Shepherd Neame

Shepherd Neame is a name that is familiar to almost everyone in Great Britain: The brewery from Faversham in the English district of Kent looks back on a centuries-old brewing history and today operates more than 300 pubs and hotels in London and the south-east of England. It dates back to the oldest brewery in the country and has experienced a lot in its three centuries.rn

Of Monks and Ale Wives

Although the official founding date of the brewery is 1698, it is known that brewing took place in Faversham much earlier. Not far from the current brewery there was a monastery with a brewery. The abbey was founded in 1147 and it is assumed that the monks began brewing shortly thereafter. At the beginning of the 14th century it was women who wielded the mash paddle: the so-called Ale Wives of Faversham produced beer in a community of almost 100 women. The brew was sold, used for private use and served in the local inns. Brewing continued in the monastery until the 16th century. The last abbot leased the brewery to his nephew in 1550, before he became the official owner almost 20 years later. The company changed hands several times before the Shepherd and Neame families came on the scene. The Shepherd family bought the brewery in 1732 and in 1864 Percy Beale Neame, a hop farmer, became a partner. The company took its current name. The brewery made its contribution to the Second World War by sending 75 men and still brewing beer. The barley juice was considered a morale-boosting drink and was supposed to keep the soldiers happy. The business survived the war and has been very successful ever since. The Neame family still holds management positions today. rn

Still in family hands

Shepherd Neame is currently the largest independent family brewery in Britain. Beer is a key part of this success story. In addition to recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation, traditional brewing skills and excellent raw materials play a key role. Shepherd Neame relies on traditional ingredients of the highest quality to produce its brews. The water comes from a well next to the brewery, while many of the hops used are grown directly in Kent and the yeast is the brewery's own breed. With attention to detail and exquisite raw materials, the brewers create a varied range that has already received numerous awards. rn