Hello Hivians and all you beer lovers.
PS If you are not a beer lover ... why not 🤣...
Saturday on Hive of course means it's time to write about the good old amber nectar or Beer
Today we are heading down south....
All the way down to Kent in the South East England.
Shepherd Neame is the name of the brewer in Faversham, Kent whose beer we are sampling today.
1698 is the beer
They claim to be Britain's oldest brewer.
1698 was first brewed in 1998 to celebrate 300 years of brewing at the Faversham site.
I will be honest in saying that what drew me to grabbing a couple of bottles of this beer when I was shopping was seeing the ALC 6.5% VOL on the label.
To be frank, I am fcuking sick of shrinkflation and seeing beers that are about as strong as a weak cup of tea, so I wanted something that felt like drinking a proper pint of beer!
Thick Head of Foam
The head is a sign of good carbonation and creates a creamy texture...
... and 1698 passed the test with flying colours.
Their website says ..
The natural effervescence produced by bottle-conditioning – the interaction of yeast and brewing sugars – gives 1698 fine, Champagne-like bubbles that further enhance the fragrance, flavour and overall drinking experience.
I think you can see the champagne like bubbles floating up the drink!
I did let it settle before having a sip or three and filling my glass up
A Tasty Ale
You remember one of the earlier pictures of the label, showing the Protected Geographical Indication. That means the beer is made with specific ingredients and a traditional brewing method, ensuring quality and authenticity.
It felt like a beer, it felt like you were getting a bang for your buck so to speak.
It really was tasty and had quite a few flavours whirling round your tongue when you took a sip!
Paired with Food
It was a tasty beer and it went well with my spicy chicken dinner.
Their website says Serve with smoked cheese, well I would add serve with spicy chicken rice and chips!
My verdict
Thrice-hopped and bottle conditioned, 1698 is the connoisseur's choice, a beer to be savoured.
I love smooth and tasty beers. I love caramel, liquorice and spicy citrus fruits.
They were all in the glass of 1698. Talking of glass I love a pint from a glass bottle, it just tastes more authentic and less tinny in my mind!
The copper bronze colour added to the belief that yeah this was a traditional pint of strong beer.
It was enjoyable and I shall be having another in the near future.
The deets
Note these are summarised from my Gemini AI account.
Characteristics:
- ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 6.5%
- Rich, Dark Amber Color: The beer has a deep, inviting color that suggests a robust flavor profile.
- Thick Head of Foam: The head is a sign of good carbonation and creates a creamy texture.
- Complex Flavor Profile: Expect notes of fruit, hops, and malt, with a well-balanced sweetness.
As you can see from the above screenshot, not too sweet and not too bitter just a perfect balance of flavors.
Posting about a beer on a Saturday on the Beer Community ....
Cheers to the ale and cheers to 1698
It's a whole bunch of fun, so check out The #BeerSaturday Challenge - Week 403 from the one and only 
This #BeerSaturday week I would like to invite 
Thanks for visiting and enjoy the rest of your day!
All images and ramblings are from me, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo unless indicated otherwise ... All Photos taken with my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone. Note lead image designed on Canva Pro.
