Shepherd Neame head brewer Richard Frost with a bottle of 1215
Shepherd Neame has launched a strictly limited edition ale to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.
It is named 1215 after the year in which the historic document was sealed, establishing the rule of law and also defining the traditional pint of ale: “There shall be but one Measure throughout the Realm.”
A traditional strong English ale, 1215 (8% ABV) is infused with medieval ale ingredients from the hedgerow, such as mugwort, yarrow, woodruff and fennel, which were used before hops became proliferant.
It is presented in a traditional amber 750ml bottle, embossed with the Shepherd Neame crook. Only 1,215 bottle-conditioned beers have been released, each encased within a presentation box bearing the signature approval of brewery president Robert Neame.
Head brewer, Richard Frost, said: “We brewed 1215 in our pilot brewery, which allowed us to experiment, and are really pleased with the result. It is very rich, with a hint of herbs to give a sense of what we believe ale would have tasted like during the medieval period.
“We’ve used a grist mix of pale ale malt, caramalt and chocolate malt resulting in a smooth and rich, biscuity sweetness. One week of fermentation using our house ale yeast was followed up by a lengthier maturation period. This allowed the hedgerow ingredients to meld and build the complexity of the beer, resulting in something really quite special.”
The brewery has been making beer at its historic site in the market town of Faversham, Kent, for more than 400 years. Faversham has a special connection to the Magna Carta as its town council recently discovered that a copy in its archives was an original.
To commemorate the anniversary, the copy will be put on display in a special exhibition during the month of June. The town is also holding a weekend of celebrations on June 13 and 14, when Shepherd Neame will be offering visitors the chance to sample 1215 at two special guided brewery tours including tutored tastings. The tours are taking place at 11am and 2pm on Sunday, June 14. Tickets are priced £12.75 for adults, £8.90 for children aged 12 to 17 inclusive. For more information or to book, call Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre on 01795 542016 or email tours@shepherdneame.co.uk
The beer is on sale now, priced £17.50, from Shepherd Neame’s brewery shop at www.shepherdneame.co.uk/shop
