All Beer Styles

English Bitter / ESB

British Ales

Difficulty: Easy

Balanced session ale with biscuit malt and earthy hops

3.2-5.5%
ABV
25-50
IBU
16-32
EBC
1.8-2.3
CO₂ vol

How to Brew a English Bitter / ESB

Typical Malts

  • Pale Ale or Pilsner malt

Typical Hops

  • Hallertau Mittelfrüh
  • Tettnanger
  • Saaz

Yeast

Ale yeast (e.g. US-05, S-04)

Style Requirements

Typical Flavors

biscuit
earthy
floral
caramel
balanced

FAQ about English Bitter / ESB

What is a English Bitter / ESB?

Balanced session ale with biscuit malt and earthy hops

How much alcohol does a English Bitter / ESB have?

A English Bitter / ESB typically has 3.2–5.5% ABV. Original gravity ranges from N/A–N/A, final gravity from N/A–N/A.

How bitter is a English Bitter / ESB?

A English Bitter / ESB has 25–50 IBU (International Bitterness Units). This is moderate bitterness.

What ingredients do you need for a English Bitter / ESB?

Typical malts: Pale Ale or Pilsner malt. Typical hops: Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Tettnanger, Saaz. Yeast: Ale yeast (e.g. US-05, S-04).

Do you need special equipment for a English Bitter / ESB?

A English Bitter / ESB can be brewed with standard equipment (pot or all-in-one system). Fermentation temperature: 18–24°C (64–75°F).

Brew a English Bitter / ESB?

Create your own English Bitter / ESB recipe with our AI generator — automatically tailored to your equipment.

Compare our free AI beer recipe generator with ChatGPT, Brewfather & BeerSmith →