April 14, 2009
The tour was disappointing - the "tutored tasting session" was just an extended sales pitch for their beers, and the old guy doing it was really quite dull. The "tour" afterwards was over and done with in under ten minutes, without any of the usual sniffing the malt & hops). The fermentation tanks probably the highllight (unlike Chris O, they told us they were the two ends of an old Bass tank - I liked the fact that they were covered over with bedsheets!). On the plus side, the shop is fun with every type of beer tie in you can think of (and some you can’t - beer shampoo or hop aftershave anyone?!). The Barleywine cake was delicious, although ambitiously priced at £3.95. It was very enjoyable sitting at the outdoor tables afterwards with a pint of fresh cask ale.

October 19, 2006
Didn’t do the brewery tour but have visited the shop on numerous occasions have have drunk their beers frequently. It’s quite a busy little shop in terms of the amount of stuff they stock which includes all of their bottled beers plus all sorts of other delicatessanty stuff made using their beer.

December 31, 2005 [ Updated January 7, 2007 ]
Went for the brewery tour on New Years Eve which, in hindsight, wasn’t the best time to go as there was no brewing going on. Also, I don’t know whether the time of year had anything to do with it, but the tour was led by a lady who works there rather than the brewer, so she couldn’t really answer any detailed questions. And the talk over the tasting was really more like a sales pitch for the beer related products in the shop than an explanation of the beers. The most interesting thing was that the fermenters are made from a Nigerian Guinness conditioning tank cut in half. The shop is much as others have described it and an essential visit if you need the bottled beers (hence the score for Selection is higher than the numbers would suggest). Incidentally, Chiltern now run the bar at the historic Kings Head Inn in Aylesbury, which is probably worth a visit (although we didn’t) if in the area. Didn’t stay for lunch. The people are very nice, but the tour content left a lttle to be desired (hence I’ve marked down on service as I’m not quite sure how else to represent that). Overall, though, its quite an endearing place.

July 6, 2005
I enjoyed the tour and we opted to stay for their lunch, which includes sausages made with their beer by the better butchers of Oxford. The brewery is small and it is all located in what can be described most charitably as a comfortable shed. But the gift shop is quite nice and they have a full range of beers and other niceties like jam. Very nice people, too. A good destination for a country drive.

August 13, 2004
Chiltern brewery is worth a visit. The shop is impressive. They sell bread, cakes, marmalade, their own mustard (with beer). Special fruit wines, and all sorts of interesting things. Of course the also sell their bottled beers. Behind the counter you can also buy their beers strait from the cask (to sample or take home in a polypin). There are brewery tours on Saturday. Visit their website for info.

July 16, 2004
Chiltern are a good brewery that make fine cask ales, however the bottled offerings are generally poor - average. Small brewery shop which only sells beer from the brewery. Take away containers from 2 or 3 casks set up behind the counter, various bottled beers, a few items of merchandise and a range of food items made from beer or beer ingredients. Some quality ciders from small producers are sold aswell as the Lurgashall range of mead and specialist wines. A small café is set at the back, I’m not sure if beer is sold in there or not. Tours are available.