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1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale

Shepherd Neame
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🌍 United Kingdom · English Strong Ale · One of 7 English Strong Ales in hopIQ

Brewery-anniversary beer for their 300th year (first brewed 1998, named for the 1698 founding) — thrice-hopped, bottle-conditioned, complex-layered. Copper-bronze in the glass, resinous pine notes against Marsala-wine sweetness, liquorice and spicy orange through the middle. Kentish Strong Ale with EU PGI. The brewery serves it with smoked cheese.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter32 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
deep amber15

AWARDS

Gold
British Bottlers' Institute
Silver
Taste of Britain Awards
Winner
International Beer Challenge World's Top 50 Beers
Gold — British Bottlers' Institute
Silver — Taste of Britain Awards
Winner — International Beer Challenge World's Top 50 Beers
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A frame with real heft — the palate has plenty to hold onto through the finish.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another English Strong Ale.
Hop character
orange
resinous
Malt character
caramel
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
spicy
oak

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale

Appearance

Copper-bronze hue with excellent clarity and a persistent head that leaves fine Schaumkleiden down the glass as it settles. The color deepens toward mahogany at the edges, suggesting considerable malt depth and age-worthiness. Carbonation is gentle and well-integrated, befitting a bottle-conditioned ale.

copper-bronzeclearfine lacinggentle carbonation

Aroma

Resinous pine and Edelhopfen character dominate the nose, underpinned by rich caramel and Malz sweetness reminiscent of Marsala wine. Liquorice and spicy orange notes emerge with aeration, while subtle oak and dark fruit suggest careful aging in the bottle. The alcohol is present but restrained.

resinous pineMarsala sweetnessliquoricespicy orange

Taste

Full-bodied entry with pronounced caramel and sweet Malz character, balanced against 32 IBUs of controlled bitterness. The mid-palate unfolds with layered complexity: liquorice, orange zest, and a subtle oak frame alongside dark stone fruit. Alcohol warmth integrates seamlessly, adding to the overall spice and depth without harshness.

full-bodiedcaramel maltbalanced bitternessstone fruitwarming alcohol

Finish

Long, drying finish with lingering spice and a subtle bitter edge that evolves toward oak and dark fruit. The sweetness recedes gracefully, leaving a smooth, warming aftertaste that invites contemplation.

long finishdryingspicy lingering
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
89
Appearance
85
Finish
84
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of 1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale

Serve at 12–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 12–16°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with 1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale

About English Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Strong Ale?

English Strong Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar English Strong Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same full-bodied, caramel, sweet character as 1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other English Strong Ales in hopIQ

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