How To Brew Best Bitter Beer

Best Bitter is in the middle of the pack when it comes to British Bitter beers; tipping the scales in the high 3 to mid 4%. Bitter is a broad term that is applied to a very well-hopped pale ale.

Usually these English bitters range from 3.5% to 7% in abv.

Ordinary Bitter is the lowest in abv and Extra Special Bitter being the highest. British brewers have several names for variations in beer strength.

There really is no agreed upon difference between ordinary and best other than strength of the beer itself. Of course hop levels will vary within each sub group.

A Long History of Beer in Britain

Britain has always had an interest in beer. In 43 AD the Romans conquered most of Britain. By around 100 AD, historical accounts from Vindolanda, a Roman fort in modern Northumbria, alludes to Atrectus the brewer, the first named brewer in British history.

By 500 AD, the Angles and Saxons arrived in Britain to conquer and settle. Their social life revolved around beer halls and ale houses.

Women in Beer

Brewing was usually done by females, using their domestic tools to boil, mash, and ferment among their other domestic tasks throughout their busy days.

Ale was drunk for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as many people thought drinking water was dangerous.

Hops

Prior to brewing beer, many in Britain were brewing gruit. This gruit was brewed with different herbs, depending on what was locally available. At no point were hops ever banned in England.

English brewers were finally able to find local supply of hops that were grown in Kent. Hops were often viewed as suspicious. Also, they were used to avoid taxes on spices.

In 1540 AD, brewers supplied Henry VIII and his royal household beer. At Hampton Court, his residence, 600,000 gallons of ale and beer were consumed a year; that’s 13,000 pints a day.

The lowest officer of a household received four pints every evening and Dukes received two gallons a day.

Style Profile for Best Bitter

Appearance

Pale amber to medium copper color. Brilliant to good clarity. Low to moderate white to off-white head. Low carbonation results in little head retention.

Aroma

Low to moderate malt aroma. Low to medium-low caramel aroma. Bready, biscuit, or light toast complexity is very common with the style. Mild to moderate fruitiness.

Hop aroma can range from moderate to none at all. The hop aroma that may arise will be floral, earthy, resiny, and or fruity character. Usually no diacetyl is detected, but a low amount is allowed.

Mouthfeel

Medium-light to medium body. Low carbonation.

Taste

Medium to moderately high bitterness. Moderately low to moderately high fruity esters.

Moderate to low hop flavor, usually earthy, resiny, fruity, and/or floral. Low to medium maltiness with a very dry finish. The malt profile is bready, biscuity, or lighty toasty. Low to moderate caramel or toffee flavors may exist.

Food Pairing

The toasty, lightly sweet caramel notes pair well with an English Cheddar. Traditionally speaking, a classic Fish and Chips pairs wonderfully with the batter of the fish.

The sweet caramel characteristics of the beer will add a nice contrast to the malt vinegar usually used in this dish. Roasted chicken or duck will also pair nicely with a nice Bitter.

Tips for Brewing your own Best Bitter

Grain

Usually a good Best Bitter starts and ends with a good British pale malt. In this case Maris Otter as your base malt is your best choice. Maris Otter lends itself to the biscuit flavor that you should be after with this beer.

After your base malt, a British crystal malt should be also considered. Using a malt such as Pale Chocolate at a very low amount, such as Martin did will carry some decent color for your beer. Just remember to be light-handed with your Pale Chocolate here.

Hops

When considering the hops, you need to forget the American notion of a “bitter beer.” 30-35 IBU for this beer should be plenty. Using English hops would only be proper. Hops such as Fuggle, East Kent Golding is what you should consider.

Yeast

Researching your yeast will really pay off in the end when it comes to brewing your own Bitter. Some British yeast strains can be neutral and others can be more estery, others ferment dryer, and some leave some residual sweetness. Some yeast to consider include:

Wyeast 1275 Thames Valley Ale

Wyeast 1318 London Ale III

White Labs Burton Ale ALP023

Best Bitter By the Numbers

• Color Range: 8 – 16 SRM
• Original Gravity: 1.040 – 1.048 OG
• Final Gravity: 1.008 – 1.012 FG
• IBU Range: 25 – 40
• ABV Range: 3.8 – 4.6%

Best Bitter Homebrew Recipe

Grain

52% 4 lbs Maris Otter

26% 6 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt – 80L

15% 2 oz Pale Chocolate

Hops

0.75 oz Fuggle Pellets – Boil 60.0 min

0.50 oz East Kent Pellets – Boil 10.0 min

Yeast

1.0 pkg London Ale III WYeast #1318

Mash at 152°F (66°C) for 60 mins

Boil for 60 mins

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Makes Best Bitter Different from Ordinary Bitter?

Best Bitter is a type of British Bitter beer that falls in the middle of the spectrum in terms of alcohol content, ranging from high 3% to mid 4% ABV.

Unlike Ordinary Bitter, which has the lowest ABV, Best Bitter has a slightly higher strength.

The hop levels in Best Bitter can also vary, making it a well-hopped pale ale. The beer has a medium-light to medium body, with a very dry finish and moderate to low hop flavor. It pairs well with traditional English dishes like Fish and Chips.

What Ingredient Makes Beer Bitter?

The bitterness in beer, especially in Best Bitter, comes from hops. In the case of Best Bitter, English hops such as Fuggle and East Kent Golding are commonly used. These hops contribute to the beer’s IBU (International Bitterness Units), which for Best Bitter usually ranges from 25 to 40.

What is a Best Bitter Beer?

Best Bitter is a British beer style that is a well-hopped pale ale. It has a medium-light to medium body, moderate to high bitterness, and a very dry finish. The malt profile is often bready, biscuity, or lightly toasty, and it may have low to moderate caramel or toffee flavors.

What Makes Beer Bitter?

The bitterness in Best Bitter, as well as in other types of bitter beer, comes from the hops used during brewing. English hops like Fuggle and East Kent Golding are often used in Best Bitter recipes.

These hops not only add bitterness but also contribute to the beer’s aroma and flavor.

Why is Best Bitter Considered a Pale Ale?

In American terms, Best Bitter is essentially a Pale Ale due to its well-hopped nature. It has a moderate to high level of bitterness and usually falls within an IBU range of 25 to 40.

The beer is also characterized by its medium-light to medium body and very dry finish.