International Bittering Units (IBU)
The International Bittering Units scale, or simply IBU scale, provides a measure of the bitterness of beer,
which is provided by the hops used during brewing.
Bittering units are measured through the use of a spectrophotometer and solvent extraction.
The apparent bitterness of a beer is subjective to the taste of the drinker and the balancing malt
sweetness of the beer this is not always an accurate measure of the "hoppiness" of a beer. But, generally
speaking, beers with IBUs of less than 20 have little to no apparent hops presence.
Beers with IBUs from 20 to 45 are the most common and have mild to pronounced hops presence. Beers with IBUs
greater than 45 are heavily hopped and can be quite bitter.
|
| Beer Style |
IBU Range |
| Altbier Hybrid* |
24-30 |
| American Dark Lager |
14-20 |
| American Lager |
5-15 |
| American Light Lager |
8-17 |
| American Premium Lager |
13-23 |
| American Wheat |
10-17 |
| Barley Wine |
50-100 |
| Belgian Brown Ale |
15-25 |
| Belgian Dubbel |
10-25 |
| Belgian Tripels |
14-25 |
| Berliner Weisse |
3-6 |
| Bitter, Extra Special |
30-35 |
| Bitter, Ordinary |
20-25 |
| Bock Lager |
25-28 |
| Bock, German Lager |
20-30 |
| Bock, Helles (Pale) Lager |
20-35 |
| Brown Ale |
15-20 |
| Brown Ale, American |
25-60 |
| Brown Ale, English |
15-25 |
| California Common |
33-45 |
| Cream Ale Hybrid |
10-18 |
| Dopplebock Lager |
17-27 |
| Dortmunder/Export Lager |
23-29 |
| Dunkel Lager |
16-25 |
| English Mild |
14-20 |
| English Old/Strong Ale |
30-40 |
| Fruit Beer Hybrid |
Varies |
| German Hefeweizen |
10-16 |
| Herb and Spice Beer |
Varies |
|
| Beer Stylee |
IBU Range |
| Imperial Stout |
50-80 |
| India Pale Ale (IPA) |
40-60 |
| Kolsch Hybrid |
20-30 |
| Lambics |
11-23 |
| Light Ale |
10-15 |
| Marzen/Octoberfest Lager |
22-28 |
| Munich Dunkel Lager |
14-24 |
| Munich Helles Lager |
18-25 |
| Pale Ale, American |
20-40 |
| Pale Ale. Classic |
20-40 |
| Pale Ale, English |
20-40 |
| Pilsner, Classic Lager |
35-45 |
| Pilsner, Czech Lager |
35-43 |
| Pilsner, German Lager |
30-40 |
| Porter |
20-60 |
| Porter, Robust |
25-40 |
| Rauchbier |
20-25 |
| Saison |
20-30 |
| Scotch Strong Ale |
25-35 |
| Scottish Brown |
5-20 |
| Scottish Export |
15-20 |
| Scottish Heavy |
12.17 |
| Scottish Light Ale |
10-15 |
| Smoked Beer |
20-30 |
| Stout, Dry |
30-35 |
| Stout, Sweet (Cream) |
15-25 |
| Vienna Lager |
18-25 |
| Weizenbock |
10-20 |
| Weizen |
13-17 |
|
*Hybird Beer: Brewed with either lager or ale yeast.