FOOD + DRINK
Hops and Apples and Beer- Oh My! cont...
was following the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, with a plethora of new apple varieties arriving from northern France, that large-scale apple growing and cider-making truly cemented their place within the changing era.
Made from fermented pressed apple juice- with France’ s refined techniques lending great inspiration- cider became a widely popular beverage by the Middle Ages when apples were grown in orchards attached to monasteries and manors. In the many years following, Kent’ s apple orchards flourished, with the county becoming one of the finest producers of dessert and culinary varieties grown especially for crisp and characterful ciders- by the end of the 19th century, Kent was home to a mighty 25,000 acres of orchards!
A Creatively Crafted Future
While both British brewing and cider-making saw a decline post-war due to economic hardship and industrialisation, Kent’ s deeply rooted beverage traditions have since resurged into a growing industry to be proud of. Today, in an evolved modern world driven by individuality, innovation and sustainability, Kent is utterly thriving with a dynamic collection of crafters sitting beside an abundance of warming pubs and taprooms in which flavour, quality and community are of the utmost importance. Whether you like a bold and bitter ale or a light and sweet cider, this celebratory round-up of some of Kent’ s best breweries, cideries, beer-fuelled adventures and beverage boltholes is sure to leave you eager for a refreshing glass of something Kentish.
BREWING AT ITS BEST
Shepherd Neame, Faversham shepherdneame. co. uk
As Britain’ s oldest brewer, which today proudly holds a growing collection of over 300 pubs and hotels under its name, Shepherd Neame has been at the forefront of Kent’ s brewing legacy for centuries. Neatly nestled within the medieval market town of Faversham and seeped in an illustrious past of generational tales, the brewery today produces a wide range of award-winning Shepherd Neame tipples- from traditional Kentish ales such as Spitfire Amber Ale and Bishops Finger, to contemporary beers including First Drop and Whitstable Bay.
On an insightful tour of the heritage-rich Faversham site, guests will pay a visit to the Old Brewery Store which features impressive displays of historic delivery vehicles and collections of hop picking and pub memorabilia before delighting in an expert-tutored ale and lager tasting.
Canterbury Brewers & Distillers, Canterbury canterburybrewers-distillers. co. uk
Housed in a beautiful Victorian industrial foundry once famed for its globally produced cast metal items, Canterbury Brewers & Distillers- and their much-loved Foundry Brewpub- is all about crafting exceptional beers, ciders and spirits to be enjoyed amongst loved ones, with concocting delicious new flavours a longloved passion for founders Jon and Jodie.
Following a tour exploring the wonderful stories behind the bottles( today an esteemed collection of beers, ciders, gin, rum, vodka, whiskey and even a moonshine), head to the Brewpub to savour tasty classics that take on an American Brewpubinspired twist, with the expert bar staff always on hand to suggest your perfect tipple pairing.
Romney Marsh Brewery, Romney Marsh romneymarshbrewery. com
A cherished family-run micro-brewery situated in the glorious rural setting of Romney Marsh. Having spent their free time enjoying a small batch of home-produced ales, passionate husband and wife team, Matt Calais and Cathy Koester, joined by Matt’ s dad Brian Calais, took the leap in 2015 to turn their fast-growing hobby into a family business built upon a heartwarming shared goal to brew accessible ales for beer lovers and beer newcomers everywhere.
With a distinctive range of great tasting ales and lagers made using British-grown barley, wheat, oats and hops, the brewery’ s excellent bottles and draughts are widely available from an array of local restaurants, pubs and farm shops, as well as from their Romney Marsh brewery shop open every Friday.
Westerham Brewery, Westerham westerhambrewery. co. uk
With a keen dedication to providing top quality craft beers for locals and beyond to enjoy, Westerham Brewery has set out to revive the town’ s once rich history of brewing since it first opened in 2004. Today, available within their buzzing taproom that showcases a changing roster of street food vendors and events, a premium collection of ales, lagers, stouts and IPAs has achieved just that.
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