Chiltern Beechwood Bitter

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The Beehive, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		03 Oct 2026	Very good head and lacing presented and lasting all the way on this 1982-launched best bitter named after the local beech trees that cover the hills. Those behind the brewery got their skates on in 1980, making it the oldest independent micro-brewery in the county and set up on an old working farm in Terrick, near Aylesbury in rural Buckinghamshire. Amusingly, the handpump badge had all about it summed up as amber, nutty, toffee, and fruity on it. But here goes: A malty bitter first hit on this mid-amber coloured bitter. A hoppy fruitiness rising from the triple foliage, Challenger, Fuggles, and Goldings. Challenger lending a sharp, bitterness, Fuggles dropping a woody, earthy herbal note, and Goldings behind a floral spice for me. A buttery toffee aroma and on the swallow, a fruity and gently bitter finish winning over the grain. A maltiness doing battle with a biscuity caramel surfacing from a marry-up of Maris Otter and Crystal malts, showcasing Buckinghamshire-grown barley from the grand Waddesdon Estate. The Maris Otter behind a sweet and bready biscuit base, while the Crystal malt throwing down a heavy dollop of rich caramel sweetness into the mix with the hot liquor in the boil turning it into a velvety nutty flavour that stays smooth as a silk topper. A pleasurable malty fruity outflow for me. Served in totally ‘up to the knocker’ form for me as in the highest state of excellence.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

The Dodo Micropub, Hanwell, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		29 Sep 2021

King's Head, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		12 Sep 2013
ChrisE		09 Jan 2013
HSB		09 Jan 2013
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	22 Jan 2012

Nottingham Beer Festival 2005, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		20 Oct 2005	Deep copper/brown colour with off white thin head. Nice hop/malt mix, touch of spice on end. Nice brown bitter