Heritage brewer pins its hopes on hoppiness

sir – The announcement from Shepherd Neame, Britain’s oldest brewer, that it plans to target the craft beer market (Business, September 27), set off alarm bells with the suggestion that people want “more hoppy character”.

Although the range of brands of beers has increased in recent years, it has become ever more difficult to find beers which are not overwhelmed by the grapefruit flavour of Citra hops. Often the new craft brewers have used these in large quantities, rather in the way that some people think a good curry has to be extra-hot vindaloo with extra chillies.

Let’s hope that Shepherd Neame sticks with its heritage and continues to produce balanced hoppy beers in a range of styles. Tim Barnsley

London SW16

Hop to it: Hopfield at Sunset, by the British Neo-romantic painter Alan Reynolds, 1952