Breweries Goachers Brewery Hopdaemon Brewery Larkins Brewery Millis Brewery Nelson Brewery Ramsgate Brewery Shepherd Neame Swan on the Green Whitstable Brewery Westerham Brewery

Cider Makers Badgers Hill Farm, Chilham Biddenden Vineyards & Cider Works, Biddenden Big Tree Cider, Hartley Broomfield Orchard, Herne Castle Cider Company, Chiddingstone Chafford Cider, Fordcombe Crippledick Cider, Boughton Double Vision Cider, Boughton Monchelsea Johnson's Farmhouse Cider, Isle of Sheppey Kent Cider Company (New in 2008) Neal's Place Farm, Canterbury Pawley Farm Cider, Painters Forstal Pippins Cider, Pembury Rough Old Wife, Canterbury (New in 2008)

Goachers Brewery

Goachers is the oldest of the new brewers, based in an industrial unit at Tovil just outside Maidstone. It is a traditional brewery that only uses malt and Kentish hops for all of its beers. Founded in 1983, Phil and Debbie Goacher have concentrated on brewing good wholesome beers with no gimmicks and their mild, light and Crown Imperial Stout have all been named CAMRA beers of the year. Goachers beers can to be found in their two tied houses and in free trade pubs mainly in mid Kent. In addition they brew "house beers", Dering Ale at the Dering Arms, Pluckley, being one pub in the branch area where their beers can be sampled.

Goacher's Maidstone Ales, Unit 8, Tovil Green Business Park, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6TA

Tel: 01622 682112 Website: www.goachers.com

Hopdaemon Brewery

Hopdaemon Brewery, opened by Tonie Prins in 2001, is a 12-barrel brewery in Canterbury and within 6 months was supplying more than 30 pubs in the area, as well as bottle conditioned, own label beers for the London Museum, Southwark Cathedral and the Science Museum and more recently the Barbican and National Gallery. In 2005, the brewery moved to larger premises in Newham and some 100 outlets are now supplied, several within the Deal, Dover & Sandwich area together with their bottled beers being available in the local supermarkets and off licences.

Hopdaemon Brewery Co Ltd, Unit 1, Parsonage Farm, Seed Road, Newnham, Kent, ME9 0NA

Tel: 01795 892078 Website: www.hopdaemon.com Email: info@hopdaemon.com

Larkins Brewery

Larkins Brewery commenced brewing in 1986 when the Dockerty's, a family of farmers and hop growers, bought the Tunbridge Wells Brewery. The Company moved to Larkins Farm, located in Chiddlingstone near Edenbridge in 1987. Since then the production of three regular beers and potent black porter in the winter months has steadily increased. Brews are made using only Kentish hops, yeast and malt; no sugars or other brewing adjuncts are added to their beers. Larkin's beer can be found in their tied house "The Rock at Chiddingstone Hoath" and several free houses within a 20 mile radius of the brewery.

Larkins Brewery, Larkins Farm, Hampkins Hill Road, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7BB

Tel: 01892 870328

Millis Brewery

Millis Brewery was started by John Millis with a half-barrel plant at home in Gravesend. Demand outstripped the facility and Millis moved in 2003 to a new site, a former farm cold store with a 10-barrel plant. John now supplies some 40 pubs and clubs within a 50 mile radius of Dartford with a range of beers including Kentish Dark Mild (ABV 3.5%), Dartford Wobbler (4.3%) and Kentish Red Ale (4.3%) together with Winter Witch at 4.8%) during the months from October to March.

Millis Brewing Co Ltd, St Margaret's Farm, St Margaret's Road, South Darenth, Dartford, Kent, DA4 9LB

Tel: 01322 866233

Nelson Brewery

The Nelson Brewery, originally the Flagship Brewery, is located within Chatham's preserved Georgian Dockyard and distributes to about 150 outlets with other supplies available via wholesalers and other breweries. They brew a wide range of beers usually with a naval name with strengths ranging from ABV 3.5% to 6% including "Pieces of Eight", "Nelson's Blood" and "Frigging in the Rigging"

Nelson Brewing Co Ltd, Unit 2, Building 64, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TE

Tel: 01634 832828 Website: www.nelsonbrewingcompany.co.uk Email: sales@nelsonbrewingcompany.co.uk

Ramsgate Brewery

Ramsgate Brewery was established by Lois and Eddie Gadd in 2002, in a derelict restaurant on the sea front. The beers are brewed with Kentish hops and English malts only. In 2006 the brewery moved to an industrial estate in Broadstairs, allowing for increased capacity and bottling. Their most regular beers are Nos. 3, 5,and 7 in descending order of strength with refreshing additions including Seasider, Sandboy and Faithful Dogbolter at 5.6%. Gadd's beers can be obtained in many free houses within the area and the bottle-conditioned beers have been available in Tesco's and Threshers.

Ramsgate Brewery Ltd, Unit 1, Hornet Close, Isle of Thanet, East Kent Coast, Kent, CT10 2YD

Tel: 01843 868453 Website: www.ramsgatebrewery.co.uk Email: info@ramsgatebrewery.co.uk

Shepherd Neame

Shepherd Neame was founded in 1698 in Faversham and claims to be the oldest continuous brewery in country. Interestingly records show that brewing began on the site as far back as the 12th century. The brewery has recently been expanded to produce up to 200,000 barrels a year. All Shepherd Neame ales use locally sourced ingredients, with the cask ales made from Kentish hops, locally sourced barley and water from the companies own artesian well.

Shepherd Neame Limited, 17 Court Street, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7AX

Tel: 01795 532206 Fax: 01795 538907 Website: www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Swan on the Green

Swan on the Green is basically a brew pub established in 2000 to produce hand crafted beers for their pub in West Peckham between Maidstone and Paddock Wood. The beers are not filtered and no artificial ingredients are used. It is well worth visiting the pub since the beers rarely feature elsewhere, although they occasionally appear at beer festivals and other free houses.

The Swan on the Green, The Green, West Peckham, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 5JW

Tel: 01622 812271 Website: www.swan-on-the-green.co.uk Email: info@swan-on-the-green.co.uk

Whitstable Brewery

Whitstable Brewery was created when the Swale and North Weald Brewery was sold in 2003 to the Green family, who initially produced beer for their outlets in Whitstable and beer festivals. The company has now decided to supply beer further afield, their bottled beers including East India Pale Ale and Oyster Stout, have been available in Waitrose supermarkets and the Bohemian in Deal on a recent visit.

Whitstable Brewery, c/o 29 Beach Walk, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 2BP Brewery address: Little Telpits Farm, Woodcock Lane, Grafty Green, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 2AY

Tel: 01622 851007 Website: www.whitstablebrewery.info

Westerham Brewery

Westerham Brewery was set-up by Robert Wicks in 2004 to brew using modern copper and stainless steel equipment. He has restored brewing in Westerham that was lost when the Black Eagle brewery was taken over by Ind Coope in 1959 and closed in 1965. Two of the Black Eagle yeast strains were deposited in the national collection of Yeast Cultures and are being used to create the true flavour of Westerham beers. The new brewery is located at the National Trust's Grange Farm and uses the same water supply as Black Eagle. The beers can be found in free houses in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. British Bulldog is the most common bitter at 4.3% ABV and a bottle conditioned bitter "Scotney Ale" can be purchased in local National Trust shops.

Westerham Brewery Company Ltd, Grange Farm, Pootings Road, Crockham Hill, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6SA

Tel: 01732 864427 Website: www.westerhambrewery.co.uk Email: info@westerhambrewery.co.uk

Badgers Hill Farm, Chilham

Open 6 days per week for sales, does not do wholesale, so £60 for a 5 gallon keg

Badgers Hill Farm, Newcut Road, Chilham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 8BW

Tel: 01227 730573 Website: www.made-in-kent.co.uk

Biddenden Vineyards & Cider Works, Biddenden

Dry, Medium & Sweet available

Biddenden Vineyards, Gribble Bridge Lane, Biddenden, Kent TN27 8DF

Tel: 01580 291726 Fax: 01580 291933 Website: www.biddendenvineyards.com Email: info@biddendenvineyards.co.uk

Big Tree Cider, Hartley

Produced about 600 litres in 2008 and more will be available in 2009. Two products: Big Tree Original, light tasting with a deceptive kick, and Appley Ever After, a pleasant sparkle on the tongue followed by a dry, fruity taste.

Big Tree Cider, The Knoll, Church Road, Hartley, Kent DA3 8DT

Contact: Dave Claridge Tel: 01474 705221 Mob: 07973 677123 Website: www.cclweb.co.uk Email: hartleycider@hotmail.co.uk

Broomfield Orchard, Herne

Small producer, producing dry, medium and sweet unpasturised cider. Opening times vary, so telephone before visiting.

Broomfield Orchard, Broomfield Road, Herne, Kent, CT6 7AY

Contact: Margaret & Robert Riley Tel: 01227 362279

Castle Cider Company, Chiddingstone

Small producer, selling all their cider locally. Nothing available for festivals

Castle Cider Company, Nestlewood, Wickhurst Road, Weald, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6LY

Tel: 01732 455977

Chafford Cider, Fordcombe

Produce 600 -700 gallons per year. 5 gallons available for £30.

Chafford Cider, Chafford Rise, Fordcombe, Kent, TN3 0SH

Contact: Chris Ballanden Tel: 01892 740437

Crippledick Cider, Boughton

Medium & Dry (6.5%) available in 26 pint boxes (£1.80/pt).

Currently, no address available

Tel: 01227 751435

Double Vision Cider, Boughton Monchelsea

Medium & Dry Cider, Perry. Can do litre bottles, 10/20 litre boxes or 5 gallon containers. Single varieties in 500ml bottles - Cox, Gala, Katy

Double Vision Cider, Marlpit Farm, Wierton Road, Boughton Monchelsea, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 4JW

Tel: 01622 746633

Johnson's Farmhouse Cider, Isle of Sheppey

As well as his normal blended cider, he has small quantities of cider from his own orchard for the first time in 2008. (5 gallon kegs)

Isle of Sheppey

Contact: Paul Johnson Tel: 01795 665203

Kent Cider Company

New for 2008

Contact: Mark Henderson Mob: 07738 5703818

Neal's Place Farm, Canterbury

Cider available in bottles only.

Neals Place Farm, Neals Place Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8HX

Tel: 01227 765632

Pawley Farm Cider, Painters Forstal

Dry/medium/sweet/spiced only available in bottles.

Pawley Farm, Painters Forstal, Faversham, Kent, ME13 0EN

Tel: 01795 532043 Website: www.made-in-kent.co.uk

Pippins Cider, Pembury

No cider currently available - possibly starting up again in the autumn of 2008

Pippens Cider, Pembury

Tel: 01892 824544

Rough Old Wife, Canterbury

Have been making cider for 2 years and is a new producer in the Kent region. Supplies predominantly in 20 litre sealed box-in-bag systems, at £2 a pint, for pub trade but can supply in smaller "collect yourself" amounts to callers at the farm. Can do larger mail order volume upon request.

Cider is made completely naturally from their own 250 mixed variety apple tree orchard at Old Wives Lees. A mixture of Bramley, Worcester and Crispin apples, aged in oak whiskey barrels, is used to produce around 1500 litres of a clear, very dry cider, which has gained a good following. Plans on increasing production for next year.

Rough Old Wife, Cork Farm, Hawkin's Rough Orchard, Old Wives Lees, Canterbury, CT4 8BN

Contact: Simon Reed Tel: 07768 36435 Website: www.rougholdwife.com Email: rougholdwife@btinternet.com

Brewery descriptions reproduced with kind permission of Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh Branch of CAMRA

Last updated: 4th November 2008