British Bitter - Ordinary Bitter - Beer Recipes | Brewer's Friend
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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 Guide

Top 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 6228
Black Sheep Ale clone
23 L 3.93% 26.25 1.039 1.010
All Grain 4457
Bitter
5.5 gal 3.76% 28.8 1.038 1.010
BIAB 3925
UK Ordinary Bitter
20 L 3.64% 29.34 1.037 1.010
All Grain 3088
House Beer
1 gal 4.47% 16.72 1.046 1.012
All Grain 2876
Manchester Bitter
20 L 4.03% 14.74 1.040 1.009
All Grain 2848
Roger's
23 L 3.94% 20.87 1.039 1.008
BIAB 2825
Luddite Ales 2017
500 L 3.77% 35.59 1.037 1.008
All Grain 2776
banks's mild
19 L 3.44% 33.05 1.035 1.009
All Grain 2679
FUGGLES ALE
21 L 4.19% 24.76 1.042 1.010
All Grain 2287

Newest Ordinary Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
The Middle Ground Bitter
5.5 gal 3.94% 28.94 1.043 1.013
All Grain 16
Liquid Gold
32 L 5.75% 33.11 1.055 1.011
All Grain 17
레꿀
20 L 4.45% 0 1.045 1.011
All Grain 25
[68] English Ale Downland hops V5
17 L 5.55% 58.32 1.056 1.013
BIAB 22
[66] English Ale Downland hops V4
17 L 8.05% 41.97 1.081 1.019
BIAB 29
New Biiter
25 L 4% 39.51 1.041 1.010
All Grain 39
London Pride 2
6 gal 4.3% 24.3 1.050 1.018
All Grain 35
Mc Fly (est ouverte)
18 L 5.47% 25.09 1.055 1.013
BIAB 26
[17] English Ale Brew club test
17 L 5.05% 62.73 1.050 1.012
BIAB 42
Archers Village
25 L 3.58% 31.46 1.035 1.008
All Grain 56

Fermentables Used In Ordinary Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 597 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 82% 5% - 100%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 93 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%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 77 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 6% 2% - 18%
US - Pale 2-Row 77 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 73% 9% - 100%
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 59 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 555 5 34% 3% - 100%
Fuggles 368 4.5 34% 3% - 100%
Challenger 168 8.5 35% 1% - 100%
Target 76 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 69 7 30% 4% - 100%
Goldings 67 4.5 35% 1% - 100%
Kent Goldings 60 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%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 5 American Grain crystal malt 1.8°L
33 44% 17% - 62%
United Kingdom - Chocolate 5 United Kingdom Grain roasted malt 425°L
34 34% 6% - 100%
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%
Simpsons - Crystal Medium 3 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 65.0147°L
33 51% 31% - 88%
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 65 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 34 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 221 Water Agt Mash 28% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 106 Water Agt Mash 18% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 99 Fining Boil 68% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 98 Water Agt Mash 11% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 76 Fining Boil 64% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 74 Water Agt Mash 67% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 49 Water Agt Mash 19% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 34 Water Agt Mash 12% 0% - 44%
Phosphoric acid 26 Water Agt Sparge 52% 1% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 25 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 57%

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