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 6018
Black Sheep Ale clone
23 L 3.93% 26.25 1.039 1.010
All Grain 4303
Bitter
5.5 gal 3.76% 28.8 1.038 1.010
BIAB 3877
UK Ordinary Bitter
20 L 3.64% 29.34 1.037 1.010
All Grain 3038
House Beer
1 gal 4.47% 16.72 1.046 1.012
All Grain 2827
Manchester Bitter
20 L 4.03% 14.74 1.040 1.009
All Grain 2767
Roger's
23 L 3.94% 20.87 1.039 1.008
BIAB 2743
Luddite Ales 2017
500 L 3.77% 35.59 1.037 1.008
All Grain 2709
banks's mild
19 L 3.44% 33.05 1.035 1.009
All Grain 2527
FUGGLES ALE
21 L 4.19% 24.76 1.042 1.010
All Grain 2221

Newest Ordinary Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Bit of this and that Bitter
18 L 3.26% 34.28 1.033 1.008
BIAB 7
Fullers LP
10 gal 4.25% 33.93 1.046 1.014
extract 18
ESB
18 L 4.71% 41.9 1.048 1.012
All Grain 25
BODDINGTON CLONE
8 gal 4.07% 20.37 1.042 1.011
extract 35
Best pale mild 2
48 L 3.74% 20.12 1.041 1.012
All Grain 27
Engelsk stark bitter
28 L 5.65% 27.45 1.057 1.014
All Grain 19
Engelsk stark bitter
28 L 5.71% 30.44 1.057 1.014
All Grain 5
Jake's Bitter (OB)
5 gal 3.64% 35.83 1.040 1.012
BIAB 39
Meanbrews Ordinary Bitter
3 gal 3.7% 28.74 1.040 1.012
BIAB 53
Bob's Bitter
21 L 3.59% 32.16 1.039 1.012
All Grain 38

Fermentables Used In Ordinary Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 591 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 82% 5% - 100%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 94 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%
US - Pale 2-Row 77 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 73% 9% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 76 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 6% 2% - 18%
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 546 5 34% 5% - 100%
Fuggles 366 4.5 34% 4% - 100%
Challenger 166 8.5 35% 1% - 100%
Target 74 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 68 7 30% 4% - 100%
Goldings 67 4.5 35% 1% - 100%
Kent Goldings 62 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%
United Kingdom - Chocolate 6 United Kingdom Grain roasted malt 425°L
34 30% 6% - 100%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 5 American Grain crystal malt 1.8°L
33 44% 17% - 62%
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%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 3 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 97% 91% - 100%
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 64 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 52 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 32 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 219 Water Agt Mash 28% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 103 Water Agt Mash 18% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 99 Water Agt Mash 68% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 95 Water Agt Mash 11% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 76 Fining Mash 64% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 73 Water Agt Mash 66% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 49 Water Agt Mash 19% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 34 Water Agt Mash 12% 0% - 44%
Phosphoric acid 25 Water Agt Mash 54% 2% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 25 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 57%

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