-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Adnams Southwold Bitter
Adnams plc, Sole Bay Brewery
- From:
- Adnams plc, Sole Bay Brewery
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Bitter
Ranked #86 - ABV:
- 4.1%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #24,898 - Avg:
- 3.61 | pDev: 15.24%
- Reviews:
- 78
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 07, 2024
- Added:
- Aug 12, 2002
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 14
Southwold Bitter is a beautiful copper-coloured beer, late and dry-hopped with Fuggles for a distinctive, lingering hoppiness.
Brewed with the finest East Anglian Pale Ale malt barley, sourced locally to the brewery. We use Fuggles hops which we add late in the boil to preserve the herbal flavours of this traditional English hop.
First brewed in 1967, it was originally called Adnams Best Bitter. It holds our oldest trademark, Southwold Jack, and remains the original hero in our range.
Southwold Bitter is as distinctive as ‘Southwold Jack’ (the knight with the sword) who appears on the pump clip and has done so through many incarnations. Many Adnams beer fans would agree with our Head Brewer that Adnams Bitter is a truly distinctive pint. We wouldn’t be overselling it to describe it as a classic
Brewed with the finest East Anglian Pale Ale malt barley, sourced locally to the brewery. We use Fuggles hops which we add late in the boil to preserve the herbal flavours of this traditional English hop.
First brewed in 1967, it was originally called Adnams Best Bitter. It holds our oldest trademark, Southwold Jack, and remains the original hero in our range.
Southwold Bitter is as distinctive as ‘Southwold Jack’ (the knight with the sword) who appears on the pump clip and has done so through many incarnations. Many Adnams beer fans would agree with our Head Brewer that Adnams Bitter is a truly distinctive pint. We wouldn’t be overselling it to describe it as a classic
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jazzyjeff13:
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England
3.53/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A 500ml bottle with a BB of April 2013. Picked up some time back from a supermarket. The figure depicted on the label is 'Southwold Jack', a local icon and an emblem of the brewery.
Poured into a tulip pint glass. A deep orange-amber colour with medium carbonation. Forms a decent head of frothy off-white foam that lasts for a minute or two before collapsing to a patchy surface layer. Aroma of caramel malt with fruity yeast esters, stewed hops, faint grass/hay and a hint of sweetness.
Tastes of caramel malt with a dry finish. Notes of caramel, fruity yeast esters, stewed hops, mild grass/hay and a dry earthiness. A subtle bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with light carbonation and good body. Slightly astringent, with an aftertaste of dry stewed hops and fruitiness.
A decent bitter, if a tad unexciting. Would be nice if the hop aroma was more prominent, but overall this is balanced and well-crafted. A easy-going ale that would be perfect for sessioning. Worth sampling if you see it.
Apr 14, 2013Poured into a tulip pint glass. A deep orange-amber colour with medium carbonation. Forms a decent head of frothy off-white foam that lasts for a minute or two before collapsing to a patchy surface layer. Aroma of caramel malt with fruity yeast esters, stewed hops, faint grass/hay and a hint of sweetness.
Tastes of caramel malt with a dry finish. Notes of caramel, fruity yeast esters, stewed hops, mild grass/hay and a dry earthiness. A subtle bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with light carbonation and good body. Slightly astringent, with an aftertaste of dry stewed hops and fruitiness.
A decent bitter, if a tad unexciting. Would be nice if the hop aroma was more prominent, but overall this is balanced and well-crafted. A easy-going ale that would be perfect for sessioning. Worth sampling if you see it.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.92/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On cask at The Old White Horse in Baldock this lunchtime.
Copper colored body, strong white head, scattered lacing. Malty aroma, taste is nicely balanced, decent bitterness, lasting dry finish.
Feb 07, 2024Copper colored body, strong white head, scattered lacing. Malty aroma, taste is nicely balanced, decent bitterness, lasting dry finish.
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany
3.89/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear, dark amber coloration with a medium, creamy head. Smells of toasted, caramel malt and herbal, citrus hops, with notes of orange rind, as well as just a hint of toffee. Taste is a great balance of toasted, slightly grainy and caramelly malt and herbal, fruity, slightly floral and spicy hops, with notes of orange rind, red berries, toffee and hints of peppercorn. Finishes with a medium bitterness and some orange rind, berries and toffee lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.
This makes for a pretty nice low-ABV bitter with good balance of toasted, caramel malt and herbal, citrus hops, with a really nice aroma and great body and mouthfeel for the ABV. I still found this pretty enjoyable at 8 months old and it was probably a lot better fresh, although I think that Bitters generally hold up pretty well. While I've had better Bitters, I wouldn't turn this one down either.
Nov 05, 2022This makes for a pretty nice low-ABV bitter with good balance of toasted, caramel malt and herbal, citrus hops, with a really nice aroma and great body and mouthfeel for the ABV. I still found this pretty enjoyable at 8 months old and it was probably a lot better fresh, although I think that Bitters generally hold up pretty well. While I've had better Bitters, I wouldn't turn this one down either.
Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden
3.94/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours ruby with soft, tan head.
Smell is malty and a bit roasted with notes of florals, leather and citrus.
Taste is malty and a bit sweet with floral hints. Notes of roasted malt, citrus, leather and elderflower. Pretty strong bitterness.
Mouthfeel is medium, smooth and well carbonated.
Overall, a nice bitter, well made and balanced.
May 07, 2021Smell is malty and a bit roasted with notes of florals, leather and citrus.
Taste is malty and a bit sweet with floral hints. Notes of roasted malt, citrus, leather and elderflower. Pretty strong bitterness.
Mouthfeel is medium, smooth and well carbonated.
Overall, a nice bitter, well made and balanced.
Reviewed by James94 from England
4.17/5 rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: Dark golden amber colour, head disappears quickly, some lacing
S: Wood, nuts, caramel, raisins, burnt apple, lemon
T: Chocolate, lemon, wood, vanilla
F: Dry bitterness at the back, medium-low bodied, good balance of carbonation
O: 4.25
Apr 22, 2021S: Wood, nuts, caramel, raisins, burnt apple, lemon
T: Chocolate, lemon, wood, vanilla
F: Dry bitterness at the back, medium-low bodied, good balance of carbonation
O: 4.25
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.19/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.19/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
500 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.1%. Copper coloured beer, moderate off-white head. Moderate aroma, some malts and toffee, hints of stale berries and "dusty" hops. The flavour has again some malts and toffee, but is quite dry. Just a hint of fruit. Moderately bitter hops in the finish, some nutty notes. Drinkable, but not Adnams’ best.
Apr 10, 2021Reviewed by Storm_Rryder from Iowa
4/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I dig this one ! I think I'm a fan of this style, I like this as much as hobgoblin. Light brown color, not much foam, low carbonation. Big caramel flavor at the beginning, but later on could detect some fruit undertones. Delicious, more english bitter please !
Jan 20, 2021Reviewed by vinicole from England
3.77/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Clear amber. Little head.
Sweet malt nose.
More malt than hop upon tasting. Toffee. Fruit and nut.
Moderate feel.
This was from the bottle. It is much better when cask dispensed.
Apr 10, 2016Sweet malt nose.
More malt than hop upon tasting. Toffee. Fruit and nut.
Moderate feel.
This was from the bottle. It is much better when cask dispensed.
Adnams Southwold Bitter from Adnams plc, Sole Bay Brewery
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
178 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!