“a Bitter Love Note” – Adnams Brewery Tour Review & More

This is not just a review of the Adnams brewery tour, their beers or their pubs but instead a little exploration into the tasty palace of memoires Adnams craft beer has built in my mind. Find out why I think Adnams make the best craft beer in the world and what being an avid fan of the brewery for the last four decades taught me as a chef.

The craft beer culinary epiphany that has shaped my pallet happened as I stood shivering in front of the Lord Nelson in Southwold on the 1st of Janurary of 1997. I had just partaken in a freezing north sea new years dip with my brothers and I still hadn’t warmed up. This was back in the day’s when I was too young to drink, too young even to go inside the pub, so my younger brother and I kicked our heels trying to warm up waiting for the rest of the family to return from the busy bar. Thanks to one of those bitter east Anglian cold winds, my hands were still a bit blue when one of my brothers friends shoved my first ever half pint of Adnams bitter into my hands. That bitters malty taste, mixed with the salty air and the hubbub of the pub still lingers in my mind today.

The memories of Adnams beers have since stacked themselves inside the many empty pint glasses of my mind. I think, Adnams beers are the best craft beers in the world thats why at the beginning of the year I dragged two of my best friends out to Southwold to finally do the brewery tour and learn more about them.

Our Family’s Love Affair with Adnams Craft Beer

Now, Adnams isn’t just any old brewery; it’s a Southwold legend, steeped in tradition. The sole bay brewery have been crafting some of the finest ales this side of the pond for 150 years. We’re talking classics like the iconic Adnams Bitter and the zesty Ghost Ship, the sort of brews that’ll warm your cockles and put a smile on your face quicker than a plate of fish and chips.

For me, Adnams is practically family. I’ve got memories of their beer stretching back to my nipper days, there’s a picture of me aged three pretending to sip from a pint of adnams at my dad’s 40th birthday. But even the most beloved family members can face tough times, and Adnams is no exception. With the last family member stepping down from the board, there’s a whisper of uncertainty in the air. We’ve seen too many good breweries swallowed up by soulless corporations, haven’t we? It’s enough to make a bloke choke on his bangers and mash.

Whatever the future holds for this brewery, the first thing I do when I get to Suffolk is grab myself a pint of Adnams. Discussing this with my brothers, it’s the same for them too and my Dad has memories of drinking Adnams that strech back to the 60’s when he tasted it fresh from the cask on his first visits to Suffolk.

A Review of the Adnams Brewery Tour

Brewer lead exclusive access to one of Britains most largest and technologically advanced craft breweries in the world, paired with tastings of most of the best craft beer breweries in the world. What’s not to love about this experience?

The Adnams Brewery Tour has been top of my list to do for a few years. My parents won an exclusive tour to the old brewery via the east anglia times and since then I have always wanted to visit. Over the years I have visited many craft beer breweries, I’m a self confessed beer geek and I love to learn about the kit and unique processes that make my fave brews. The Adnams Brewery was a delightful tour with an expert guide and myself and my two friends wholeheartedly enjoyed ourselves.

We started early on a Saturday morning so as I’m sure you can understand the crowd was not as lively as you may expect. The tour starts in their visitor center which is beutiful space that helps you understand the history of the brewery. After a short film and donning some wonderfully branded high viz jackets, we were taken into the wonderfully disguised brewery and finally to the tasting rooms. Here before lunch we had managed to taste our way through at least 12 if not more of Adnams amazing beers.

Without doubt this one of the slickest and best brewery tours I have ever done.

What I Learned as a Food Tour Guide Doing this Brewery Tour

Hopefully if any of the Adnams team end up reading this blog they will see this as constructive feedback, a development opportunity and not a nag.

As a chef and Food Tour Guide based in Paris, I feel like it is a little unfair for me to take food and brewery tours. However, I also believe that to become a better guide I should be spending some time doing food tours as an observer, learning. The notes I came away from this brewery tour was “why didn’t our guide ask more questions?” my friends with me on the tour agreed. The poor tour guide faced with a diverse group of beer fans set himself up for failure because he didn’t know who his audience were.

If the tour guide had asked more about our knowledge of the brewery, brewing, and our relationship with Adnams, it would have created a great way for everyone to get acquainted and provided him the chance to offer a personalized experience. Engaging guests with questions builds camaraderie and encourages connections, which everyone appreciates. I discovered there were both seasoned brewers and novices on the tour through my own inquiries and wish others had the same engaging experience.

The Future of Adnams & Craft Beer

So if your an avid fan like me, you will know that the Adnams family brewery is both forward thinking and incredebly long term minded. I have always admired the way they have built their business with every end of the supply chain in mind, and when I’m in Suffolk, you can be sure I will be grabbing Adnams beer fed pork chops to go with my delicious pint of Bitter.

Changing Palates and Brewing Challenges

In today’s world, people are drinking less beer, especially bitters, as their palates become dulled by overly sweet brews. I believe that many modern drinkers struggle to distinguish between handcrafted, high-quality products and mass-produced supermarket offerings. This shift in taste preferences presents a significant challenge for traditional breweries like Adnams​.

Sure it’s great to be able to grab a super hazy IPA in your local Sainsburies, but if you really care about brewing

Adnams Ownership, Leadership & Financial Worries

Adnams, have been in the professional press far too often this year. While still primarily family-owned, Rising costs and and dropping sales means they face an uncertain future, see this article in The Drinks Business.

The increasing trend of corporate takeovers across the food and beverage sector prioritises profit over experience and taste. Rumours of an outright sale created a burning fear in my mind. I believe it will be a struggle in the next decade for Adnams to maintain its independence and continue its legacy of excellence in an industry dominated by profit-driven giants​​.

Keeping the Craft Alive

Thankfully, Adnams is a stubborn old bird, determined to keep the craft alive even in these changing times. They’ve spruced up their branding with a nod to the stunning Suffolk coastline, and their dedication to quality and innovation is top-notch. But let’s be honest, the brewing world is a tough old game these days, what with rising costs and the fickle tastes of the modern drinker.

It’s up to us fellow beer fans to ditch the pints of Peroni and Carling in favour of local craft brews.

What I have learned from Adnams; A Perspective on Consistency

As a chef, I know a thing or two about consistency, and Adnams has been a masterclass in brewing up the same high standards year after year. Just like in the kitchen, where every ingredient matters, Adnams has proven that dedication to quality is the secret sauce to weathering any storm.

I feel like I just have to taste a pint of Adnams bitter to remind myself that our focus as a chef should be to offer a consistent taste and experience to every client that tastes our wares.

Raising a Glass to the Future

My biggest fear is that my the taste of my favourite pint will no longer be the same with all these changes afoot. I can’t bear to think that one of my favourite beers will change, like the Beavertown or Camden brewery brews did after their takeovers by the mega-corps that hold the beer world in their evil talons.

So, here’s to Adnams – may their pints continue to flow freely, and may their future be as bright as a summer’s day in Southwold. To all the beer aficionados and food lovers out there, let’s raise a glass to this British icon and make sure its legacy lives on for generations to come. Cheers!

And a Note to the Pint-Curious

If you’re looking for the best craft beer in the world, look no further than Adnams. Their dedication to quality and tradition makes them a top contender for the best craft beer brewery title. Give their brews a try; you won’t be disappointed.

👉🏻 More of our Craft Beer Blogs!

Chef Tris

Food Tour Guide

From the bustling streets of Paris to the quiet moments at home, my journey is one of passion, resilience, and a deep love for French cuisine. I’m a brit who moved to France with my Parents aged 16, trained as a chef in Paris Palace at 18 and have spent decades observing and eating like the French. Having spent some time as a tech recruiter my move last year to share my love of food as a local food tour guide in Paris has been a delicious turn of events, blending my professional skills with my personal story of renewal.

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