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 7502
Young´s Special London Ale #1
12 L 6.35% 33.53 1.064 1.015
All Grain 5650
[BYOBRA] Gale's HSB
12 L 5.21% 28.5 1.052 1.012
All Grain 4352
Scrotum Repair
10 gal 4.71% 25.16 1.051 1.015
All Grain 4167
03 ESB
28 L 5.57% 38.97 1.059 1.017
All Grain 3761
Tanglefoot
77 L 4.43% 28.08 1.044 1.010
All Grain 3497
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER (ESB)
23 L 5.27% 32.57 1.053 1.013
All Grain 3164
Fuller's ESB Clone
5 gal 5.46% 39.42 1.060 1.019
extract 3140
Buggles Fitter
5.5 gal 4.88% 35.26 1.053 1.016
BIAB 2905
ESB
20 L 5.37% 50.24 1.053 1.012
BIAB 2677

Newest Strong Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Jail Ale
23 L 4.84% 28.77 1.049 1.012
All Grain 19
ESB
372 gal 6.03% 41.6 1.061 1.017
All Grain 11
LONDON
267 gal 6.34% 0 1.064 1.016
All Grain 14
Boddingtons Botch
21 L 4.78% 89.07 1.048 1.012
All Grain 12
British Amber
10 gal 5.01% 41.09 1.054 1.016
All Grain 11
Blond pale ale
5 gal 4.73% 0 1.046 1.010
All Grain 21
Beder Bitter 2024
15 L 6.01% 44.22 1.057 1.011
All Grain 19
Crystal Victory
5.25 gal 5.93% 43.74 1.055 1.010
BIAB 25
Never not injured ESB
300 gal 5.41% 43.73 1.055 1.014
All Grain 40
Dad's bitter
20.8 L 4.63% 42.38 1.044 1.009
BIAB 42

Fermentables Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 766 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 78% 4% - 100%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 175 Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 1% - 21%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 140 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 2% - 17%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 137 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 7% 0% - 20%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 117 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 4% 0% - 14%
US - Pale 2-Row 113 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 62% 4% - 100%
American - Victory 91 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 8% 2% - 28%
Belgian - Biscuit 89 Belgian Grain roasted malt 23°L
35 6% 1% - 17%
Torrified Wheat 80 Adjunct raw 2°L
36 6% 0% - 21%
United Kingdom - Golden Promise 77 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 786 5.8 31% 0% - 100%
Fuggles 453 4.5 28% 5% - 100%
Challenger 283 8.5 30% 5% - 100%
Target 162 11.5 29% 3% - 67%
Magnum 112 15 27% 3% - 100%
Cascade 102 7 28% 4% - 100%
Northern Brewer 100 7.8 32% 4% - 100%
Willamette 100 4.5 28% 5% - 100%
Goldings 81 4.5 25% 4% - 100%
Kent Goldings 69 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 7 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 53% 29% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 7 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 52% 7% - 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%
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%
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%

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-04 404 Fermentis / Safale Ale .0975 High 75% 54°F 77°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968 154 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Very High 69% 64°F 72°F
White Labs - English Ale Yeast WLP002 109 White Labs Ale Medium Very High 66.5% 65°F 68°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast 66 Danstar Ale Med-High High 77% 57°F 70°F
Danstar - London ESB Yeast 59 Danstar Ale Med-High Low 70% 65°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 55 Wyeast Ale 0.1 High 73% 64°F 74°F
Wyeast - West Yorkshire 1469 40 Wyeast Ale 0.09 High 69% 64°F 72°F
White Labs - British Ale Yeast WLP005 35 White Labs Ale Medium High 70.5% 65°F 70°F
Mangrove Jack - Liberty Bell Ale M36 34 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 331 Water Agt Mash 27% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 159 Water Agt Mash 17% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 149 Fining Boil 70% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 142 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 133 Water Agt Boil 70% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 112 Water Agt Mash 69% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 91 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 75%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 67 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 48 Water Agt Mash 19% 0% - 100%
Table Salt 38 Water Agt Mash 14% 0% - 98%

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