British Bitter - Best Bitter - Beer Recipes | Brewer's Friend
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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 9657
Whitbread Flowers Original Bitter
22 L 4.52% 32.31 1.044 1.010
All Grain 7946
Hořčík #1
23 L 4.46% 32.03 1.045 1.011
All Grain 7756
2024 best Bitter
22 L 4.46% 28.96 1.045 1.011
All Grain 5745
bitter
20 L 4.5% 35.71 1.046 1.011
All Grain 5042
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter
22.5 L 4.07% 39.01 1.043 1.012
All Grain 4982
queen of the iceni
5.5 gal 3.92% 34.68 1.040 1.010
All Grain 4935
Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker
22 L 4.07% 30.44 1.042 1.011
All Grain 4344
Allt Home Fire
20 L 4.47% 36.77 1.043 1.009
All Grain 3825
Hop Light Pale Ale
44 L 4.35% 34.45 1.041 1.008
BIAB 3541

Newest Best Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
FUG
24 L 4.92% 34.72 1.050 1.012
All Grain 21
PALE BITTER
21 L 4.5% 23.35 1.044 1.010
All Grain 39
British Bitter
5.5 gal 4.63% 18.87 1.050 1.015
extract 28
ESB
16 gal 4.68% 26.95 1.047 1.011
All Grain 18
Ajax tbc
19 L 4.68% 39.25 1.048 1.012
BIAB 36
The Best Bitter Within Us
5.5 gal 4.74% 30.74 1.050 1.014
All Grain 42
Bob's Your Uncle Bitter
3 gal 4.34% 31.85 1.043 1.010
BIAB 40
Royal Oak Pale Ale
6 gal 4.58% 38 1.046 1.011
BIAB 38
Yeast tester
25 L 4.29% 30.77 1.043 1.010
All Grain 29
Best Bitters Gold
5.5 gal 4.82% 32.76 1.047 1.011
All Grain 54

Fermentables Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 731 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 81% 3% - 100%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 128 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 1% - 29%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 115 Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 2% - 20%
United Kingdom - Golden Promise 106 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3°L
37 80% 17% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 91 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 5% 1% - 16%
Torrified Wheat 89 Adjunct raw 2°L
36 6% 1% - 15%
American - Victory 82 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 7% 2% - 24%
United Kingdom - Chocolate 82 United Kingdom Grain roasted malt 425°L
34 2% 0% - 10%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 74 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 9% 1% - 26%
US - Pale 2-Row 74 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 69% 5% - 100%

Hops Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Average AA Avg. Usage Usage Range
East Kent Goldings 654 5 32% 1% - 100%
Fuggles 487 4.5 32% 5% - 100%
Challenger 245 8.5 31% 3% - 100%
Target 121 11.5 34% 3% - 100%
Styrian Goldings 116 5.5 29% 5% - 96%
Goldings 84 4.5 29% 9% - 73%
Magnum 80 15 27% 4% - 100%
Northern Brewer 79 7.8 32% 4% - 67%
Cascade 77 7 26% 4% - 78%
Willamette 72 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
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 7 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 70% 25% - 100%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 6 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 65% 33% - 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%
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%
United Kingdom - Extra Dark Crystal 120L 4 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 78% 50% - 100%
American - Special Roast 3 American Grain roasted malt 50°L
33 24% 20% - 33%
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-04 393 Fermentis / Safale Ale .0975 High 75% 54°F 77°F
Wyeast - West Yorkshire 1469 92 Wyeast Ale 0.09 High 69% 64°F 72°F
White Labs - English Ale Yeast WLP002 87 White Labs Ale Medium Very High 66.5% 65°F 68°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast 74 Danstar Ale Med-High High 77% 57°F 70°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968 65 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Very High 69% 64°F 72°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 58 Fermentis / Safale Ales Low Medium 81% 54°F 77°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318 57 Wyeast Ale 0.1 High 73% 64°F 74°F
Danstar - London ESB Yeast 38 Danstar Ale Med-High Low 70% 65°F 72°F
Danstar - Windsor Ale Yeast 36 Danstar Ale Medium Medium 72% 64°F 70°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® LONDON ENGLISH-STYLE ALE YEAST 34 Lallemand British Ales High Low 65% 65°F 72°F

Other Ingredients Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 337 Water Agt Mash 27% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 163 Water Agt Mash 14% 0% - 68%
Epsom Salt 142 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 83%
Whirlfloc 134 Water Agt Boil 69% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 114 Water Agt Mash 75% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 111 Fining Boil 70% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 65 Water Agt Mash 19% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 58 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 42%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 47 Water Agt Mash 20% 0% - 73%
Table Salt 35 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 50%

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