Kentish Pip partners with Shepherd Neame
A shared passion for Kentish produce has led to a new partnership between Faversham-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame and cidermaker Kentish Pip, based just outside Canterbury.
Sam Mount of Kentish Pip
CIder brand Kentish Pip has teamed up with Shepherd Neame to expand the cider range on offer in brewery’s estate. An exclusive edition of Kentish Pip’s classic apple cider Craftsman and the popular berry-flavoured Forager are available on draught and in the fridge for the first time in selected Shepherd Neame pubs and hotels.
Kentish Pip (who featured in ‘cene Magazine’s second ever edition HERE) is based at Woolton Farm in Bekesbourne, where the Mount Family has been growing apples for four generations. The majority of apples used in their craft ciders are sourced from their own farm, along with some from a handful of trusted local growers in Kent and Sussex. Shepherd Neame is Britain’s oldest brewer, dating back more than 300 years, and its Chief Executive Jonathan Neame is the fifth generation of his family to run the business. More than 80 per cent of the hops used in Shepherd Neame’s beers are sourced from Kent’s iconic gardens, along with the finest malted English barley and the brewery's own artesian mineral water.
Craftsman (4.8% ABV) is Kentish Pip’s original craft cider, appealing to all cider drinkers from the connoisseur to the enthusiast. It is medium dry, combining crisp and aromatic dessert apples with heritage cider varieties, and has been specially formulated for Shepherd Neame at 4.8% ABV; normally it is 5.7% ABV.
Forager (4.0% ABV) combines juicy hedgerow berries with crisp Kentish apple cider to create a berry cider bursting with flavour.
Sam Mount, Managing Director of Kentish Pip, said: “The cider market has evolved extensively in recent years with quality and real provenance being key factors that people are looking for. Shepherd Neame has put the customer experience right at the heart of what they do and with Kentish Pip’s focus on innovation whilst using the best ingredients, we see this being an exciting partnership, marrying great Kentish cider with great Kentish pubs.”
Nigel Bunting, Head of Retail and Tenanted Operations at Shepherd Neame said: “We are constantly working to develop our offer to enhance the customer experience, and that includes looking for exciting new opportunities to expand our portfolio. We are proud to partner with local company Kentish Pip and introduce their award-winning range of craft ciders to our estate.”
