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Southwold Bitter

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A copper-coloured bitter and the longest-serving beer in the range, first brewed in 1967. Fuggles is added late in the boil and again in the cask, which gives a herbal, grassy hop aroma and a lingering, resinous finish. Pale ale, crystal and a little black malt answer with biscuit and caramelised toffee notes. At 3.4% the beer stays dry and distinctly hoppy. Southwold Jack, the figure on the label, is the brewery's oldest trademark.

ABV
3.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
grassyherbalhoppy
grassy
herbal
hoppy
resinous
caramel
bready
Aroma
The nose leads with herbal and grassy notes from the Fuggles hop, both from late kettle addition and cask conditioning.
also:malty
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Southwold Bitter

◎ Appearance

Copper hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with distinctive lacing. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, giving a composed and inviting appearance typical of a traditional cask-conditioned bitter.

copper, brightpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with herbal and grassy notes from the Fuggles hop, both from late kettle addition and cask conditioning. Supporting notes of biscuit and caramelised toffee emerge from the pale ale and crystal malt base, creating a balanced and approachable bouquet without aggressive intensity.

herbal, grassybiscuit, toffeerestrained Fuggles

◐ Taste

The palate opens dry and crisp, with biscuit and light caramel sweetness from the malt bill establishing the foundation. Herbal resinous bitterness builds through the mid-palate from the Fuggles character, staying clean and well-defined. At 3.4% ABV, the body remains light and sessionable while the hop character maintains clear prominence.

dry, crispresinous bitternessmalt-forward body

◑ Finish

The finish is lingering and distinctly hoppy, with the resinous quality persisting well into the aftertaste. A gentle herbal dryness remains on the palate, inviting another sip.

lingering hoppyherbal dry
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
78
Finish
76
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Southwold Bitter

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About Best Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Best Bitter?

Best Bitter is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Best Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same grassy, herbal, hoppy character as Southwold Bitter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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