British Bitter - Strong Bitter - Beer Recipes | Brewer's Friend
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British Bitter - Strong Bitter


An average-strength to moderately-strong British bitter ale. The balance may be fairly even between malt and hops to somewhat bitter. Drinkability is a critical component of the style. A rather broad style that allows for considerable interpretation by th

Flavor Profile: Medium to medium-high bitterness with supporting malt flavors evident. The malt profile is typically bready, biscuity, nutty, or lightly toasty, and optionally has a moderately low to moderate caramel or toffee flavor. Hop flavor moderate to moderately hi

Ingredients: Pale ale, amber, and/or crystal malts, may use a touch of black 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 Strong Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
vanilla night sky
5.5 gal 7.9% 29.38 1.080 1.020
All Grain 7990
Young´s Special London Ale #1
12 L 6.35% 33.53 1.064 1.015
All Grain 6199
[BYOBRA] Gale's HSB
12 L 5.21% 28.5 1.052 1.012
All Grain 5022
Scrotum Repair
10 gal 4.71% 25.16 1.051 1.015
All Grain 4358
03 ESB
28 L 5.57% 38.97 1.059 1.017
All Grain 4126
Tanglefoot
77 L 4.43% 28.08 1.044 1.010
All Grain 4039
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER (ESB)
23 L 5.27% 32.57 1.053 1.013
All Grain 3701
Fuller's ESB Clone
5 gal 5.46% 39.42 1.060 1.019
extract 3517
Buggles Fitter
5.5 gal 4.88% 35.26 1.053 1.016
BIAB 3057
ESB
20 L 5.37% 50.24 1.053 1.012
BIAB 2873

Newest Strong Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
1 Gal Beer Engine ESB
1.25 gal 4.52% 29.12 1.048 1.015
All Grain 17
Great Hills ESB II
1 gal 5.42% 21.45 1.054 1.013
BIAB 22
1 Gal Winterhausen ESB
1.25 gal 5.06% 23.74 1.053 1.015
All Grain 17
42. ESB
26 L 4.96% 24.27 1.047 1.009
All Grain 23
bitter
12 L 5.05% 32.18 1.051 1.012
All Grain 18
1 Gal Short and Shoddy ESB
1.25 gal 5.05% 25.3 1.053 1.015
All Grain 23
ESB
2 gal 5.42% 42.71 1.054 1.013
All Grain 40
Mountain Extra Special Bitter
5.5 gal 5.83% 36.51 1.059 1.014
All Grain 34
Back to Brewing ESB
5 gal 6.08% 52.66 1.061 1.014
BIAB 38
Mean Brews Strong Bitter
7 gal 4.99% 38.25 1.054 1.016
All Grain 46

Fermentables Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 800 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 78% 4% - 100%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 190 Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 1% - 21%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 146 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 2% - 20%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 140 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 7% 0% - 20%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 123 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 4% 0% - 18%
US - Pale 2-Row 116 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 63% 4% - 100%
American - Victory 94 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 8% 2% - 28%
Belgian - Biscuit 92 Belgian Grain roasted malt 23°L
35 6% 1% - 17%
Torrified Wheat 84 Adjunct raw 2°L
36 6% 0% - 21%
United Kingdom - Golden Promise 80 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3°L
37 68% 4% - 98%

Hops Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Average AA Avg. Usage Usage Range
East Kent Goldings 845 5 31% 0% - 100%
Fuggles 483 4.5 28% 5% - 100%
Challenger 308 8.5 30% 5% - 100%
Target 168 11.5 29% 3% - 67%
Magnum 123 15 29% 3% - 100%
Cascade 112 7 28% 4% - 100%
Northern Brewer 103 7.8 32% 4% - 100%
Willamette 103 4.5 29% 5% - 100%
Goldings 84 4.5 25% 4% - 100%
Kent Goldings 72 5 35% 8% - 100%

Steeping Grains Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
Caramel / Crystal 60L 12 Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 53% 13% - 100%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 9 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 63% 10% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 8 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 54% 29% - 100%
American - Victory 8 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 45% 13% - 100%
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 7 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 53% 31% - 75%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 7 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 52% 7% - 100%
Belgian - Biscuit 6 Belgian Grain roasted malt 23°L
35 27% 13% - 50%
American - Caramel / Crystal 20L 5 American Grain crystal malt 20°L
35 55% 33% - 75%
Aromatic Malt 5 Grain specialty malt 20°L
35 41% 22% - 50%
United Kingdom - Crystal 55L 5 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 55°L
34 52% 29% - 95%

Yeasts Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Laboratory Type Alcohol Tolerance Flocculation Attenuation Min. Temp Max. Temp
Fermentis - Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04 428 Fermentis / Safale Ale .0975 High 75% 54°F 77°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968 162 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Very High 69% 64°F 72°F
White Labs - English Ale Yeast WLP002 115 White Labs Ale Medium Very High 66.5% 65°F 68°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast 68 Danstar Ale Med-High High 77% 57°F 70°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 65 Fermentis / Safale Ales Low Medium 81% 54°F 77°F
Danstar - London ESB Yeast 60 Danstar Ale Med-High Low 70% 65°F 72°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318 57 Wyeast Ale 0.1 High 73% 64°F 74°F
Wyeast - West Yorkshire 1469 44 Wyeast Ale 0.09 High 69% 64°F 72°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® LONDON ENGLISH-STYLE ALE YEAST 40 Lallemand British Ales High Low 65% 65°F 72°F
Mangrove Jack - Liberty Bell Ale M36 36 Mangrove Jack Ale n/a Med-High 76% 62°F 74°F

Other Ingredients Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 375 Water Agt Mash 26% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 178 Water Agt Mash 17% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 165 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 158 Fining Mash 68% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 138 Water Agt Boil 69% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 128 Water Agt Mash 69% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 105 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 75%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 82 Water Agt Mash 17% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 47 Water Agt Other 19% 0% - 100%
Table Salt 41 Water Agt Boil 13% 0% - 98%

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