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British Bitter - Best Bitter


A flavorful, yet refreshing, session beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not override the overall bitter impression. Drinkability is a critical component of the style.

Flavor Profile: Medium to moderately high bitterness. Moderately low to moderately high fruity esters. Moderate to low hop flavor, typically with an earthy, resiny, fruity, and/or floral character. Low to medium maltiness with a dry finish. The malt profile is typically

Ingredients: Pale ale, amber, and/or crystal malts. May use a touch of dark malt for color adjustment. May use sugar adjuncts, corn or wheat. English finishing hops are most traditional, but any hops are fair game; if American hops are used, a light touch is required.

BJCP Style Guide

Top 10 Best Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Yorkshire Bitter
23 L 3.93% 33.04 1.042 1.012
All Grain 8216
Hořčík #1
23 L 4.46% 32.03 1.045 1.011
All Grain 7407
Whitbread Flowers Original Bitter
22 L 4.52% 32.31 1.044 1.010
All Grain 7118
bitter
20 L 4.5% 35.71 1.046 1.011
All Grain 4634
queen of the iceni
5.5 gal 3.92% 34.68 1.040 1.010
All Grain 4556
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter
22.5 L 4.07% 39.01 1.043 1.012
All Grain 4110
Allt Home Fire
20 L 4.47% 36.77 1.043 1.009
All Grain 3558
Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker
22 L 4.07% 30.44 1.042 1.011
All Grain 3284
Hop Light Pale Ale
44 L 4.35% 34.45 1.041 1.008
BIAB 3025
Prodigal son 2
22 L 4.52% 39.01 1.043 1.009
Partial Mash 2988

Newest Best Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Horses for Courses - Early Summer Ale
21 L 4.57% 31.92 1.046 1.011
All Grain 18
Bitter Days
3 gal 4.12% 37.6 1.041 1.010
BIAB 9
ESB
50 L 4.35% 37.27 1.041 1.008
All Grain 27
Best Bitter - Brew it Brew
22 L 4.75% 34.93 1.048 1.011
All Grain 23
Birthday best
20 L 3.93% 33.69 1.039 1.010
All Grain 16
Fuggle Time
20.8 L 4.12% 55.21 1.041 1.010
All Grain 22
William's Pale Ale
25 L 4.52% 42.89 1.052 1.018
All Grain 24
Celtic Ale
10.5 gal 4.55% 19.85 1.046 1.012
All Grain 21
EPA!
300 L 5.1% 33.65 1.051 1.012
All Grain 23
Marston's Pedigree
19 L 4.73% 33.54 1.043 1.007
All Grain 45

Fermentables Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 693 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 81% 4% - 100%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 123 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 1% - 29%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 112 Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 2% - 20%
United Kingdom - Golden Promise 99 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3°L
37 79% 18% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 89 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 5% 1% - 16%
Torrified Wheat 85 Adjunct raw 2°L
36 6% 1% - 15%
United Kingdom - Chocolate 79 United Kingdom Grain roasted malt 425°L
34 2% 0% - 10%
American - Victory 77 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 7% 2% - 24%
US - Pale 2-Row 71 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 69% 5% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 68 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 9% 1% - 26%

Hops Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Average AA Avg. Usage Usage Range
East Kent Goldings 604 5 32% 1% - 100%
Fuggles 452 4.5 32% 5% - 100%
Challenger 224 8.5 31% 3% - 100%
Styrian Goldings 111 5.5 29% 5% - 96%
Target 110 11.5 34% 3% - 100%
Goldings 81 4.5 30% 9% - 86%
Magnum 76 15 27% 4% - 100%
Northern Brewer 75 7.8 33% 4% - 73%
Cascade 75 7 26% 4% - 78%
Willamette 69 4.5 32% 8% - 100%

Steeping Grains Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 7 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 63% 33% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 7 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 70% 25% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 80L 6 American Grain crystal malt 80°L
33 42% 20% - 100%
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 5 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 68% 25% - 100%
United Kingdom - Crystal 90L 4 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 90°L
33 86% 43% - 100%
United Kingdom - Extra Dark Crystal 120L 4 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 78% 50% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 4 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 58% 25% - 100%
German - CaraRed 4 German Grain crystal malt 20°L
34 54% 50% - 67%
American - Victory 3 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 64% 25% - 100%
United Kingdom - Chocolate 3 United Kingdom Grain roasted malt 425°L
34 12% 3% - 17%

Yeasts Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Laboratory Type Alcohol Tolerance Flocculation Attenuation Min. Temp Max. Temp
Fermentis - Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04 366 Fermentis / Safale Ale .0975 High 75% 54°F 77°F
White Labs - English Ale Yeast WLP002 85 White Labs Ale Medium Very High 66.5% 65°F 68°F
Wyeast - West Yorkshire 1469 80 Wyeast Ale 0.09 High 69% 64°F 72°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast 74 Danstar Ale Med-High High 77% 57°F 70°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968 61 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Very High 69% 64°F 72°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318 56 Wyeast Ale 0.1 High 73% 64°F 74°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 52 Fermentis / Safale Ales Low Medium 81% 54°F 77°F
Danstar - London ESB Yeast 36 Danstar Ale Med-High Low 70% 65°F 72°F
Danstar - Windsor Ale Yeast 35 Danstar Ale Medium Medium 72% 64°F 70°F
Imperial Yeast - A09 Pub 33 Imperial Yeast Ale Very High 69% 64°F 70°F

Other Ingredients Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 303 Water Agt Mash 27% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 142 Water Agt Mash 14% 0% - 68%
Whirlfloc 127 Fining Boil 70% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 121 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 50%
Irish Moss 109 Fining Boil 70% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 106 Water Agt Mash 76% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 55 Water Agt Mash 19% 0% - 93%
Baking Soda 52 Water Agt Mash 11% 0% - 42%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 47 Water Agt Mash 20% 0% - 73%
Table Salt 32 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 50%

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