Shepherd Neame is reviving its Faversham Steam Brewery identity as the umbrella brand for a new range of Whitstable Bay beers. The Faversham Steam Brewery title was originally adopted by Shepherd Neame in the late 18th century, when it became one of the first steam-powered breweries outside of London. The brewery heavily marketed its introduction of automation, after buying a five horse power engine from steam pioneers Boulton and Watt.
The range will consist of three Whitstable Bay beers:
• Whitstable Bay Pale Ale: available in cask and keg at 3.9% ABV and 500ml bottles at 4% abv. A full-bodied, fruity ale with a subtle bitterness and grapefruit and pine aromas.
• Whitstable Bay Blonde Lager: available in keg and 330ml bottles at 4.5% ABV. A pale, refreshing lager with spicy overtones, balanced by the scent of fresh flowers.
• Whitstable Bay Organic Ale (an existing product): available in 500ml bottles at 4.5% ABV. A dark blonde organic ale imbued with delicate, sweet summer fruit and smooth soda bread undertones. Clean, crisp and, says the brewer, incredibly quaffable.
Further beer styles and additional packaging options will follow in the autumn.
The coastal town of Whitstable thrives with alternative culture, great seafood and pebble beaches. The beer’s design reflects the town’s roots through the use of an oyster dredger silhouette and a laid back, sun-bleached aesthetic with a muted colour palette, yet retains a modern edge through the use of clean, simple lines and bold silver and black iconography. The brand identity will work as well in a bar or restaurant as in a traditional pub and each beer works well with a wide variety of food, particularly fish and seafood.
The beers are available nationally, both directly from Shepherd Neame and through wholesalers. Draught products will be available with stylish metal cask pump clips and elegant chrome keg fonts. Pale Ale will be available with a lit chrome font.
Pale Ale and Organic Ale will be available in 8 x 500ml trays and Blonde Lager will be available in 12 x 330ml trays and 24 x 330ml cases. Point of sale items will include branded blade bottle openers, bar runners, standard pint and stemmed pint glasses, the latter of which are marked at two-thirds.
Shepherd Neame marketing manager, Mark Miller, said: “The revival of the Faversham Steam Brewery is the perfect fit for a re-invigorated Whitstable Bay. The result is high quality, modern beers that reach beyond Shepherd Neame’s traditional customers. We look forward to further innovation in terms of beer styles, dispense and packaging.”
Thoroughly enjoyed the organic ale, which has hints of Summer Lightning and Jaipur without the “punch”. An excellent general light ale to consume on any occasion.
I would drink this as a regular drink because the BVR is a lot less than my other “top” drinks.
Absolutely gorgeous drop of ale.
just finished a bottleof Whitstable Bay Pale Ale.
Lovely drop, a ‘proper’ pale ale.
I purchased some Organic bottled ale from Waitrose Beckenham when I was staying at my sons but now being back home in Royston I cannot find a retailer selling it. How can I get some- it was quite the best bottled beer I have had.
Hi Mike,
If you find out the name of the brewer of the ale, I would then e-mail their sales department who should know all their outlets.
Darren
Beer Today
A superb ale, prompting me to do what I rarely do which is bother to sing its praises on line. Fabulous drink, only wish a local pub had it on tap here on the IoW. Well done Cornwall. Great organic beer.
Just had a bottle of Organic Ale, quite a memory jogger and reminded me so much of the classic British hop flavour and malt profile. If that seems an odd thing to say I bought my bottle in a supermarket in Wellington, New Zealand. Nice work chaps a proper beer.
When will the Whitstable Bay Black Stout be available in bottles? Love to try it 🙂
I have previously enjoyed your Pale Ale but I recently purchased 8 cans from Sainsburys Nantwich and it is very disappointing, slightly cloudy with a winey taste, certainly sub standard. What is particularly annoying is the fact that your quality control has not picked up on what is obviously a bad batch. the number on the bottom of the cans reads: 20308 10-52-23 F23
Hi Peter,
This is a beer news website. We have no connection to the Faversham Steam Brewery, which is owned by Shepherd Neame. You can contact Shepherd Neame via their website, https://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/
All the best,
Darren