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 7784
Young´s Special London Ale #1
12 L 6.35% 33.53 1.064 1.015
All Grain 5965
[BYOBRA] Gale's HSB
12 L 5.21% 28.5 1.052 1.012
All Grain 4661
Scrotum Repair
10 gal 4.71% 25.16 1.051 1.015
All Grain 4272
03 ESB
28 L 5.57% 38.97 1.059 1.017
All Grain 4011
Tanglefoot
77 L 4.43% 28.08 1.044 1.010
All Grain 3792
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER (ESB)
23 L 5.27% 32.57 1.053 1.013
All Grain 3433
Fuller's ESB Clone
5 gal 5.46% 39.42 1.060 1.019
extract 3340
Buggles Fitter
5.5 gal 4.88% 35.26 1.053 1.016
BIAB 2988
ESB
20 L 5.37% 50.24 1.053 1.012
BIAB 2748

Newest Strong Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
ESB
11 gal 5.69% 33.06 1.060 1.016
All Grain 49
24/12 Rye ESB
23 L 5.17% 40.96 1.053 1.013
All Grain 169
Biscuit
6.5 gal 5.76% 32.97 1.060 1.016
All Grain 47
Awesome Recipe
20 L 5.07% 31.95 1.052 1.013
BIAB 27
ESB #1
5 gal 5.05% 35.9 1.056 1.017
BIAB 63
Erticaria
25 L 3.58% 33.39 1.035 1.008
All Grain 63
B.S.S.B.
6.25 gal 6.2% 39.35 1.059 1.012
BIAB 95
Lord Boyo Bach
19 L 5.32% 47.84 1.050 1.010
All Grain 75
Spruce Tip Bitter
5 gal 5.57% 37.55 1.059 1.016
All Grain 107
중급 3주차 비터
19 L 4.59% 48.48 1.054 1.019
All Grain 71

Fermentables Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 787 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 78% 4% - 100%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 186 Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 1% - 21%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 142 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 2% - 17%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 140 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 7% 0% - 20%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 125 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 5% 0% - 18%
US - Pale 2-Row 115 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 63% 4% - 100%
Belgian - Biscuit 93 Belgian Grain roasted malt 23°L
35 6% 1% - 17%
American - Victory 92 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 8% 2% - 28%
Torrified Wheat 82 Adjunct raw 2°L
36 6% 0% - 21%
United Kingdom - Golden Promise 79 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 826 5 31% 0% - 100%
Fuggles 471 4.5 28% 5% - 100%
Challenger 300 8.5 30% 5% - 100%
Target 168 11.5 29% 3% - 67%
Magnum 120 15 29% 3% - 100%
Cascade 106 7 28% 4% - 100%
Willamette 102 4.5 29% 5% - 100%
Northern Brewer 100 7.8 32% 4% - 100%
Goldings 82 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 - Victory 7 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 47% 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%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 7 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 53% 29% - 100%
Belgian - Biscuit 6 Belgian Grain roasted malt 23°L
35 27% 13% - 50%
United Kingdom - Crystal 55L 5 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 55°L
34 52% 29% - 95%
Aromatic Malt 5 Grain specialty malt 20°L
35 41% 22% - 50%
American - Caramel / Crystal 20L 5 American Grain crystal malt 20°L
35 55% 33% - 75%

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-04 419 Fermentis / Safale Ale .0975 High 75% 54°F 77°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968 157 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Very High 69% 64°F 72°F
White Labs - English Ale Yeast WLP002 114 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 63 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 55 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
White Labs - British Ale Yeast WLP005 36 White Labs Ale Medium High 70.5% 65°F 70°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® LONDON ENGLISH-STYLE ALE YEAST 36 Lallemand British Ales High Low 65% 65°F 72°F

Other Ingredients Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 361 Water Agt Mash 26% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 173 Water Agt Mash 17% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 159 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 154 Fining Boil 68% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 138 Water Agt Mash 69% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 122 Water Agt Mash 69% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 101 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 75%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 77 Water Agt Mash 16% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 47 Water Agt Mash 19% 0% - 100%
Yeast Nutrient 39 Other Boil 35% 0% - 100%

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