It’s probably too late to find this beer in the pubs – at least the cask version – though you might still find a few bottles somewhere. Early Bird Spring Hop Ale from Shepherd Neame is a seasonal ale which is available, as the name suggests, in the Spring – February to May. I sampled a bottle in May but have only just got round to writing about it! Anyway, it will serve as an early warning for next year!
The bottled version is 4.5% and the cask version is 4.3%. The bottle has a distinctive shape, with a picture of a swift or a house martin (I can never tell the difference). It is made using only Kentish Early Bird hops, hence the name. It’s a pale golden beer with a slightly malty, slightly floral aroma and a malty, hoppy taste – a light bitterness, but not too much, makes this a very drinkable beer. Very nice – I’ll be looking out for it next February. And I’ll try not to take so long to write about it!