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BJCP 2021 / 11A

Ordinary Bitter

A flavorful, easy session ale: bitter, dry and gentle in strength.

  • Drink fresh
  • session strength
  • amber color
  • top fermented
  • british isles

Serve: 50 to 55F, Nonic pint

OG1.120
1.030 to 1.039
FG1.030
1.007 to 1.011
IBU120
25 to 35
SRM40
8 to 14
ABV14%
3.2 to 3.8%

Taste it in order

Aroma

12 pts
  • Earthy, floral or marmalade English hop
  • Light toasty or biscuit malt
  • Faint fruit from the yeast
Vague
Hoppy
Better
Earthy hop and light biscuit
Best
Low to moderate earthy and floral hop over light biscuit malt, faint fruity ester

Appearance

3 pts
  • Gold to deep amber
  • Bright, may have slight haze if cask-served
  • White to off-white head, small
Vague
Gold
Better
Amber and bright
Best
Deep gold to amber, bright, small off-white head that fades to a collar

Flavor

20 pts
  • Dry biscuit and light caramel malt
  • Earthy hop flavor and moderate bitterness
  • Dry, bitter finish
Vague
Bitter
Better
Biscuit malt with earthy hop
Best
Low biscuit and caramel malt, moderate earthy and floral hop, moderate bitterness, dry bitter finish

Mouthfeel

5 pts
  • Light to medium-light body
  • Low to medium carbonation
  • Smooth
Vague
Light
Better
Light body, gently carbonated
Best
Light body, low carbonation, smooth and quaffable

Overall Impression

10 pts

Lifts it

  • Hop character at low gravity
  • Drinkability

Drops it

  • Diacetyl in excess
  • Sweet finish
  • Stale cask character

Writing tip

Reward drinkability. Example: 'Earthy hop with biscuit malt and dry bitter finish. A fine session beer.'

Pour these

  • Chiswick BitterFuller'sCitrusy marmalade and dry bitterness
  • Southwold BitterAdnamsFloral hop, bright and dry
  • Greene King IPAGreene KingLight biscuit with gentle hop

Often confused with

Fine here

  • Diacetyl: A faint buttery note is tolerated in traditional cask ale
  • Estery: A faint fruitiness is expected

Ruinous here

  • Sour/Acidic: Cask infection or old beer
  • Oxidized: Cardboard from age
  • Astringent: Sharp bitter grip

Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.