Traditional Kentish Ale (for Sainsbury's, Taste The Difference)
Shepherd Neame Ltd
- From:
- Shepherd Neame Ltd
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Bitter
- ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 76
- Avg:
- 3.01 | pDev: 13.95%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 11
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Mar 23, 2021
- Added:
- Mar 30, 2011
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
76
Okay
76
Okay
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.27/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.27/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
500 ml clear bottle, from a Sainsbury Local in Whitton, London. ABV is 4.5%. Copper colour, large white head. Typical Shepherd Neame aroma of lightstruck hops, not unpleasant though. Also toffee notes. The flavour has also toffee notes, but is not very sweet. Hints of citrus. Moderate hops. Nice enough to drink.
Mar 23, 2021
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
3.74/5 rDev +24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev +24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L- Mid amber. CO2 killed by hotel glass [shan't downgrade on that, it's a 'classic'/known problem].
S- Toasty hay-stack
T- Dry front, through nice balance into hoppy/dry end with Kentish Golding hops prominent.
F- Quite dry with medium body. Nice balance, very refreshing if you like it hoppy but not OTT
O- Could make a session beer of this. Solid flavour and mouth-feel without too high an ABV%
Unable to find a BB date, anywhere, lable/glass, cap in nor out.
Jan 19, 2019S- Toasty hay-stack
T- Dry front, through nice balance into hoppy/dry end with Kentish Golding hops prominent.
F- Quite dry with medium body. Nice balance, very refreshing if you like it hoppy but not OTT
O- Could make a session beer of this. Solid flavour and mouth-feel without too high an ABV%
Unable to find a BB date, anywhere, lable/glass, cap in nor out.
Reviewed by GregBlatz from Ohio
3.38/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
L - Tan in color. Looks like tea with a thin white head. Very clear.
S - Metallic and light toasted malts. A little butterscotch.
T - Very sublte taste. Carbonation bite on the tongue. A little metallic up front. A little caramel and then finishes with a bit more bitterness then expected. Very mild fruity esters.
F - Thin and a bit slick.
O - Well, it is a pretty simple beer with mild but clearly British character. Nothing to offend anyone and nothing to make you fall in love with it either. i like it, you could drink these in a pub all day and be happy.
Update:
So, I got this beer at Sainsbury's in London obviously(work trip). Also got a Spitfire Kentish Ale.
Are these the exact same beer?
Similarities:
Exact same bottle, different label
Both Kentish Ale
both made by Shepherd Neame
My calorie app scanned this one as the Spitfire(but upc is different from spitfire).
Both 4.5%abv
I think the spitfire has a little more of everything in regards to flavor, but now I'm wondering if my mind is playing tricks on me.
Oct 18, 2016S - Metallic and light toasted malts. A little butterscotch.
T - Very sublte taste. Carbonation bite on the tongue. A little metallic up front. A little caramel and then finishes with a bit more bitterness then expected. Very mild fruity esters.
F - Thin and a bit slick.
O - Well, it is a pretty simple beer with mild but clearly British character. Nothing to offend anyone and nothing to make you fall in love with it either. i like it, you could drink these in a pub all day and be happy.
Update:
So, I got this beer at Sainsbury's in London obviously(work trip). Also got a Spitfire Kentish Ale.
Are these the exact same beer?
Similarities:
Exact same bottle, different label
Both Kentish Ale
both made by Shepherd Neame
My calorie app scanned this one as the Spitfire(but upc is different from spitfire).
Both 4.5%abv
I think the spitfire has a little more of everything in regards to flavor, but now I'm wondering if my mind is playing tricks on me.
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.46/5 rDev +15%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev +15%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Wonderful peaty aroma, with some apricot. Color is orange./amber/golden. Nice mild bitterness on the tongue. Soft carbonation. Flavor makes up for somewhat watery feel in mouth.
Jan 19, 2016
Reviewed by DypsoBubble from England
2.68/5 rDev -11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
2.68/5 rDev -11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
On the back of the bottle it says made with 'Kentish Goldings' and not 'Earlybird'. Aroma is bland and a bit sour, with a bit of sulphur and a slight whiff of vinegar and some hops. There is little sweetness from start to finish. Mouth-feel is weak like water. Not much malt but a bitter hop bite. Disappointing.
Aug 10, 2015
Reviewed by vinicole from England
3.28/5 rDev +9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.28/5 rDev +9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Clear amber. Thin but frothy head,
Typical Shepherd Neame smell and taste. Fruity hops with a caramel malt backbone.
Not much difference to this and Spitfire/Master Brew Ales.
Jun 26, 2014Typical Shepherd Neame smell and taste. Fruity hops with a caramel malt backbone.
Not much difference to this and Spitfire/Master Brew Ales.
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
3.11/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.11/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Bottled in a sadly clear glass bottle
pours a golden body with decent enough white headFaint malt smell,amber colour,clear. Taste of malt,carbonation helps a bit. Bland.
Nov 01, 2013pours a golden body with decent enough white headFaint malt smell,amber colour,clear. Taste of malt,carbonation helps a bit. Bland.
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England
2.97/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.97/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A 500ml clear glass bottle with a BB of Nov 2012. The rear label mentions the use of hop variety Earlybird - that's a new one by me.
Poured into a straight pint glass. A clear orange-amber colour with plentiful carbonation. Forms a small head of frothy white foam that subsides almost immediately and disappears. Aroma of caramel malt with notes of roasted grain, stewed hops and that distinctive Shep Neame house yeast. Not much in the way of floral hops, though perhaps a touch of cardboard in the background.
Tastes of caramel malt with a dry, bitter finish. Notes of roasted grain, stewed hops, dry yeast, a hint of brown sugar and faint cardboard. No aromatic hops to be noticed. A restrained bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, but rather insubstantial. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of caramel malt and stewed hops.
Another so-so ale from Shepherd Neame. It's a pity that a brewery with such a pedigree has mastered the art of mediocrity. There's nothing fundamentally or technically wrong with this brew; it's just boring. Standard caramel malt and stewed leaf bitterness. Goes down OK, but there are so many other beers out there. Give it a miss.
Sep 03, 2012Poured into a straight pint glass. A clear orange-amber colour with plentiful carbonation. Forms a small head of frothy white foam that subsides almost immediately and disappears. Aroma of caramel malt with notes of roasted grain, stewed hops and that distinctive Shep Neame house yeast. Not much in the way of floral hops, though perhaps a touch of cardboard in the background.
Tastes of caramel malt with a dry, bitter finish. Notes of roasted grain, stewed hops, dry yeast, a hint of brown sugar and faint cardboard. No aromatic hops to be noticed. A restrained bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, but rather insubstantial. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of caramel malt and stewed hops.
Another so-so ale from Shepherd Neame. It's a pity that a brewery with such a pedigree has mastered the art of mediocrity. There's nothing fundamentally or technically wrong with this brew; it's just boring. Standard caramel malt and stewed leaf bitterness. Goes down OK, but there are so many other beers out there. Give it a miss.
Reviewed by wl0307 from England
3.2/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Purchased recently at the Sainsbury’s, under the “Taste the Difference” label; coming in a clear 500ml bottle, BB March 2012, served cool in a straight imperial pint glass. Notes: the back label specifies a single hop variety, EarlyBird, is used, reminding me of the same brewery’s seasonal brew “Early Bird” – possibly a rebranded product?
A: pours a bright amber hue with lively but fine carbonation, topped with a thin sheet of off-white foam lasting throughout the drink.
S: initially a skunky smell comes through, but dissipates fairly quickly; the citrusy notes of hops pair with the sweet malty (a touch caramely as well) elements quite well, with floral hints lagging behind, quite like what the beer label describes. Simple and nice.
T: the softly floral and citrusy palate is ensued by a wave of good quality English pale malts, with lingering floral notes and a root-veggie like undertones, leaving a semi…tangy feel on the sides of the tongue. Not bitter in the end, more like a very mild Blond Ale, which is a new and vague CAMRA classification.
M&D: mildly carbonated, refreshing, medium-bodied and not actually thin, but the flavour profile overall is quite dull or at least not exciting for my taste. An okay offering.
Jun 08, 2011A: pours a bright amber hue with lively but fine carbonation, topped with a thin sheet of off-white foam lasting throughout the drink.
S: initially a skunky smell comes through, but dissipates fairly quickly; the citrusy notes of hops pair with the sweet malty (a touch caramely as well) elements quite well, with floral hints lagging behind, quite like what the beer label describes. Simple and nice.
T: the softly floral and citrusy palate is ensued by a wave of good quality English pale malts, with lingering floral notes and a root-veggie like undertones, leaving a semi…tangy feel on the sides of the tongue. Not bitter in the end, more like a very mild Blond Ale, which is a new and vague CAMRA classification.
M&D: mildly carbonated, refreshing, medium-bodied and not actually thin, but the flavour profile overall is quite dull or at least not exciting for my taste. An okay offering.
Reviewed by fullsweep from England
3/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
500 mL clear bottle poured into a pint glass tumbler.
A: clear, tawny/amber coloured beer; 2-finger head that dissipates somewhat quickly--leaves a little lacing
S: a bit of citrus fruit and possibly some melon (cantaloupe) and banana--but all of this is pretty mild
T: taste echoes the scent--mildly fruity sweet, but pretty well-balanced with hop bitterness, not very rich
M: a bit more carbonated that perhaps it should be for a bitter ale; thinnish but slightly sticky
O: not a bad beer but not incredible either. I'd drink it again but won't necessarily seek it out
May 24, 2011A: clear, tawny/amber coloured beer; 2-finger head that dissipates somewhat quickly--leaves a little lacing
S: a bit of citrus fruit and possibly some melon (cantaloupe) and banana--but all of this is pretty mild
T: taste echoes the scent--mildly fruity sweet, but pretty well-balanced with hop bitterness, not very rich
M: a bit more carbonated that perhaps it should be for a bitter ale; thinnish but slightly sticky
O: not a bad beer but not incredible either. I'd drink it again but won't necessarily seek it out
Reviewed by BlackHaddock from England
3.2/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Clear 500ml bottle, no best before date found.
Poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard: lovely amber coloured body, clear and clean looking. On top sat a white head of bubbles, slowly subsiding.
Citrus and hoppy aroma, nothing heavy, but an aroma none the less.
More hop than malts in the flavour, tangy and fairly crisp in the mouthfeel.
Another average bottled beer from Shepherd Neame, they seem to make hundreds of them!
Mar 30, 2011Poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard: lovely amber coloured body, clear and clean looking. On top sat a white head of bubbles, slowly subsiding.
Citrus and hoppy aroma, nothing heavy, but an aroma none the less.
More hop than malts in the flavour, tangy and fairly crisp in the mouthfeel.
Another average bottled beer from Shepherd Neame, they seem to make hundreds of them!
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