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FEATURE 019 Shepherd Neame The Mount Vineyard
No.17
“The production of beer is all about the quality of the water that is used, which is excellent here as we are supplied by the Greensand aquifer,” explains Jane of the company’s pure source of local water. She added that the move into new
premises had gone especially well, and enabled the company to expand and also allow visitors to come and have a real beer experience themselves.
Jane added: “Our tours have been going very well, which includes our most popular gift which offers a chance to be a brewer for the day. “I think what makes it special is that people can now be a part of it all – from the making of it, to enjoying drinking it, and there is a fantastic vibe which makes it great to visit.”
A place in history
While such businesses have made notable headway in the market, it is Shepherd Neame that holds the longest-running beer production history in the county. With a history dating back to the 16th
century, its headquarters in Faversham had an extremely prosperous turnover of £140 million last year. The company’s fl agship Spitfi re brand
is appreciated in a number of locations around the world, having paved the way for a broad range of beers in its wake. Among these are its Whitstable Bay lager series, plus a host of traditional seasonal ales spanning everything from the famed Bishop’s Finger, through to a highly-regarded stout. This summer the business has even
ventured a step further in releasing its Orchard View cider, which is a fi rst in its fi ve centuries of history. Across into East Sussex, at New Place Farm, Framfi eld, Cellar Head Brewing
Company has enjoyed its fi rst production fl ourish since founding in March this year.
As owners Julia and Chris McKenzie explained, there had been “months of soul searching” to fi nd the right venue, but support from friends and family has enabled them to fi nally pull off their long-cherished goal. However, they explained there was a vital missing ingredient, a brewer, but they were swiftly approached by David Berry to join the company. Through his industry experience they
were soon underway and sold their fi rst cask in May and demand for Cellar Head ale, featuring local ingredients, has steadily increased.
Chris said: “The actual decision to plunge everything into setting up the brewery was, without question, the hardest part, what followed was in relative terms fairly straightforward.”
Gin & it!
In addition to beers, gin has been proving increasing popular with producers in the county. There are now several West Kent fi rms that have made their mark including the award-winning Anno Kent Dry Gin. Made in Marden, it blends samphire from the Romney Marsh and Kent hops with
locally-foraged elderfl ower. For more information, visit
www.annodistillers.co.uk Other notable offerings from the county
THE WESTERN
HALF OF KENT HAS GAINED A STRONG REPUTATION
FOR THEIR BEER BREWING
include Greensand Ride London Dry Gin developed in Shipbourne, which is an aromatic, citrusy variety using 15 botanicals; Mayfi eld Sussex Hop Gin; 1606 Premium London Dry Gin, bottled in small batches of 100 using spring water from Tunbridge Wells, as well as Ableforth’s Bathtub award-winning gin also from the town created using a traditional technique known as cold compounding to create its distinctive fl avour. While back in
Westerham, watering hole
No.17 serves up no less than 65 gins and holds regular tasting sessions for its patrons who are treated to some of the gins on offer, along with a talk on the history of gin and tasting notes, accompanied by platters of their all-British charcuterie and cheeses. The next tasting will take place on 22nd
November from 7.30pm. To book, email Info@
no17westerham.co.uk or call 01959 563679.
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