British Bitter - Ordinary Bitter
Low gravity, low alcohol levels, and low carbonation make this an easy-drinking session beer. The malt profile can vary in flavor and intensity, but should never 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 GuideTop 10 Ordinary Bitter Recipes
| Title | Size | ABV | IBU | OG | FG | Color | Method | Views |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Smith |
5.5 gal | 3.21% | 35.81 | 1.034 | 1.010 | Partial Mash | 6049 | |
| Black Sheep Ale clone |
23 L | 3.93% | 26.25 | 1.039 | 1.010 | All Grain | 4332 | |
| Bitter |
5.5 gal | 3.76% | 28.8 | 1.038 | 1.010 | BIAB | 3881 | |
| UK Ordinary Bitter |
20 L | 3.64% | 29.34 | 1.037 | 1.010 | All Grain | 3043 | |
| House Beer |
1 gal | 4.47% | 16.72 | 1.046 | 1.012 | All Grain | 2838 | |
| Manchester Bitter |
20 L | 4.03% | 14.74 | 1.040 | 1.009 | All Grain | 2783 | |
| Roger's |
23 L | 3.94% | 20.87 | 1.039 | 1.008 | BIAB | 2759 | |
| Luddite Ales 2017 |
500 L | 3.77% | 35.59 | 1.037 | 1.008 | All Grain | 2725 | |
| banks's mild |
19 L | 3.44% | 33.05 | 1.035 | 1.009 | All Grain | 2552 | |
| FUGGLES ALE |
21 L | 4.19% | 24.76 | 1.042 | 1.010 | All Grain | 2233 |
Newest Ordinary Bitter Recipes
| Title | Size | ABV | IBU | OG | FG | Color | Method | Views |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awesome Recipe |
15 L | 5.05% | 0 | 1.054 | 1.015 | BIAB | 16 | |
| Home Bitter |
3 gal | 3.88% | 27.89 | 1.039 | 1.010 | BIAB | 25 | |
| Bit of this and that Bitter |
21 L | 3.67% | 31.61 | 1.037 | 1.009 | BIAB | 31 | |
| Fullers LP |
10 gal | 4.25% | 33.93 | 1.046 | 1.014 | extract | 37 | |
| ESB |
18 L | 4.71% | 41.9 | 1.048 | 1.012 | All Grain | 33 | |
| BODDINGTON CLONE |
8 gal | 4.07% | 20.37 | 1.042 | 1.011 | extract | 41 | |
| Best pale mild 2 |
48 L | 3.74% | 20.12 | 1.041 | 1.012 | All Grain | 32 | |
| Engelsk stark bitter |
28 L | 5.65% | 27.45 | 1.057 | 1.014 | All Grain | 24 | |
| Engelsk stark bitter |
28 L | 5.71% | 30.44 | 1.057 | 1.014 | All Grain | 5 | |
| Jake's Bitter (OB) |
5 gal | 3.64% | 35.83 | 1.040 | 1.012 | BIAB | 48 |
Fermentables Used In Ordinary Bitter Recipes (View More)
| Name | Recipes | Country | Category | Type | Color | PPG | Avg. Usage | Usage Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale | 591 | United Kingdom | Grain | base malt |
3.75°L
|
38 | 82% | 5% - 100% |
| Caramel / Crystal 60L | 94 | Grain | crystal malt |
60°L
|
34 | 7% | 0% - 20% | |
| United Kingdom - Golden Promise | 85 | United Kingdom | Grain | base malt |
3°L
|
37 | 75% | 4% - 100% |
| United Kingdom - Crystal 60L | 80 | United Kingdom | Grain | crystal malt |
60°L
|
34 | 8% | 2% - 36% |
| US - Pale 2-Row | 77 | US | Grain | base malt |
1.8°L
|
37 | 73% | 9% - 100% |
| American - Caramel / Crystal 120L | 76 | American | Grain | crystal malt |
120°L
|
33 | 6% | 2% - 18% |
| Crisp Malting - Finest Maris Otter | 67 | GB | Grain | base malt |
2.4°L
|
36.8 | 76% | 6% - 100% |
| American - Caramel / Crystal 40L | 66 | American | Grain | crystal malt |
40°L
|
34 | 7% | 2% - 29% |
| United Kingdom - Chocolate | 66 | United Kingdom | Grain | roasted malt |
425°L
|
34 | 2% | 0% - 22% |
| Torrified Wheat | 60 | Adjunct | raw |
2°L
|
36 | 7% | 1% - 19% |
Hops Used In Ordinary Bitter Recipes (View More)
| Name | Recipes | Average AA | Avg. Usage | Usage Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Kent Goldings | 547 | 5 | 34% | 3% - 100% |
| Fuggles | 366 | 4.5 | 34% | 3% - 100% |
| Challenger | 166 | 8.5 | 35% | 1% - 100% |
| Target | 74 | 11.5 | 33% | 4% - 100% |
| Styrian Goldings | 73 | 5.5 | 30% | 11% - 100% |
| Magnum | 71 | 15 | 28% | 2% - 100% |
| Northern Brewer | 71 | 7.8 | 35% | 8% - 100% |
| Cascade | 68 | 7 | 30% | 4% - 100% |
| Goldings | 67 | 4.5 | 35% | 1% - 100% |
| Kent Goldings | 62 | 5 | 36% | 11% - 100% |
Steeping Grains Used In Ordinary Bitter Recipes (View More)
| Name | Recipes | Country | Category | Type | Color | PPG | Avg. Usage | Usage Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American - Caramel / Crystal 40L | 8 | American | Grain | crystal malt |
40°L
|
34 | 69% | 33% - 100% |
| Caramel / Crystal 60L | 8 | Grain | crystal malt |
60°L
|
34 | 67% | 29% - 100% | |
| American - Caramel / Crystal 120L | 6 | American | Grain | crystal malt |
120°L
|
33 | 51% | 14% - 68% |
| United Kingdom - Chocolate | 6 | United Kingdom | Grain | roasted malt |
425°L
|
34 | 30% | 6% - 100% |
| American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) | 5 | American | Grain | crystal malt |
1.8°L
|
33 | 44% | 17% - 62% |
| American - Victory | 5 | American | Grain | roasted malt |
28°L
|
34 | 29% | 13% - 47% |
| United Kingdom - Cara Malt | 4 | United Kingdom | Grain | crystal malt |
17.5°L
|
35 | 100% | 100% - 100% |
| Belgian - Biscuit | 3 | Belgian | Grain | roasted malt |
23°L
|
35 | 46% | 40% - 50% |
| United Kingdom - Crystal 60L | 3 | United Kingdom | Grain | crystal malt |
60°L
|
34 | 97% | 91% - 100% |
| United Kingdom - Crystal 50L | 3 | United Kingdom | Grain | crystal malt |
50°L
|
34 | 92% | 75% - 100% |
Yeasts Used In Ordinary Bitter Recipes (View More)
| Name | Recipes | Laboratory | Type | Alcohol Tolerance | Flocculation | Attenuation | Min. Temp | Max. Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fermentis - Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04 | 305 | Fermentis / Safale | Ale | .0975 | High | 75% | 54°F | 77°F |
| Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast | 74 | Danstar | Ale | Med-High | High | 77% | 57°F | 70°F |
| White Labs - English Ale Yeast WLP002 | 66 | White Labs | Ale | Medium | Very High | 66.5% | 65°F | 68°F |
| Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 | 64 | Fermentis / Safale | Ales | Low | Medium | 81% | 54°F | 77°F |
| Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968 | 62 | Wyeast | Ale | 0.1 | Very High | 69% | 64°F | 72°F |
| Wyeast - West Yorkshire 1469 | 51 | Wyeast | Ale | 0.09 | High | 69% | 64°F | 72°F |
| Wyeast - London Ale III 1318 | 37 | Wyeast | Ale | 0.1 | High | 73% | 64°F | 74°F |
| Lallemand - LALBREW® NOTTINGHAM HIGH PERFORMANCE ALE YEAST | 32 | Lallemand | Ales | Medium | High | 80% | 50°F | 72°F |
| Imperial Yeast - A09 Pub | 31 | Imperial Yeast | Ale | Very High | 69% | 64°F | 70°F | |
| Lallemand - LALBREW® LONDON ENGLISH-STYLE ALE YEAST | 26 | Lallemand | British Ales | High | Low | 65% | 65°F | 72°F |
Other Ingredients Used In Ordinary Bitter Recipes (View More)
| Name | Recipes | Type | Use | Avg. Usage | Usage Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gypsum | 218 | Water Agt | Mash | 27% | 0% - 100% |
| Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) | 102 | Water Agt | Mash | 18% | 0% - 100% |
| Whirlfloc | 99 | Fining | Boil | 68% | 0% - 100% |
| Epsom Salt | 95 | Water Agt | Mash | 11% | 0% - 100% |
| Irish Moss | 76 | Fining | Mash | 64% | 0% - 100% |
| Lactic acid | 73 | Water Agt | Mash | 66% | 0% - 100% |
| Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) | 49 | Water Agt | Mash | 19% | 0% - 100% |
| Baking Soda | 34 | Water Agt | Mash | 12% | 0% - 44% |
| Phosphoric acid | 25 | Water Agt | Mash | 54% | 2% - 100% |
| Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) | 25 | Water Agt | Mash | 15% | 0% - 57% |