Beechwood Bitter 4.3% - 500ml Singles

Classic English Bitter · 4.3% ABV

Smooth · Nutty · Buttery Toffee · Timeless

Some beers come and go.

Beechwood Bitter has been delighting drinkers for over four decades.

First brewed in 1982, it remains the flagship beer of The Chiltern Brewery and the beer most closely associated with our history.

Brewed using Buckinghamshire-grown barley and classic British hops, Beechwood Bitter has a smooth, rounded malt character, gentle buttery toffee notes and a distinctive nutty finish.

Some beers follow fashions. Beechwood Bitter never needed to.

Our Flagship Beer

Before craft beer became a movement, we were brewing Beechwood Bitter by hand here in the Chiltern Hills.

Its character comes from doing simple things exceptionally well: carefully selected local ingredients, traditional brewing methods and a recipe refined through more than forty years of brewing experience.

The malt brings warmth, balance and a gentle sweetness, while Challenger, Fuggles and Goldings hops provide classic English bitterness and a clean, satisfying finish.

The result is a timeless English bitter that remains as relevant today as when it was first brewed.

Three Consecutive Great Taste Awards

Beechwood Bitter has received Great Taste recognition for three years running, including 2-Star Awards in both 2025 and 2026.

The awards are judged through blind tasting by independent food and drink experts, making them a particularly meaningful endorsement of the beer itself.

For us, they are recognition of the consistency, craftsmanship and attention to detail that go into every brew.

Character & Style

Beechwood Bitter is a traditional amber bitter with a smooth, rounded body and restrained hop bitterness.

Its malt-led character brings notes of nuts, biscuit and gentle buttery toffee, balanced by traditional British hops and a clean finish.

Full of flavour without being heavy, it is approachable, dependable and unmistakably Chiltern.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Mid-amber with a soft cream head
Aroma: Toasted malt, nuts and gentle English hops
Palate: Smooth malt, buttery toffee and subtle fruit
Finish: Clean, balanced and gently bitter

Gluten Free

The bottled version of Beechwood Bitter is certified gluten free.

It remains brewed to the same 1982 recipe, with no compromise on the flavour or character that have made it our flagship beer.

Details

Style: Classic English Bitter
ABV: 4.3%
First Brewed: 1982
Grain: Buckinghamshire regeneratively grown barley from the Waddeston Estate
Hops: Challenger, Fuggles and Goldings
Colour: Mid-amber
Format: 500ml bottle
Dietary: Certified gluten free in bottle

Great Taste: Three consecutive awards, including 2-Star Awards in 2025 and 2026.

Beechwood is also available from cask at The Brewery Shop and The King’s Head in Aylesbury.