Cheers! News Shopper’s 50th anniversary Shopper Gold beer goes on sale

To celebrate our golden anniversary, we teamed up with award-winning Swanscombe brewery Caveman to make our very own golden ale, dubbed Shopper Gold.

Brewing started exactly five decades after the first edition of Shopper first hit the streets and a launch was held at Petts Wood micropub One Inn the Wood yesterday.

Editor Andrew Parkes said:  “I have tasted the odd beer in my time but this really is one of the best I have ever tasted. I knew Caveman Brewery was good, I didn’t realise they were quite this good.

“They have been brilliant and it is a fantastic way to celebrate our 50th anniversary.”

Caveman Brewery's head brewer James Hayward with One Inn the Wood's Barry Bridge and News Shopper Editor Andrew Parkes

Landlords across the News Shopper patch have grabbed the golden opportunity to say a happy 50th birthday to the paper by selling our beer and the summery golden ale - made with Kent Goldings hops – has gone down a storm with drinkers too.

Shopper Gold was one of the first to sell out at Bexley CAMRA’s beer festival while the Hare and Billet in Blackheath sold out over the first weekend.

Here’s where you can pick up your pint(s) of Shopper Gold:

• The Penny Farthing, Crayford
• One Inn the Wood, Petts Wood
• The Long Pond, Eltham
• Papermakers Arms, Hawley
• Compass, Gravesend
• Hare and Billet, Blackheath
• Royal Albert, New Cross
• George and Dragon, Swansombe
• Ivy Leaf, Dartford
• Dartford Working Men’s Club, Dartford

News Shopper's deputy news editor Patrick Grafton-Green and news editor Dan Keel enjoy a pint of Shopper Gold at One Inn the Wood.

Shopper reporters Fiona Simpson, Rebecca Flood, Josie Griffiths and Jessica Bell sample Shopper Gold

Deputy news editors Patrick Grafton-Green and Mark Chandler, web manager Simon Bull and reporter Jamie Mickelthwaite enjoy Shopper Gold

Hare and Billet assistant manager Andrew Copping pours a pint of Shopper Gold