Southwold Bitter Review

Southwold Bitter is an old favourite from the historic Adnams Brewery of Southwold, Suffolk, England. Established in 1872, but claims that brewing on the site dates back to 1396. Is Southwold Bitter any good?

Southwold Bitter is pretty good, a smooth controlled bitter that is pleasant to drink. It pours a deep copper with a thick one finger head. On the nose it is biscuit malt with a slight dark fruit aroma. The taste is malty up front with flavours of biscuit and caramel toffee, from start to finish there is a underline bitterness that is mild and smooth. It gets a rate my beer score of 4.6 out of 5.0.

A standard go to bitter, nothing fancy just real beer.

Table Of Contents

Southwold Bitter Review

The Southwold Bitter stands in a 500ml brown bottle with a blue and orange label which features Southwold Jack the guardian of the brewery. A wooden figure that is a replica of the 15th century clock Jack, in fact the are more than one replicas around the town of Southwold.

Also on the label I mistakenly thought it said ‘Southwold Bitter, The World’s Best’ which is a big claim indeed. However it actually says ‘The Wold’s Best’ which makes more sense. So if you watch the video review, then ignore that bit, silly me 🙂

After all that it is time to crack The Wolds Best Bitter open.

Drinking Southwold Bitter

Pouring the beer into the glass, it settles to a deep copper colour with a thick one finger off white head.

On the nose it has aromas of biscuit malt with a hint of dark fruits, maybe some kind of dark berry. A fairly subtle aroma, but a pleasant one.

Diving in for a taste and up front is the same biscuit malt with rich caramel toffee, but without any real sweetness. A nice bitterness runs throughout the taste experience and the mouthfeel is nice and smooth. The bitterness is quite mild, but it is there, personally I would like a stronger bitterness.

But it is a nice smooth beer with a mild bitterness throughout, I like it and at just 4.1% ABV it could be a good go to bitter, especially the draught version I would imagine.

For me it gets a rate my beer score of 4.6 out of 5.0.

M’Lady likes it too, saying “A nice smooth balanced beer, it’s a decent bitter.” Lou scores it slightly less at 4.3 out 5.0.

I am booked to visit Adnams next year, so look forward to trying their Southwold Bitter on draught.

Adnams Brewery

Adnams Brewery is a historic Brewery from the seaside town of Southwold in Suffolk, England. It was established by brothers George and Ernest Adnams in 1872 when they bought the Sole Bay Brewery, a name still associated with the brewery.

However there is evidence that brewing on the site goes back a lot further to 1345, so there is a lot of history around the Adnams Brewery and the town of Southwold.

A long standing brewery that has stood the test of time you might say. However early 2024 has seen rumours and speculation that the brewery is in trouble. Whether there is any substance to these reports I am not sure, but I hope the brewery can weather them if they are true.

Adnams Beers

Adnams have a good selection of old favourites like Broadside and Ghost Ship to name a couple. However they also have a range of more modern craft beers too. As well as ciders, wine, gin, vodka and whisky, so there is something for everyone.

Here are a few beers to look out for.

Wild Hop

Wild Hop is an amber ale with a little difference because each batch is unique. Wild hops are foraged by the community of Southwold and added to the brew, hence the name.

It is said to have green hop characteristics, grassy and herbal notes with light pine flavours. It weighs in at 4.8% ABV and sounds like a charming beer.

Big Skies

Big Skies is a double dry hopped IPA, an American West Coast style IPA. It uses Mosaic and Simcoe hops which are dry hopped twice during the brewing process.

All that dry hopping gives this beer a resinous pine feel with notes of Blueberry and stone fruits, as well as tropical citrus too.

It weighs in at a bold 6.7% ABV so definitely not a session beer, more like a one and run beer.

Triple Knot

Triple Knot is brewed in the style of a Belgian Tripel Ale with Eldorado and Pacific Jade hops. Said to have intense flavours of honey, orange and pear drops with some bready hints and a sweet finish.

I am not sure whether it sounds good or not, but if I see one, then I will have to try one. However it will be just the one because it carries a beefy 10% ABV strength tag.

Not one for the faint hearted then.

Final Thoughts

Adnams Brewery have a good range of beers, some old style beers like the Southwold Bitter ans some modern craft style beers like Big Skies.

They have a long interesting history, and lets hope they continue to lay down more for the future.

Southwold Bitter is a decent beer, it is nothing fancy, just a straightforward bitter. It won’t blow your socks off, but for me it is a got bitter, just a good pint of beer.

If you have tried Southwold Bitter, or any other Adnams beers, then do share your thoughts and let me know what you think. Give your own rating out of 5.0 too.