Shepherd Neame Early Bird

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

Woolpack Inn, Brookland, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		26 May 2018	Routine.

Parrot, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		25 May 2018	I suspect this was just about to turn
Martin the Mildman	Not Tried	26 Mar 2011
Brian		15 Mar 2011	Bit sulphourous on the nose. OK, clean and fresh taste. Slight bitterness, but overwhelming sulphour.

Duke of Cumberland, Whitstable, Kent

Railway Hotel, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Apr 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Apr 2014	I could find no abv on the pump clip - most unusual
Philip Pirrip		19 Mar 2013	Surprised to find a 60p pp premium price over Master Brew Bitter

Neptunes Hall, Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Apr 2018
Blair		02 Apr 2012	Yeah, ok.
Blair		16 Mar 2012	Very sweet, ruined the beer really.
Blair		21 Apr 2009	Sweet and hoppy with a fair amount of caramel. Very drinkable although it became a little cloying towards the end.

The Willow Walk, Victoria, Central London

The John Logie Baird, Hastings, East Sussex

Bucks Head, Goddens Green, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		24 Feb 2018	Bit of a metallic after-taste.

Kings Head, Shadoxhurst, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		19 May 2016
ChrisE	Not Tried	11 Jun 2015	This ran out.

The Mermaid Inn, Bishopsbourne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		07 May 2016	Nice
Andrew		22 Mar 2014	Excellent condition. Hint of rose and geranium. Nice leafy finish. Quaffable stuff.
Andrew		02 May 2011	Good condition. Hint of twigglet in the aroma but good early bird hops in it. A good Shep's seasonal.
Brian		24 May 2008	First and only excellent of the day. Clear, light brown, thin creamy lasting head. Refreshing hop and light bitterness.
Andrew		29 Apr 2006	An excellent pint. A tight composition of milky smooth malt with well ballanced hops

The Globe Inn, Hythe, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		15 Mar 2016

The Crown, Blackheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Jun 2015
Philip Pirrip		12 Mar 2014	Could see no abv on clip. Rather good beer though with a zingy hoppiness

Plough & Harrow, Bridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		28 Apr 2015
Mick		23 May 2010	OK, but life is to short to drink mediocre ( and expensive) beer
Brian		24 May 2008	Same beer line up as the Mermaid but not quite as good, not a lot in it though.

The Shakespeare, Canterbury, Kent

The Spanish Galleon, Greenwich, Greater London

The Swan, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	06 Apr 2015
Tobes	Not Tried	09 Mar 2014
Alenomore		18 Apr 2010	Served in tip top condition.
Ian		11 Apr 2010	Everything the pint I had at the Miller's Arms the night before wasn't. Hoppy, great condition and lasting hoppy finish.
Alenomore		11 Apr 2010	Two pints served in top condition.
Alenomore		05 Apr 2010	Serverd, as ever, in top condition.
Alenomore		01 Apr 2010	It's back, Shep's spring seasonal offering! One of Shep's best ales and served in tip top condition tonite.
Pedro	Not Tried	30 Mar 2010
ChrisE		13 Mar 2010	This was getting towards the end of the cask, but was still in good condition.
Pedro	Not Tried	22 May 2009
Pedro	Not Tried	20 May 2009
Pedro		11 May 2009	very nice condition
Ian		19 Mar 2005	Mid brown spring beer. Good citrusy fruit with light malts and Sheps yeast on nose. Good hoppy bitter finish

The Zetland Arms, Kingsdown, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		02 Apr 2015
Andrew		03 May 2014	Good fresh syrupy hoppy Early Bird.

New Flying Horse, Wye, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Trevor		11 Mar 2015	Good condition and a fresh taste.
Trevor	Not Tried	21 May 2014
Andrew		14 Apr 2012	Good condition and I could happily have drank it all night, but it's still not as powerful as it used to be in terms of the hops.
Trevor		13 May 2011	Refreshing drink.
Wittenden		27 Mar 2010	First time I've seen this so far this year. Clean tasting with a pronounced hoppy bite.
Trevor		25 Feb 2009	Light, crisp and very pleasant ale.
Ian		08 Apr 2007	Not enough hops especially on the finish.
Andrew		08 Apr 2007	Not sure if Shep's are having ingredient problems but the hops in this were as mottled as those in the Master Brew I'd just had in the Kings Head. I've certainly had much better pints of this in the past.

Dover Castle Inn, Teynham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		10 Jun 2014	Nice early bird

The Gate Inn, Marshside, Kent

Ye Olde Pumphouse, Hastings, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		20 May 2014

The Crown, Upchurch, Kent

The Artichoke, Chartham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		12 May 2014	I'm not a great Shep's fan - but this was in excellent condition, fresh and hoppy. Worthy of a 4.

Chequers, Walthamstow, Greater London

The Brickmaker's Arms, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Tobes		03 May 2014	On the money.
Dosser	Not Tried	27 Apr 2014	£3.20
Tobes		26 Apr 2014
Pedro	Not Tried	29 Apr 2013

The Limes (formerly Chimney Boy), Faversham, Kent

Dog & Bear Hotel, Lenham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		25 Mar 2014	Hoppy, but had an undertone.
Wittenden		26 Mar 2013	A few hops in there somewhere.

Princess of Prussia, Aldgate, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		21 Mar 2014	Very short measure. Amber-coloured and quite pleasant, with nice hop flavours.

The Vine Inn, Tenterden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		20 Mar 2014
ChrisE		24 Apr 2013	Very well kept.
oz11		18 Jun 2011
Ian		12 Mar 2011	very good beer

The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Trevor		20 Mar 2014

Hoop & Grapes, Farringdon, Central London

Betsey Trotwood, Clerkenwell, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		10 Mar 2014

Wagon & Horses, Charing, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Trevor		03 Jun 2013	Refreshing flavour
Andrew		31 May 2013	Zingy with hints of lemon and straw and grass.

Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich, Greater London

Bricklayers Arms, Shepherdswell, Kent

Ye Olde Beverlie, Canterbury, Kent

Memphis Bar (formerly The Oranges), Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		14 Apr 2012
Ian		21 Apr 2006	Bit dull and lifeless to be honest, not as good as it was on Monday when I was here. Sheps yeast in evidence but not the crispness of the hops. I was sat reading my mail listening to the jazz. Very relaxing
Ian		17 Apr 2006	Copper colour with thin off white head. Sheps yeast and resiny hop aroma. Some tangerine zest. Good in mouth with more hoppy zesty orange citrus fruit. Good dryness on end with some malty juicyness. Good beer.

The Dragoon, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		08 Apr 2012	Just £2-50/pint
Pedro		08 Apr 2012	Just £2-50/pint

Bell Hotel, Sandwich, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		20 Mar 2012

The Cock Inn, Boughton Monchelsea, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro	Not Tried	15 Mar 2012	£3-60 /pint
Pedro		24 Mar 2011

The Crayford Arms, Crayford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		10 Mar 2012

Mabel's Tavern, Euston, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		27 Feb 2012	Pale beer with a rather soapy feel and some hop character.

The Belle Vue, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		29 May 2011	Light, a little hoppy and a bit of syrup I quite liked it.

Rose & Crown, Halstead, Kent

The Yeoman (formerly Lion of Kent; Kentish Yeoman)., Bearsted, Kent

White Hart, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair	Not Tried	25 Apr 2011
Brian	Not Tried	27 Feb 2009	Good to see it on, but I'd already started on the cider and so stuck to the Scrumpy Jack.
Andrew		23 May 2008	Nice and refreshing with some hoppyness and good fresh malt.

The Fox, Maidstone, Kent

Greyhound, Boundary, Leicestershire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Garry		18 Apr 2011	I knew I wouldn't like this before I tried it, but gave it ago, I found it unpleasant. I don't reallylike Shepherd Neame beers (sorry Kent crew), and was sold by the promise of an early hopped beer with a golden glint, which it was not.

Joiners Arms, West Malling, Kent

The Castle Hotel, Eynsford, Kent

King William IV, Benenden, Kent

The Woolpack Inn, Benover, Kent

The Millers Arms, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		10 Apr 2010	Comedically poor in its condition. I'd be embarrassed to serve a beer is this bad a state.
Andrew		10 Apr 2010	No condition at all leaving this usually good beer tasting like soapy dish water. It wasn't off; just poor.

Prince Albert (Rose's), Woolwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		20 Mar 2010	Surprised at seeing this here these days, and on good form too.

The Bear Inn, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 May 2009	Much better than the one at the Anchor earlier. Fresh and zingy.

The Anchor, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 May 2009	Been wanting to have this all year but never seen it until now. It was okay but a bit soapy.

The Bishops Finger, Canterbury, Kent

The Tiger Inn, Stowting, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		13 Mar 2009	My first pint of this beer, this year. Got an almost white wine grape hop aroma. Slight yeast. Not a huge bite of hop on the finish. OK drinking bitter.
Ian	Not Tried	06 May 2005
Ian		02 Apr 2005	Light brown colour, typical Sheps yeasty nose, with citric fruit flavour and citric hop finish

Prince of Wales, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		23 Jun 2008	Good condition. Quite drinkable. Not as punchy as I recall from a few years back.
Andrew	Not Tried	14 Jun 2008
Andrew		31 May 2008	In good condition. Still not as crisp as a few years ago.
Andrew		11 Apr 2008	Some lemony hops. Quite drinkable but perhaps getting to the end of the barrel.
Andrew		29 Mar 2008	Not quite what I remembered it to taste like but excellent none the less. Candy and rose petals (see what I mean) with a good, though short lived, hop finish

The Royal, Tankerton, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		05 May 2008	I liked this. Fresh, fruity (mellon and apple) with caramel and a hint of marmite. Good session beer.

The Saxon Shore, Herne Bay, Kent

Rose & Crown, Elham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
David		01 Apr 2007	An average beer at best, much like most of Shep's offerings. Fairly lifeless and served just a bit too cold.

Philharmonic Dining Rooms, Liverpool, Merseyside

The Dispensary, Liverpool, Merseyside

The Samuel Peto, Folkestone, Kent

The County Hotel, Ashford, Kent

The Griffins Head, Chillenden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 May 2005	Astringently hoppy but slighly tired. Good pale amber colour but I've had better pints of Early Bird this year
Ian		02 May 2005	Pale brown. Slightly citric nose, bit thin, citric hoppy finish. Coming to the end of the season for this ale

Deal Hoy, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		16 Apr 2005	A sweet hoppy pint with a hint of caramel

Clarendon Inn, Sandgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		07 Mar 2005	Mid brown. Sheps yeast nose, citrus fruit and mild bitterness on finish. Very fresh finish
Ian		12 Feb 2005	Light brown beer with lots of fresh hops on the nose and citrus flavour throughout with the typical Shepherd Neame yeast flavour coming through
Martin		22 May 2004	OK, but not really to my taste. A bit vague.