FOOD & DRINK : BREW AND DISTIL
Kentish Hops
BREW AND DISTIL
The county of Kent holds a unique place in the history of brewing and distilling in Great Britain . When hops were first cultivated in this country over 600 years ago , it was at Westbere , just outside Canterbury , that they were grown . The Garden of England ’ s fertile soil was so well suited to growing hops , Kent soon became the centre of the British hop industry , which remains to this day both an important part of the county ’ s history and its status in British brewing . Artisan spirits have also had a booming and continuous rise in popularity , with Kent being home to some of the UK ’ s most favoured and prominent distillers who blend their own unique flavour and identity into their concoctions . The market town of Faversham is famously home to Shepherd Neame – the oldest surviving brewer in the country – with a history that can be traced back to the mid-16 th century . In the last decade , a spectacular renaissance has taken place and Kent now boasts over 60 different brewers and distillers . The county is also the birthplace of the micropub ; enchanting , small and independent pubs that pour their focus into locally sourced , meticulously selected drinks . Together with a new found sense of pride and a love of artisan and local , Kent distillers and brewers have helped revive the art of brewing and distilling across the county - something that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home , in a charming pub or trendy restaurant , or during a fascinating tour of one of the premises themselves .
Pleasant Land , Aldington , nr Ashford Family run and proudly the only sustainable contract distillery in the UK , Pleasant Land works alongside growers , dreamers and established brands to create the best of British spirits including their own debut White Cliffs gin , inspired by foraging walks along Kent ’ s south coast . www . pleasantlanddistillery . com
Maidstone Distillery , Maidstone In 1785 George Bishop built a new distillery , an impressive building which dominated the Maidstone skyline . In the years that followed , Maidstone Gin would become important on both national and international stages , renowned for producing one of the finest gins in all of Europe , referred to as Maidstone Gin or Maidstone Geneva and loved by Napoleon himself ! Honouring this gin legacy today , Maidstone Distillery has been lovingly restored and is now a beautiful building where visitors can learn about the distillery ’ s rich legacy . Enjoy watching the spirits being made firsthand and experience the art of distilling in a fun and exciting way with one of their brilliant experiences that come complete with tasting sessions . wwwthemaidstonedistillery . com
Shepherd Neame , Faversham Britain ’ s oldest brewer , Shepherd Neame has been brewing beer since 1698 . It is the hops that grew on Kent ’ s rich , fertile soil that began beer brewing , with Faversham always being a key location for the process . With more than 300 pubs throughout London and the South East , the brewery has a popular visitor centre and offers award-winning guided tours which include an interesting tasting session . Learn about the ancient art of brewing up close , see fermentation vessels , taste natural mineral water from the brewery ’ s well , try some malted barley and smell locally grown Kentish hops . The 80-minute tour also includes a visit to the Old Brewery Store , which features impressive displays of historic delivery vehicles , a recreated coopers ’ workshop , bygone pub signs and a collection of hop picking memorabilia . It ends back in the Visitor Centre with a tutored tasting of Shepherd Neame ’ s Kentish ales and speciality lagers before visitors have the chance to visit the brewery shop and pick up a souvenir , gift and , of course , some of their favourite beer . www . shepherdneame . co . uk
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