1698 Kentish Ale🍺 still going strong
Hello Hivians and all you beer lovers.
PS If you are not a beer lover ... why not 🤣...
Saturday on Hive of course means it's time to write about the good old amber nectar or Beer
Today we are heading down south....
All the way down to Kent in the South East England.
Shepherd Neame is the name of the brewer in Faversham, Kent whose beer we are sampling today.
1698 is the beer
They claim to be Britain's oldest brewer.
1698 was first brewed in 1998 to celebrate 300 years of brewing at the Faversham site.
I will be honest in saying that what drew me to grabbing a couple of bottles of this beer when I was shopping was seeing the ALC 6.5% VOL on the label.
To be frank, I am fcuking sick of shrinkflation and seeing beers that are about as strong as a weak cup of tea, so I wanted something that felt like drinking a proper pint of beer!
Thick Head of Foam
The head is a sign of good carbonation and creates a creamy texture...
... and 1698 passed the test with flying colours.
Their website says ..
The natural effervescence produced by bottle-conditioning – the interaction of yeast and brewing sugars – gives 1698 fine, Champagne-like bubbles that further enhance the fragrance, flavour and overall drinking experience.
I think you can see the champagne like bubbles floating up the drink!
I did let it settle before having a sip or three and filling my glass up
A Tasty Ale
You remember one of the earlier pictures of the label, showing the Protected Geographical Indication. That means the beer is made with specific ingredients and a traditional brewing method, ensuring quality and authenticity.
It felt like a beer, it felt like you were getting a bang for your buck so to speak.
It really was tasty and had quite a few flavours whirling round your tongue when you took a sip!
Paired with Food
It was a tasty beer and it went well with my spicy chicken dinner.
Their website says Serve with smoked cheese, well I would add serve with spicy chicken rice and chips!
My verdict
Thrice-hopped and bottle conditioned, 1698 is the connoisseur's choice, a beer to be savoured.
I love smooth and tasty beers. I love caramel, liquorice and spicy citrus fruits.
They were all in the glass of 1698. Talking of glass I love a pint from a glass bottle, it just tastes more authentic and less tinny in my mind!
The copper bronze colour added to the belief that yeah this was a traditional pint of strong beer.
It was enjoyable and I shall be having another in the near future.
The deets
Note these are summarised from my Gemini AI account.
Characteristics:
- ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 6.5%
- Rich, Dark Amber Color: The beer has a deep, inviting color that suggests a robust flavor profile.
- Thick Head of Foam: The head is a sign of good carbonation and creates a creamy texture.
- Complex Flavor Profile: Expect notes of fruit, hops, and malt, with a well-balanced sweetness.
As you can see from the above screenshot, not too sweet and not too bitter just a perfect balance of flavors.
Posting about a beer on a Saturday on the Beer Community ....
Cheers to the ale and cheers to 1698
It's a whole bunch of fun, so check out The #BeerSaturday Challenge - Week 403 from the one and only @detlev.
This #BeerSaturday week I would like to invite @nancybriti1 who I know has a beer to share from Venezuela🍻
Thanks for visiting and enjoy the rest of your day!
All images and ramblings are from me, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo unless indicated otherwise ... All Photos taken with my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone. Note lead image designed on Canva Pro.
@tengolotodo March 22nd 2025
That sounds good! I hate weak beers with no alcohol. It's refreshing to see something with a bit of a kick and a great taste. I tend to try a lot of craft breweries around here for just that reason. Looks like you had some good food and beer!
I am with you on the craft breweries, I am now firmly a quality over quantity guy, don't mind a bit more for something that hasa kick and great taste!
Oh,beer is here and Some more food😌😌😆
lol and we still need to get your post done 🤣
Hehehe😌😌
You described it so well, that provokes me to taste it! The detail: with three of those, one begins to see people as pretty. hahaha. I like bitter beers, especially if they are cold and I accompany them with a good snack. I think I will accept your invitation and show you one of the beers with the longest history in Venezuela, the Polarcita Negra. A hug from 6.5°.
We call that, wearing beer goggles 🤣
Bitter beers are great with food, but they don't have to be too cold. It is cold enough here already! Now I am waiting to see your dark beer. Sending you a dark hug 😛
looks and sounds delicious, i like the vintage design of the botlle :D
The design is cool and a throwback to days when beer was strong and tasty!
Great old style bitter one go my favourites but I don’t see it often.
It's a good beer. One to look out for and yes I don't see it that often either to be honest.
Cheers! That's a very old vintage for the brewery; I'd love to taste it! 🍻
Yeah it was a good pint! Cheers Seck 🍻
There isn't a week I guess that you don't drink beer 😅
Hehe you know I often drink no beers in a week. But sometimes I will have three different beers in a week too 🤣
This was fun to read, @tengolotodo. "All the way down to Kent in the South East England." Did you drive all the way down there to enjoy this memorable meal?
I agree wholeheartedly. There is something about drinking out of a glass bottle, which an aluminum can and mostly certainly a plastic bottle cannot match!
Hehe oh no, the memorable meal was all the way in my front room 🤣
We have become so accustomed to cans and plastic we tend to forget the taste quality is superb from a bottle!
Greetings! I am not really a fan of strong beers but I am trying to explore the taste of it. But one thing I notice is that the design is classic. I love front design
Welcome to Hive, I see you are new. Ah yes the design is simple yet classic like you say. Red horse I am guessing is a beer you drink?
Red horse is famous as well here in the Philippines, have you tried it?
I have friends from the Philippines who tell me about it :)
It seems to be good beer as I like it. Nice traditional design.
As you said, price are higher here too as the can are standard, they can do shrinkflation 😀
Cheers 🍻
Hehe I don't mind a bit more of it is worth paying for.
They tax beer in Scotland by the strength so now they make it weaker to pay less tax but still charge us the same price or more! Bastaards!
Oh, clever technique, but consumers are being taken for fools.
Yea and we keep on buying like fools too!