REFRESHING SESSION IPA, FIRST DROP, JOINS BRITAIN’S OLDEST BREWER SHEPHERD NEAME’S PERMANENT RANGE

Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, has unveiled a refreshing new addition to its permanent range - Session IPA, First Drop (4.3% ABV).

A fusion of four UK and US hops, First Drop’s journey begins deep in the ancient well which the historic Faversham Brewery is built on. 

Water from the artesian well is combined with the finest English Pale malt in our traditional brewhouse and then infused with UK Challenger and Jester hops, as well as US hops, Mosaic and Amarillo, to create a crisp, zesty brew.

First Drop was originally created as a limited-edition craft keg beer in Shepherd Neame’s Small Batch Brewery, a 15 barrel kit installed in 2023. Due to its popularity, it is now being produced in the main brewhouse on a larger scale, and joining its permanent range.

A vibrant new keg lens has been designed to stand out on the bar, featuring contemporary, stylised representations of the Faversham Brewery and brewing process using a bright palette of yellows and greens to reflect the beer’s lively citrus aromas and flavours. 

Director of Brewing, Mike Unsworth, said: “It takes something special to be good enough to join our permanent range of beers, ales and lagers – the last time we added one was in 2021, when we introduced Noughty Bear 0.5% IPA.

“We have really enjoyed using the Small Batch Brewery to experiment with new styles and flavours, and are incredibly proud of First Drop. Our brewers worked hard to create a refreshing yet well-balanced Session IPA, and we are sure it will prove a popular addition to our range.”

First Drop (4.3% ABV) is now available at selected sites across the independent family brewer’s estate of more than 290 pubs and hotels across Kent, London and the South East.

For more information about Shepherd Neame’s award-winning range of beers visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk/beer