Writer: Paul Crowther
Turning Point Brew Co.’s Nightcall clone
The bitterness of this Yorkshire bitter is below the minimum for a best bitter under the BJCP Style Guide. Bitterness is still present with the lower ABV beer, but the star of the show is the malt character. A healthy addition of melanoidin malt gives the beer the classic biscuit flavor Yorkshire bitters are known for, with more caramel character being added with the brown and crystal malts. The late addition of the East Kent Golding hops add floral notes with a hint of fruit character from the Archer addition. As my Grandad would have said: “A proper pint.”
Marble Beers’ Manchester Bitter clone
You can see the focus on the distinctive color with the use of the extra pale malt, giving wiggle room to build some malt flavor with crystal and Munich malts. The ABV is the mid-range of a best bitter, but just tips over the maximum IBUs. What you’re left with is a light and refreshing but incredibly bitter beer.
The Bitter Truth
British bitter is broken into three distinct styles in the Beer Judge Certification Program style guide, largely based on strength. However, there are other variations of bitter that don’t fit any of these categories. Get to better know the Yorkshire and Manchester bitters and then give brewing one — or both — a try.
Ghost Monkey Brewery’s UNBoiled clone
A hazy IPA that is missing one thing — the boil!
Brewing No-Boil NEIPA
Boiling wort is usually a part of the process when producing beer. However, there are historical styles that are made without boiling, and what brewers have learned from these beers is causing some to consider skipping the boil with modern styles, especially hazier styles with low bitterness, such as New England IPA.
Shades of Brown
Brown ale is often broken into two categories — English brown and American brown. However, there are even more variations to this flexible beer style. Learn what makes them unique, yet similar. Plus: 4 clone recipes that cover all the shades of brown ale.
Neon Raptor’s Barnum Brown clone
(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.052 FG = 1.012IBU = 18 SRM = 20 ABV = 5.2% This is a good example of the hoppy version of the American brown ale style
Avery Brewing Co.’s Ellie’s Brown Ale clone
(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.056 FG = 1.014IBU = 20 SRM = 24 ABV = 5.5% Avery Brewing Co. Ellie’s Brown Ale is quite restrained in its color but a big
Thornbridge Brewery & Bundobust Brewery’s Nut Brown Ale clone
(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.044 FG = 1.011IBU = 25 SRM = 14 ABV = 4.3% Thornbridge and Bundobust’s collaborative Nut Brown Ale is an homage to the classic
Cigar City Brewing Co.’s Maduro Brown Ale clone
(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.059 FG = 1.017IBU = 25 SRM = 32 ABV = 5.5% This is far darker than the BJCP guidelines for an English brown and pushes past
French Abbey Beer of Northumberland
Intrigued by a local landmark remembering a group of priests who fled to England and set up a brewpub during the French Revolution, a homebrewer sets out to recreate the beer they may have served patrons over 200 years ago.
Newcastle Brun Ale
Newcastle Brun Ale (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)OG = 1.034 FG = 1.007 IBU = 18 SRM = 15 ABV = 3.6% Intrigued by a local landmark remembering a group of priests who
