Shepherd Neame’s Cask Club will return next month, and the new run will kick off with Maverick, a well-balanced, bright golden ale at 3.4% ABV.
It offers sweet malty notes with a combination of floral, citrus, and tropical fruit aromas, courtesy of US Centennial hops. Three new and experimental UK hops — Ernest, Olicana, and Jester — were used during dry hopping.
And, it’s not just the flavours, but also the look of Cask Club that takes a fresh approach this year. New pumpclip designs bring to life stories of Britain’s oldest brewer and its unique Kentish roots.
Maverick tells the story of Richard Marsh, the pioneering founder of the Faversham brewery. In 1675, Marsh set up one of the first brewhouses in the Shepherd Neame-owned Artichoke pub, in Chartham, before purchasing the Shepherd Neame brewery in 1698.
“We are excited to celebrate a range of modern styles and flavours with our new beers, while bringing to life the stories of our brewery and its surroundings,” said Shepherd Neame director of brewing, Mike Unsworth.
The Artichoke, at Chartham, the site of Shepherd Neame founder Richard Marsh’s first brewhouse.
Photographs: Shepherd Neame
“We look forward to encouraging more people to try and enjoy what we believe is one of the best drinks in the world, at the same time showcasing some of our seasonal favourites.”
To celebrate the launch of this year’s initiative, drinkers are invited to enjoy a free pint of cask ale at participating Shepherd Neame pubs in its first ever Cask Club Beer Festival, which will run from 13th-26th February. Find out more here.
From March, drinkers will be able to pick up a Cask Club passport at participating pubs, collecting a bespoke crook stamp for each new Cask Club ale tried. Those who complete the passport will be eligible for an exclusive Cask Club t-shirt, and will be entered into a prize draw for a weekend getaway.
The programme for 2023 promises to be every bit as groundbreaking as previous years. Future ales to look out for over the next few months include: Citra Smack (3.8% ABV, Citra ale), Dragonfire (4.5% ABV, English ale) and session IPA Creekside (3.4% ABV).
