Shepherd Neame

Shepherd Neame Brewery is what epitomises Kentish ale. It produces numerous varieties of flavourful, character filled ales, and is, in my opinion, one of Britain's best breweries. So, this week I tried two of their perhaps lesser known ales, and was able to compare.
     The first beer I tried was their 'Master Brew'. This particular ale is widely available across the Kent area, but outside England, is relatively unheard of.
   When poured, the beer exudes cut grass and floral scents. It pours a light amber colour with a creamy off-white head. On the first taste, the garden aromas are unmistakable. The beer has a real spring-time feel to it. Soon the taste settles down into a nice, drinkable smooth ale, with light hoppy notes, and perhaps even some mushroom flavours in the mix. It is not as full bodied an ale as some of it's competitors, and lacks the maltyness that provides some flavour, but this ale does make up for it, particularly in it's refreshing drinkability. (4%)
          
     The second Shepherd Neame beer I had was a Whitstable Bay Organic Ale. This was something of an education for me, having never had an ale labelled 'organic'. The beer pours a very orange colour, something akin to Lucozade, rather than ale, and the quickly fading head did not instill much confidence, but on first taste my doubts were quickly forgotten. It holds the same floral scents which impressed me about Master Brew, but held an unmistakably sweet toffee aroma. It was a very malty beer, but still managed to hold a crisp bitterness right throughout. On the tongue, sweet notes with some hop. The finish was slightly disappointing, however, as it was quite watery, but apart from that, this was a wonderful ale, and deserves praise.
(4.5%)