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
Young´s Special London Ale #1
12 L 6.35% 33.53 1.064 1.015
All Grain 14621
ESB
5.5 gal 5.43% 27.93 1.055 1.014
All Grain 11155
vanilla night sky
5.5 gal 7.9% 29.38 1.080 1.020
All Grain 8511
[BYOBRA] Gale's HSB
12 L 5.21% 28.5 1.052 1.012
All Grain 5795
Tanglefoot
77 L 4.43% 28.08 1.044 1.010
All Grain 4781
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER (ESB)
23 L 5.27% 32.57 1.053 1.013
All Grain 4662
03 ESB
28 L 5.57% 38.97 1.059 1.017
All Grain 4640
Scrotum Repair
10 gal 4.71% 25.16 1.051 1.015
All Grain 4626
Fuller's ESB Clone
5 gal 5.46% 39.42 1.060 1.019
extract 4251
Munken
19 L 5.71% 30.86 1.056 1.013
All Grain 3291

Newest Strong Bitter Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
[27] Fullers ESB
17 L 7.58% 44.09 1.077 1.019
BIAB 5
RECETA DE LIBRO BITTER LLUIS
110 L 4.86% 49.23 1.045 1.008
All Grain 21
ESB (Christmas Gift)
2 gal 4.99% 44.57 1.054 1.016
All Grain 17
ESB
21 L 5.19% 34.22 1.051 1.012
All Grain 64
Yorkshire Style Strong Bitter
5 gal 5.12% 29.12 1.054 1.016
All Grain 54
Strong Yorkshire Bitter
23 L 5.76% 42.51 1.058 1.015
All Grain 31
[08] ESB
17 L 5.39% 53.7 1.058 1.017
BIAB 160
KB ESB
12 L 4.86% 34.99 1.049 1.012
BIAB 23
Gingerbread Ale
5.5 gal 5.82% 45.77 1.056 1.012
All Grain 26
Imperial Smoked Porter
2.75 gal 7.5% 42.98 1.071 1.014
extract 211

Fermentables Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale 834 United Kingdom Grain base malt 3.75°L
38 78% 4% - 100%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 201 Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 1% - 21%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L 151 United Kingdom Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 7% 2% - 20%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L 147 American Grain crystal malt 40°L
34 7% 0% - 20%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L 129 American Grain crystal malt 120°L
33 4% 0% - 18%
US - Pale 2-Row 119 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 63% 4% - 100%
Belgian - Biscuit 98 Belgian Grain roasted malt 23°L
35 6% 1% - 22%
American - Victory 97 American Grain roasted malt 28°L
34 8% 2% - 28%
Torrified Wheat 87 Adjunct raw 2°L
36 6% 0% - 21%
United Kingdom - Golden Promise 84 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 903 5 31% 0% - 100%
Fuggles 508 4.5 28% 5% - 100%
Challenger 327 8.5 29% 5% - 100%
Target 180 11.5 29% 3% - 67%
Magnum 129 15 29% 3% - 100%
Cascade 117 7 28% 4% - 100%
Northern Brewer 112 7.8 32% 4% - 100%
Willamette 108 4.5 28% 5% - 100%
Goldings 88 4.5 26% 4% - 100%
Kent Goldings 74 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%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 6 American Grain crystal malt 1.8°L
33 52% 20% - 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%

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-04 460 Fermentis / Safale Ale .0975 High 75% 54°F 77°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968 173 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Very High 69% 64°F 72°F
White Labs - English Ale Yeast WLP002 117 White Labs Ale Medium Very High 66.5% 65°F 68°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast 72 Danstar Ale Med-High High 77% 57°F 70°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 68 Fermentis / Safale Ales Low Medium 81% 54°F 77°F
Danstar - London ESB Yeast 63 Danstar Ale Med-High Low 70% 65°F 72°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318 59 Wyeast Ale 0.1 High 73% 64°F 74°F
Wyeast - West Yorkshire 1469 43 Wyeast Ale 0.09 High 69% 64°F 72°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® LONDON ENGLISH-STYLE ALE YEAST 41 Lallemand British Ales High Low 65% 65°F 72°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® NOTTINGHAM HIGH PERFORMANCE ALE YEAST 40 Lallemand Ales Medium High 80% 50°F 72°F

Other Ingredients Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 404 Water Agt Mash 25% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 199 Water Agt Mash 17% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 180 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 162 Fining Boil 68% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 150 Water Agt Boil 70% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 140 Water Agt Mash 69% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 109 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 75%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 94 Water Agt Mash 17% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 47 Water Agt Mash 19% 0% - 100%
Yeast Nutrient 46 Other Mash 33% 0% - 100%

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