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	10108
vanilla night sky	5.5 gal	7.9%	29.38	1.080	1.020		All Grain	8172
[BYOBRA] Gale's HSB	12 L	5.21%	28.5	1.052	1.012		All Grain	5225
Scrotum Repair	10 gal	4.71%	25.16	1.051	1.015		All Grain	4436
Tanglefoot	77 L	4.43%	28.08	1.044	1.010		All Grain	4254
03 ESB	28 L	5.57%	38.97	1.059	1.017		All Grain	4252
EXTRA SPECIAL BITTER (ESB)	23 L	5.27%	32.57	1.053	1.013		All Grain	4050
Fuller's ESB Clone	5 gal	5.46%	39.42	1.060	1.019		extract	3757
Buggles Fitter	5.5 gal	4.88%	35.26	1.053	1.016		BIAB	3112
ESB	20 L	5.37%	50.24	1.053	1.012		BIAB	3015

Newest Strong Bitter Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Watney's Red Barrel XX	2.64 gal	3.7%	32.05	1.039	1.010		All Grain	17
EKG SMaSH	5.5 gal	6.06%	30.27	1.060	1.014		All Grain	36
imperial bitter	25 L	6.33%	54.08	1.064	1.016		All Grain	44
Extra Special Bitter	20 L	5.2%	39.52	1.055	1.015		All Grain	29
ESB	5.75 gal	4.75%	35.63	1.053	1.017		All Grain	37
Lou's Best ESB	5.5 gal	5.12%	59.7	1.057	1.018		extract	59
Hobgoblin CYBI Clone	5.5 gal	4.93%	38.12	1.051	1.013		All Grain	44
ESB	5.5 gal	4.58%	32.93	1.049	1.014		BIAB	51
57 Best Bitter	50 L	5.7%	44.52	1.053	1.010		All Grain	45
Brighton Strong Bitter	16 L	5.49%	52.46	1.058	1.016		All Grain	37

Fermentables Used In Strong Bitter Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale	804	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3.75°L	38	78%	4% - 100%
Caramel / Crystal 60L	193		Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	7%	1% - 21%
United Kingdom - Crystal 60L	146	United Kingdom	Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	7%	2% - 20%
American - Caramel / Crystal 40L	145	American	Grain	crystal malt	40°L	34	7%	0% - 20%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	127	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%
American - Victory	94	American	Grain	roasted malt	28°L	34	8%	2% - 28%
Belgian - Biscuit	92	Belgian	Grain	roasted malt	23°L	35	6%	1% - 17%
Torrified Wheat	84		Adjunct	raw	2°L	36	6%	0% - 21%
United Kingdom - Golden Promise	80	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	860	5	31%	0% - 100%
Fuggles	486	4.5	28%	5% - 100%
Challenger	316	8.5	30%	5% - 100%
Target	174	11.5	29%	3% - 67%
Magnum	125	15	29%	3% - 100%
Cascade	115	7	28%	4% - 100%
Willamette	106	4.5	28%	5% - 100%
Northern Brewer	105	7.8	32%	4% - 100%
Goldings	85	4.5	26%	4% - 100%
Kent Goldings	73	5	34%	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%
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%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt)	5	American	Grain	crystal malt	1.8°L	33	42%	20% - 100%
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	440	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.0975	High	75%	54°F	77°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968	166	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	69	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	59	Danstar	Ale	Med-High	Low	70%	65°F	72°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318	58	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
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	36	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	382	Water Agt	Mash	25%	0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	186	Water Agt	Mash	17%	0% - 100%
Epsom Salt	168	Water Agt	Mash	10%	0% - 100%
Irish Moss	159	Fining	Boil	68%	0% - 100%
Whirlfloc	141	Water Agt	Mash	69%	0% - 100%
Lactic acid	132	Water Agt	Sparge	70%	0% - 100%
Baking Soda	106	Water Agt	Mash	8%	0% - 75%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	85	Water Agt	Mash	16%	0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	47	Water Agt	Mash	19%	0% - 100%
Yeast Nutrient	42	Other	Boil	35%	0% - 100%

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