British Bitter - Best Bitter

A flavorful, yet refreshing, session beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not 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 Best Bitter Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Yorkshire Bitter	23 L	3.93%	33.04	1.042	1.012		All Grain	11024
Whitbread Flowers Original Bitter	22 L	4.52%	32.31	1.044	1.010		All Grain	8835
Hořčík #1	23 L	4.46%	32.03	1.045	1.011		All Grain	8039
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter	22.5 L	4.07%	39.01	1.043	1.012		All Grain	5869
Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker	22 L	4.07%	30.44	1.042	1.011		All Grain	5466
bitter	20 L	4.5%	35.71	1.046	1.011		All Grain	5357
queen of the iceni	5.5 gal	3.92%	34.68	1.040	1.010		All Grain	5192
Hop Light Pale Ale	44 L	4.35%	34.45	1.041	1.008		BIAB	4220
Allt Home Fire	20 L	4.47%	36.77	1.043	1.009		All Grain	4070
Prodigal son 2	22 L	4.52%	39.01	1.043	1.009		Partial Mash	3696

Newest Best Bitter Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
1 Gallon ESB	1 gal	4.3%	39.47	1.044	1.011		BIAB	27
ESB	5.5 gal	4.28%	41.21	1.043	1.011		Partial Mash	28
Brains Trad clone	5 gal	4.45%	31.33	1.044	1.010		All Grain	18
Munich bitter?	20 L	4.31%	42.53	1.043	1.010		All Grain	75
Williamette Bitters	19 L	4.76%	38.11	1.048	1.012		All Grain	21
Bitter 57	23 L	4.64%	35.09	1.042	1.007		All Grain	38
Venture’s Timmy T	11 gal	4.26%	48.8	1.046	1.014		BIAB	34
Young's Special London Ale	20.8 L	6.56%	30.2	1.066	1.016		extract	57
Awesome Recipe	17 L	4.29%	32.1	1.044	1.011		All Grain	22
Awesome Recipe	2.75 gal	4.05%	0	1.043	1.012		All Grain	30

Fermentables Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale	767	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3.75°L	38	81%	3% - 100%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L	132	United Kingdom	Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	7%	1% - 29%
Caramel / Crystal 60L	121		Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	7%	2% - 20%
United Kingdom - Golden Promise	113	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3°L	37	79%	17% - 100%
Torrified Wheat	95		Adjunct	raw	2°L	36	6%	1% - 15%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	93	American	Grain	crystal malt	120°L	33	5%	1% - 16%
United Kingdom - Chocolate	86	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	425°L	34	2%	0% - 10%
American - Victory	85	American	Grain	roasted malt	28°L	34	7%	2% - 24%
Crisp Malting - Finest Maris Otter	80	GB	Grain	base malt	2.4°L	36.8	81%	9% - 100%
Belgian - Biscuit	77	Belgian	Grain	roasted malt	23°L	35	6%	0% - 24%

Hops Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Average AA	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
East Kent Goldings	715	5	32%	1% - 100%
Fuggles	521	4.5	32%	5% - 100%
Challenger	257	8.5	31%	3% - 100%
Target	127	11.5	34%	3% - 100%
Styrian Goldings	122	5.5	29%	5% - 96%
Goldings	93	4.5	28%	6% - 80%
Magnum	87	15	27%	4% - 100%
Cascade	83	7	26%	4% - 78%
Northern Brewer	81	7.8	33%	4% - 75%
Willamette	78	4.5	31%	8% - 100%

Steeping Grains Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L	7	American	Grain	crystal malt	40°L	34	70%	25% - 100%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L	6	United Kingdom	Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	65%	33% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 80L	6	American	Grain	crystal malt	80°L	33	42%	20% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	6	American	Grain	crystal malt	120°L	33	58%	25% - 100%
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale	6	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3.75°L	38	65%	25% - 100%
United Kingdom - Crystal 90L	4	United Kingdom	Grain	crystal malt	90°L	33	86%	43% - 100%
United Kingdom - Extra Dark Crystal 120L	4	United Kingdom	Grain	crystal malt	120°L	33	78%	50% - 100%
German - CaraRed	4	German	Grain	crystal malt	20°L	34	54%	50% - 67%
American - Victory	3	American	Grain	roasted malt	28°L	34	64%	25% - 100%
United Kingdom - Chocolate	3	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	425°L	34	12%	3% - 17%

Yeasts Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Laboratory	Type	Alcohol Tolerance	Flocculation	Attenuation	Min. Temp	Max. Temp
Fermentis - Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04	424	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.0975	High	75%	54°F	77°F
Wyeast - West Yorkshire 1469	96	Wyeast	Ale	0.09	High	69%	64°F	72°F
White Labs - English Ale Yeast WLP002	92	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Very High	66.5%	65°F	68°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast	76	Danstar	Ale	Med-High	High	77%	57°F	70°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968	75	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Very High	69%	64°F	72°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05	67	Fermentis / Safale	Ales	Low	Medium	81%	54°F	77°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318	62	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	High	73%	64°F	74°F
Danstar - London ESB Yeast	41	Danstar	Ale	Med-High	Low	70%	65°F	72°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® LONDON ENGLISH-STYLE ALE YEAST	37	Lallemand	British Ales	High	Low	65%	65°F	72°F
Imperial Yeast - A09 Pub	35	Imperial Yeast	Ale		Very High	69%	64°F	70°F

Other Ingredients Used In Best Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Type	Use	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Gypsum	375	Water Agt	Mash	26%	0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	190	Water Agt	Mash	15%	0% - 100%
Epsom Salt	163	Water Agt	Mash	10%	0% - 50%
Whirlfloc	150	Water Agt	Boil	68%	0% - 100%
Lactic acid	129	Water Agt	Boil	73%	0% - 100%
Irish Moss	119	Other	Boil	66%	0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	79	Water Agt	Mash	20%	0% - 100%
Baking Soda	74	Water Agt	Mash	10%	0% - 42%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	47	Water Agt	Mash	20%	0% - 73%
Table Salt	36	Water Agt	Other	9%	0% - 50%

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