Independent Family Brewer's Beers Are World Class

Five of independent family brewer Shepherd Neame’s beers have been honoured in the prestigious World Beer Awards 2024.

The Faversham-based brewery’s 1698 (6.5% ABV) and Bishops Finger (5.2% ABV) were both crowned World’s Best Bitter in their categories (over 5.5% and 4.5-5.5%, respectively).

Its India Pale Ale (6.1% ABV) received a gold medal and was named Country Winner for England in the English Style IPA category, and both of its stouts – Double Stout (5.2% ABV) and Whitstable Bay Black Stout (4.2% ABV) – received silver medals in the Porters & Stout – Stout category.

The annual awards celebrate the very best in the world beer industry, with a panel of global experts judging entries across two days, awarding gold, silver and bronze medals before selecting Country Winners and the World's Best Beer in each style category.

Director of Brewing Mike Unsworth said:

“We are thrilled to have achieved these results. To receive such prestigious awards - including two beers recognised as the World’s Best – highlights the outstanding skill of our teams, demonstrating the very best in British brewing.”

The awards are the latest in a series of honours for Shepherd Neame’s beers, with other recent wins including gold medals for 1698, India Pale Ale and Whitstable Bay Pale Ale at the British Bottlers’ Institute (BBI) Awards earlier this month. The BBI judges also gave a silver medal to Whitstable Bay Blonde Lager and Diploma of Excellence to Whitstable Bay Black Stout.

Shepherd Neame’s award-winning beers are available from its online shop and brewery shop in Faversham.