What is a Bitter Beer? -- History of the Bitter Style

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Is bitter beer better beer?

[@mustavertwang]

Yes!

[@NilsFLindberg]

Yes... Yes it is

[@snapsprovolone1509]

Hell no you fools lol. Go drink some grapefruit juice, it's basically an IPA with no alcohol 🤣

[@damian-795]

yes

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Bitter is English style pale ale. American pale is sweeter. Beer in Ireland used to not use hops.

[@humn_rights]

I miss England 🇬🇧 and the English pubs, very special and friendly

[@melo2511]

Thanks for this. One of my favorite beers, Honker’s Ale by Goose Island, was discontinued. I can’t seem to find another English Bitter anywhere. So I’ve decided to just brew one and make it my own, and understanding the history is a big part of that. Wish me luck! Thanks again.

[@christianc559]

Honkers, geez. I know! Fk. And it was more bitter than the English classics, an American ESB. Why is this greatest of all styles non-existent!? If you see Great Lakes Rally Drum Ale, I suspect you'll like that. It's more bitter and red than Honkers, but it's got that extra malt without the sweetness that usually goes along with it.

[@WaterOrton41]

Great vid Ryan. I enjoy most styles of beer but I always come back to 'Bitter'. Here in England I it's not labelled on the pump so much as it used to be, but the style is very alive. In my humble opinion I find the distinction with a Bitter being less on the dry hopping. You take more from the hops on the bittering - pre-flame out, rather than the alphas on the dry hop. However, as you put very well in your video, it's a grey area. Also, as you touched on - the session strength of Bitter is crucial, particularly given the pub culture here. Not watched any of your other vids but certainly will now. Cheers :-)

[@jeanrepal]

I just came back from England and I wondered about that. Thanks for clearing the haze! ;-)

[@vodkaman1970]

Just a bit of perspective from an Englishman. We don't drink warm beer. Bitter should be drunk way below room temperature. Not icy cold like a lager but still cold. I suspect that when our American allies came to Britain during WW2, beer refrigeration was not seen as the most important use of resources so the beer was pretty bad like much of the food also was at that time. Water shapes the taste of bitter greatly, so bitters from different regions of the country will taste different. Northern bitters made with soft water tend to be more foamy than for example London bitters made with hard water. Sadly, probably more generic lager (mostly Carling) is drunk than bitter. I think youngsters find it more palatable and it looks lighter and easier to drink. I started out as a lager drinker but found that the less gassy bitter makes it easier to drink over an evening, but many guys just stick with lager and don't seem interested in variety. I think the name bitter, is a bit of a PR problem, the word bitter as generally a negative trait. In actual fact I think lager has a more bitter taste.

[@markscott554]

Well said. Sometimes I feel like explaining that we don't all talk like toffs or cockneys, either.

[@anothercitizen4867]

One of the plant leaves the British used to spice beer was Bible Leaf that has a somewhat earthy subtle mint flavor.

[@8BitChickn]

The brewery I apprentice at brews a English Bitter. Wonderful beer.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Yes indeed! Always good to have one or three haha. Cheers!

[@tubedinoz]

Great video Ryan. Thanks for the history lesson. My fresh hop beer from your description falls nicely into the ESB category. I was a little unsure what style I should call it. Originally I thought my wild hop hybrid would have a citrus profile, but it's definitely more English in nature. Cheers

[@ThisGuysThoughts]

Nice video. This is definitely something that would make a great conversation over a few beers.

[@averagejoe716]

I'll say it once and I'll it again: LOVE YOUR CONTENT! Anybody looking to become more educated about beer in a FUN way, your videos are where it's at. This was particularly enjoyable for me because this is a style that I don't drink much at all, but knowing the history and how it evolved is a lot of fun. Maybe it's time for me to review an English Bitter in the near future. ;) Great video, Ryan. Cheers!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it. Bitters are great for a session of a couple (or half dozen haha)

[@JerryForttheBeerReviewGuy]

A Tongue twister, Lol, very interesting video and information Ryan, Cheers Buddy

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Glad you enjoyed it Jerry. Cheers!

[@PusaStudios]

This was such great information, loved it and thanks for the knowledge even though I am not the biggest bitter fan. Cheers and keep creating

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

I love the ESB style of beers.. Nice Video awesome info... I Have Smashed The Like Button... Cheers Ryan..

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers sir! We have a few great ESBs in my market around here as well

[@HopsAndBrews]

Great video. ESB are one of my fav. beer styles. Its very hard to find a good English style beer here in Oregon. Everyone seems to make it more of a NW Bitters with lots of hop and little malt.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Lots of hop heads out west haha. Cheers

[@peterg3947]

I have the same problem here in Michigan. The only bitters I can find are expensive English imports and even then there aren't many to choose from.

[@thebestplaguemarine3130]

This is good cause I’m going Oregon next year

[@HopsAndBrews]

@@thebestplaguemarine3130 what part of Oregon?

[@thebestplaguemarine3130]

@@HopsAndBrews my mums cousin lives in Medford I don’t know if I’m going next year yet I’ve gotta save up and see

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

Extra Special Bitter sounds like a Good Beer. Dude (Ryan) my friend thanks for this information. Now Iam all set to go to England. ha ha

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Too right, let me know when to go so I can meet you at the pub haha.

[@EVILXKAKASHI]

very informative, i hope u continue making more of this content

[@shadowrayz]

Great Content, Ryan! Now you have me interested in making a Gruit. Cheers, Brother! \m/

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

yeah! Let's get those old cool recipes a brewin! Cheers

[@garyyork-zt8om]

John Smith and Black Sheep are my favorite's. Both good Yorkshire bitters.

[@numberstation]

There’s a huge variety of flavours in English Bitters. Truly a beer for everyone.

[@DeansBeerReviews]

A not so fashionable style any more but still has a following me being one of them Nice video as always Ryan Cheers

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it

[@9hundred67]

These are deeeeelicious similar to red ales.

[@burningbeard9478]

UK bitters.....aka a session beer ....lol.....good work and keep the info coming....cheers

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Time to get a few and crack them open. cheers!

[@marvi855]

Great video Ryan! Thought the topic that was picked was a good one. Cheers 🍻

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it

[@drunkinone5969]

I knew nothing about bitters except for the style name. Now I'm informed. Thanks =)

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

The more you know haha. Cheers!

[@BAOSPodcast]

Never been huge into English Bitters, but this definitely shed some light on them. Keen to get back into them now, cheers!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers! They are definitely worth the shot. Try an ESB, they pack in a little more flavor.

[@mattpike7268]

Another great vid! The production value is really good in these vids, not sure why your channels not more popular. Can we get a vid on malt liquors in the future? I'd love to see a vid digging into the history and industry on them. Sometimes people just like getting an 8% tall boy for $.99 lol

[@DrHansBrewery]

Love a good bitter, Cheers buddy!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ottoomen5076]

Do the history of kolsch beer next!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

One of my favorite beer styles. I'll add it to my list. Cheers!

[@brentrusche2056]

Ryan, Dive head first into the similarities and differences between a Gose and Berliner Weisse...I would love to watch an episode on that! Cheers, Brent

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Great idea Brent, I've got it added to my list. cheers!

[@martyncornell1070]

British brewers didn’t use gruit, and it took 300 years for unhopped ales to disappear completely.

[@paultowsley4875]

Hooray! Thank you.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers Paul! Thanks for the great suggestion

[@elmonte5lim]

Next time you're in London, find yourself a Fuller's pub and check out their 'ESB' - carefully. It's very easy to get shitfaced - guilty, many times - one of those wonderful ales that seems to have a greater effect than it's 5.6% ABV would suggest. Cheers!

[@Patstar777]

I’m a home brewer. I became a home brewer because I lived in Britain for four years (when a young man) and can’t get an English bitter style beer without paying an arm and a leg.

[@djboristo]

Great video, quick question, moved to the US from the UK, can't seem to find a beer I like, what's the closest to an English bitter that I could find in the USA?

[@AnonYmous-jp8uu]

green man esb , or french broad 13 rebels esb....both in asheville nc

[@philjamieson5572]

I think this is a well-researched and clearly explained piece about a beer that's been an enjoyable part of my life for 44 years. I love bottled bitter, from my beer fridge at 12 degrees C. I think that's about the same as on draught here, but I'm not certain. Very best regards and CHEERS from Wiltshire, England.

[@mylittlegarden2887]

Very nice👍26

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

They were flavoring their ale like Gin. Hail to Hops

[@ReviewBrew]

You do it, I'm bitter! (No one here is going to catch the reference, but I made it anyway)

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Haha, I'm always down for a good obscure reference. Cheers!

[@NilsFLindberg]

I'm so tired of all the hop hype. Here in Sweden all people ever talk about is IPAs :( Real ales are almost impossible to come by. Even just a regular bottled bitter is hard to find.

[@AnonYmous-jp8uu]

ESB is an awesome style

[@thebestplaguemarine3130]

Joey holts bitter is what I drink and I’m proud of manny bitter

[@Kberrysal]

What's a good bitter to try for a new drinker to this style

[@tomwilliams7126]

Kberry1249 sal Banks Bitter

[@snapsprovolone1509]

Rasputin imperial stout 😎😂

[@SimpleHomeBrew]

Bitter beer is beautifully bitter beer.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Love it. Cheers!

[@tosht2515]

Ugh. Gruit ale. Went to a gruit only brewery and had a flight of wit, blonde and amber. Did not like any of them but ordered a pint of blonde just to be nice. Bleh. I like bitters and have had great luck with ESBs over the years. Nice episode. 👍

[@thelegendofeli3887]

6:09. Any fans of iron maiden?

[@OldNorsebrewery]

My absolute favorite these days is English bitter witch is not very bitter. It´s more like a pale ale. Cheers

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thomasconboy4636]

English bitter is smoth

[@Margarinetaylorgrease]

Who is Car Mel, and what car does he drive?

[@GenusBrewing]

This makes me want to buy a beer engine...

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Too right. Get that cask beer flowing. Cheers!

[@NilsFLindberg]

Me to...

[@TheUnmitigatedDawn]

BITTA BITAAA IT’S LITERALLY CALLED BITTA!!!

[@murderinc.hunting7686]

Woooo 🍺🍺🍺

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Always excited about beer! Cheers!

[@williammatthews2287]

So what is mild and heavy?

[@elmonte5lim]

I used to drink 'mild', now and then, fifty/sixty years ago. It was just starting to go out of fashion, then and almost impossible to find now - Merrie Monk survives, up in the Midlands. It's a style that's generally lesser in alcohol content, darker softer and maltier than bitter. In England, you got bitter, in Scotland, they brewed 'heavy'. 70 shilling would be the 'ordinary', 80 shilling(bob) the 'special' and sometimes you could find 90 bob - the different, ancient, taxation classes, depending on the original gravity. ABV would be roughly equivalent to English bitter but it tended to be maltier and darker. I used to enjoy Bellhaven 80 bob particularly, on my sojourns to Scotland.

[@LL-bl8hd]

Is anyone making bruit beers today?

[@benfisher1376]

Ale is the traditional English beer. We've been drinking it for more than a millennium 😂

[@pepavole7722]

Southwark bitter ❤

[@TheJoshGable]

black hops stout making an appearance

[@T6767676767676767]

CHEERS................

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers Tim!

[@cat_in_a_sock1948]

i love the use o the term "sessionable" try drinking 7 pints of English bitter and saying that word again lad. bitter is meant to be drank like water, it has no fizz like pissy lagers no aggravating overbearing flavour, it is just a soft, alluring drink. somethingto calm the nerves and sink in pints when needed. also "specials" are above 8% 5% is a normal bitter, i.e john smiths.

[@ericthompson7450]

I'm not a big fan of overly bitter beer buts it's ok Iguess.

[@nutyyyy]

They aren't typically bitter. Moreso malty.

[@Hawkeyepenny]

Gruit said like fruit. Same etyomology

[@Thoadin]

no bitterness! Beer with no alpha acid , more B or why no sulfites, it looks like you cant get a “beer” grain base alcohol without hops ... god dam bitter xD

[@bringyourempties]

I love bitters! Not enough of them out there and it's a shame!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Too right. I love to try them when I see one on a beer menu. Cheers!

[@nataliehelferty1438]

Bitter was Elizabeth II Command for Beer in the Presence of God with Me Natalie Helferty aged 7 in 1975 as God was Creating through Me as Queen of Canada. Elizabeth II was trying to ruin everything! So God created Bitters for England as she was claiming to be the representative of England and all things English. That is why England has horrible food and drink as Elizabeth II was being mean to Me and God but We did the Requests as Good As We Could given that her Evil Spirit would have made the food and drink otherwise and it really would be bad for the English with her in charge.