Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale

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.

The Carpenters Arms, Eastling, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		06 Dec 2023	£5.20 but a superb pint that just went down easily.

The Millers Arms, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 Dec 2023	Pale brown colour. Dry. Well balanced. Hid the 5% well. Hint of spice and of Shep's yeast.

Parrot, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		02 Dec 2023	Lack lustre (certainly compared to the same beer at the Miller's Arms).
Jack William	Not Tried	13 Dec 2014
Andrew		29 Nov 2011	Fresh green hop with a hint of malt and twigs.

The Chequers Inn, Doddington, Kent

The Royal Oak, Dartford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		10 Jan 2017	In good condition and a bargain at £2 per pint.
ChrisE		04 Jan 2017

The Crown, Blackheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		31 Dec 2016

Horse & Groom, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		26 Dec 2015	Nice winter warmer.

The Bull Inn, Benenden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Wittenden		19 Dec 2015	Odd slate grey colour,some undefined spice.Thin and dry. Not to my taste.

Ye Olde Beverlie, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		30 Dec 2014	Ok - but not especially Christmassy.

The Golden Fleece, Chelmsford, Essex

Old City Bar (formerly The Old City), Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew		20 Dec 2013	Very cloudy so had a taste of yeast, but still, not too bad.

The British Volunteer, Ashford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		14 Dec 2013	In very good condition and remarkably good value at £2.80 per pint for a 5% ale.

The Swan, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		06 Jan 2013
Pedro		01 Jan 2013
Pedro		31 Dec 2012
ChrisE		16 Dec 2012
Pedro		08 Dec 2012
Pedro	Not Tried	30 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	26 Dec 2011
Alenomore	Not Tried	23 Dec 2011
Pedro		22 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	21 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	18 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	18 Dec 2011
Alenomore	Not Tried	15 Dec 2011
Alenomore		14 Dec 2011	Only two pints tonite? Alas, just not the same as last night.
Alenomore		13 Dec 2011	Had to give it a good rating tonite. It tasted so much better than previous samples. Something to do with the Jockmeister putting a "tight" sparkler on it. The difference was very noticeable, so much so, I scrubbed my usual tipple (Guinness), and devoured 5 pints of this. Very warming.
Alenomore	Not Tried	11 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	11 Dec 2011
Alenomore		10 Dec 2011	Disappointed with this years seasonal. Not a lot going on at all. And the bottled version at 7% was equally dire too.
Pedro		10 Dec 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	09 Dec 2011
Pedro		07 Dec 2011
Pedro		02 Jan 2010
Pedro		29 Dec 2009
Pedro		24 Dec 2009
Pedro		22 Dec 2009
ChrisE		19 Dec 2009	One of the finest Shepherd Neame beers for some time. Amber coloured and full of flavour. (Brewer’s notes: a full bodied, warming winter ale. Light in colour, using the very best malt and hops to produce a truly special beer).
Pedro		17 Dec 2009
Pedro		11 Dec 2009	Interesting flavour seemed a bit peachy

Fishermans Arms, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		26 Dec 2012	In good condition but a bit too cool.

The George, Newnham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Alenomore		23 Dec 2012	Very nice. Two pints went down well.

The Jamaica Wine House, City, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		10 Dec 2012	Amber-coloured, with a hint of strength and more hops than you expect from SN. Not at all Christmassy – quite pleasant in fact.

White Horse Inn, Hawkinge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		30 Nov 2012

Neptunes Hall, Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		29 Nov 2012	A little dusty and lacking in life but not too bad.
Blair		05 Jan 2012	Fruity and a little spicy, surprisingly drinkable.

The Plough, Langley, Kent

The Cock Inn, Boughton Monchelsea, Kent

Marden Village Club, Marden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		09 Dec 2011	Watery beer with a typical Sheps taste

Wrotham Arms, Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		10 Feb 2011	Malty with a little fruit and spice. Quite watery and with a fair few floaters.

Royal Mail, Lydd, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		23 Dec 2009	Amber coloured Christmas ale, very good.

The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		15 Dec 2009	Very hoppy for a Shep's beer, leafy, resinous hop dominates with little in the way of maltiness. Long, dry hoppy finish. My score 14/20.