Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame has announced the latest additions to its popular range of 5 litre mini kegs – award-winning Kentish strong ale Bishops Finger and seasonal favourite Late Red.
Bishops Finger (5.2% ABV) was first brewed in 1958, and takes its name from the finger-shaped Kentish signposts which pointed pilgrims on their way to Canterbury Cathedral.
The Kentish Strong Ale has Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the European Union in recognition of the local provenance of its ingredients, as it is brewed in Faversham with chalk-filtered mineral water taken from the artesian well beneath the brewery, its own unique yeast, and hops grown in Kent.
A rich, chestnut-brown ale with a toffee aroma, Bishops Finger boasts a dark, fruity palate of prunes, plums and dried apricot which give way to a peppery, soft bitter blood-orange finish. It has been honoured with numerous taste awards, most recently receiving a Silver Medal in the 2020 International Beer Challenge.
Late Red (4.5% ABV) is a seasonal beer, typically available from September to November. It is a complex and full-flavoured crimson-copper ale, forging the perfect balance between rich, dark malt flavours and citrussy hops. Brewed with UK Cascade and Goldings hops, it blends pale ale malt and gently-kilned crystal malt to give hints of toffee, tropical fruit and a peppery finish. To further enhance its taste and aroma, the beer is triple-hopped, with a late copper addition of Goldings and Cascade.
Other mini kegs currently available include Spitfire Amber Ale, Spitfire Lager, Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale, Bear Island Triple Hopped Lager and New Dawn Citrus IPA.
All mini kegs can be purchased from Shepherd Neame’s online shop and brewery shop in Faversham.
