IBU's - what do they really mean?

The problem with beer was that it wouldn't survive a long voyage, ergo rum and other distilled spirits. Still, beer later became a wondrous thing, with each community having its own unique brewery and style. We were loyal! That changed, but of late, Craft Brewing appeared and gone mad - with over 3000 of the buggers and 100's of weekly new releases, ergo a blood, er beerbath is in the offing. Until then - this section...
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Capn Jimbo
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IBU's - what do they really mean?

Post by Capn Jimbo »

IBU (Int'l Bittering Units)


Please pardon the poor reproduction. In theory, IBU's refer to the amount of bittering hops in a beer, as a rough measure of "bitterness". But does it really? To a point, yes, but then again, maybe not. As an example we tasted three beers rated 35, 40 and 45 IBU's respectively; yet in terms of perceived bitterness we experienced in the exact reverse of their IBU ratings.

It's my understanding the other factors in a beer may compensate, balance or otherwise alter the impression of bitterness. I'll leave that up to Bear, currently hibernating...


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