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BJCP 2008 Guideline

English Pale Ale - Special/Best/Premium Bitter

BJCP 8B

BJCP 2008 8B Special/Best/Premium Bitter style example
8B - English Pale Ale / Special/Best/Premium Bitter

 

IMPRESSION

A flavorful, yet refreshing, session beer. Some examples can be more malt balanced, but this should not override the overall bitter impression. Drinkability is a critical component of the style; emphasis is still on the bittering hop addition as opposed to the aggressive middle and late hopping seen in American ales.

COMMENTS

More evident malt flavor than in an ordinary bitter, this is a stronger, session-strength ale. Some modern variants are brewed exclusively with pale malt and are known as golden or summer bitters. Most bottled or kegged versions of UK-produced bitters are higher-alcohol versions of their cask (draught) products produced specifically for export. The IBU levels are often not adjusted, so the versions available in the US often do not directly correspond to their style subcategories in Britain. This style guideline reflects the "real ale" version of the style, not the export formulations of commercial products.

EXAMPLES

Fuller's London Pride, Coniston Bluebird Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Adnams SSB, Young's Special, Shepherd Neame Masterbrew Bitter, Greene King Ruddles County Bitter, RCH Pitchfork Rebellious Bitter, Brains SA, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Goose Island Honkers Ale, Rogue Younger's Special Bitter

You can view the complete style details on the BJCP website. The 2008 style guide is obsolete but there is a similar 2015 style that you can view below...

View Style on BJCP Website

VITAL

OG: 1.040-1.048
FG: 1.008-1.012
IBU: 25-40
SRM: 5.0-16.0
ABV: 3.8-4.6%

BJCP 2008 8B Special/Best/Premium Bitter style example
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