armed forces charities, particularly the RAFBF and Help for Heroes, and has become the first beer to be accepted as a licensed partner of the RAF.

Spitfire won a 2009 Monde Selection Grand Gold Award and a 2010 Brewers Association World Beer Cup bronze while its tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign has developed a cult following.

Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale

Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale is a connoisseur's beer with excellent credentials and pedigree and is a silver medal-winner in the Daily Telegraph Taste of Britain awards.

It takes its name from the finger-shaped signposts which pointed pilgrims on their way to the tomb of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury and was the first strong ale to be brewed by Shepherd Neame after malt rationing was eased in the late 1950s. It is also one of the UK's oldest bottled beers, brewed since 1958.

Bishops Finger holds EU Protected Geographical Indication, recognising its unique provenance. Uniquely, it is brewed to a charter which states it can only be brewed by the head brewer on a Friday and that it must be brewed using 100% natural ingredients, Kentish hops and barley, and the brewery's own artesian mineral water.

Master Brew Kentish Ale

Master Brew is brewed using only the finest Kentish barley and hops and is Shepherd Neame's flagship beer in the brewery's Kentish heartland.

The "Local Hero" is a distinctive, mid-brown bitter ale, with all the hoppy aroma you would expect of a beer brewed in the heart of the hop country.

Hand-crafted by the Faversham brewery's talented team of experienced brewers, it is a well-balanced traditional ale, with a taste that's been described as "wonderfully aggressive, tinged with sweetness".

1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale

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.

Canterbury Jack

Canterbury Jack derives it name from the 17th century fairground tinkers in the Kentish cathedral city, infamous throughout the county for their roguish antics.

Canterbury Jack is brewed with pale and crystal malts and gently hopped with Cascade and East Kent Goldings grown within a few miles of the brewery.

The result is a light and refreshing contemporary ale, bursting with character and flavour, which will delight established and new beer-lovers alike.

Late Red Autumn Ale

Late Red Hop Ale, available all year round, has been triple-hopped to create a full-flavoured treat for beer lovers.

Expert brewers have hand-crafted this complex and richly flavoured premium ale from the finest Kentish hops, barley and mineral water, forging a perfect balance between rich, dark malt flavours and a strong robust hoppiness.

The finest pale ale malt and gently-kilned crystal malt is brewed with Cascade and East Kent Goldings to create a hoppy flavour, double enhanced with the late copper addition of East Kent Goldings and Cascades added to the cask for racking.

Early Bird Spring Hop Ale

Early Bird Spring Hop Ale makes its seasonal appearance between March and May, a fresh floral delight to sweep away the cold of winter and signal the prospect of warm days ahead.

The beer has been a welcome sign of the coming of spring since it was first brewed by Britain's oldest brewer in the mid 1990s.

A pale golden beer, with floral aroma, Early Bird is full-bodied and takes its name from the Early Bird variety of East Kent Goldings hops, grown in hop gardens near the brewery.

Whitstable Bay Organic Ale

Whitstable Bay Organic Ale is named after the Kent coastal town, famed for its oysters, and makes a great partner for light dishes such as seafood and salads.

It is a light, refreshing ale made from chalk-filtered mineral water, organic hops and winter pearl malting barley.

Sunset-gold in colour, Whitstable Bay combines delicate hints of fresh hops with the softer, buttery richness of pale and crystal organic malts and is delightful on its own or paired with summer holiday delights such as Whitstable oysters, potted shrimps, or traditional fish and chips.

Christmas Ale - Cask

Available on draught during December, Christmas Ale is the perfect tipple for the festive season. It is a full-bodied, warming winter ale, light in colour and characterised by a delicious, fragrant hoppy aroma & palate. A very special beer.

Goldings Summer Hop Ale

Goldings Summer Hop Ale is a light-flavoured bitter made with Kentish malt and fresh Goldings hops.

Harvested from hop gardens within five miles of the Shepherd Neame brewery in Faversham, the beer is almost floral-scented, with a unique biscuity taste.

A perfect accompaniment to village cricket, Goldings is available from June to August.