Best Bitters Ranked by the 2010 U.S.
This Top Ten Bitter list is from America's Best
and Top Ten and from the results of the 2010 US Open Beer Championship.
1. Alaskan Summer Ale - Alaskan Brewing Company - Alaska
2. #'s Ale - Red Brick Brewery - Georgia
3. Get Fuggled - Downing International Brewing - Canada
4. Bluebird Bitter - Coniston Brewing - England
5. Honker's Ale - Goose Island - Illinois
6. Brakspear Bitter - W.H. Brakspear & Sons England
7. Arkell Best Bitter - Wellington Brewery - Canada
8. Best Bitter - Dick's Brewing - Washington
9. Royal Oak Traditional Bitter - O'Hanlon's Brewing - England
10. Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Bitter - Samuel Smith - England
Bitter
Subcategory: Ordinary Bitter
Ordinary bitter is gold to copper colored with medium bitterness, light
to medium body, and low to medium residual malt sweetness. For the purposes
of this competition, either English or American hop flavor and aroma
character may be evident at the brewer’s discretion. Mild carbonation
traditionally characterizes draft-cask versions, but in bottled versions, a
slight increase in carbon dioxide content is acceptable. Fruity-ester
character and very low diacetyl (butterscotch) character are acceptable in
aroma and flavor, but should be minimized in this form of bitter. Chill haze
is allowable at cold temperatures.
OG: 1.033-1.038
FG: 1.006-1.012
Alcohol by Weight: 2.4-3.0%
IBU: 20-35
Color SRM: 8-12
Subcategory: Special Bitter or Best Bitter
Special bitter is more robust than ordinary bitter. It has medium body
and medium residual malt sweetness. It is gold to copper colored. Hop
bitterness should be medium and absent of harshness. For the purposes of
this competition, either English or American hop flavor and aroma character
may be evident at the brewer’s discretion. Mild carbonation traditionally
characterizes draft-cask versions; for the purposes of the bottled entries
entered in this competition, normal or a slight increase in carbon dioxide
content is acceptable. Fruity-ester character is acceptable in aroma and
flavor. Diacetyl (butterscotch character) is acceptable and characteristic
when at very low levels; the absence of diacetyl is also acceptable. Chill
haze is allowable at cold temperatures.
OG: 1.038-1.045
FG: 1.006-1.012
Alcohol by Weight: 3.3-3.8%
IBU: 28-46
Color SRM: 8-14
Open Beer Championship