1698 - Shepherd Neame (6.5% ABV)

Good old Shepherd Neame. They sure know how to create a beer with plenty of Fuggles and EKG hops... Hopefully this bottled conditioned anniversary brew will break the mould of their otherwise boring range. I say boring, it's not that their beer isn't any good (it is), but it just all seems to taste the same.

Amber coloured with a soap sudsy head, the aroma is mix of fruity yeast esters, light floral hops and malty sweetness. Not bad at all.

Feels great on the palate and initial taste is pleasing indeed - burnt sugars, toasted malts and a rich, chewy texture that gives hints of butterscotch. Yeast flavours kick-in thereafter with stewed apples and bramble fruits, which develops into a very light hop bitterness, and a gentle, earthy spiciness.

Mouthfeel is chewy, full bodied, rich and warming. Plenty of carbonation which contributes to a lovely smooth texture, and only mild astringency.

Could do with more hops in my opinion, but the balance is sufficient and it benefits hugely from being bottle conditioned. SN have done well, and put something on to the supermarket shelves that deviates from their usual benchmark.