Whitstable Bay Red IPA, Shepherd Neame

Whitstable Bay Red IPA 4.5%

This is the latest addition to Shepherd Neame’s specialist collection of beers named after the popular Kent seaside resort of Whitstable – immortalised as “Blackstable” in Somerset Maugham’s novels. Red IPA joins Pale Ale, Blonde Lager, Organic Ale and Black Oyster Stout in the collection that was launched in 2013.

All the beers in the collection are brewed using 100% natural ingredients, including chalk-filtered mineral water from the brewery’s artesian well, which can be seen by visitors to Britain’s oldest brewery, founded in 1698.

Red IPA is brewed with pale, crystal and cara malts, with roasted barley and American Amarillo and English Challenger hops. It has a bright red/amber colour with a big butterscotch/toffee aroma from the darker malts and roasted grain. The rich malt character is balanced by peppery hops.

The peppery hops build in the mouth with sultana fruit and butterscotch notes and rich toasted grain. The finish is bitter, hoppy and dry, with fruit notes from both malt and hops and continuing notes of butterscotch and sultana.

The beer is available in bottle and keg. The 500ml bottled version is available is most main supermarkets. Morrison’s: £1.65 or four for £6, Tesco £1.79 or four for £6.