Lawrence Brewers Guild

Have any of you given a good look at bitterness ratio?

Original Gravity: 1.048-1.060 SG
Bitterness: 30.0-50.0 IBU

Above is a style guide of ESB.
If I understand correctly, 30 / 48 = .625 IBU/SG or 50 / 60 = .83 IBU/SG. This represents the low and the high end of the style compared to bitterness ratio.

An IBU/SG generally ranges from about .3 to 1 IBU/SG.

As you have brewed, have you found that you like your brew on the high end or the low end of the slope for the SG of your wort?

Generally, I believe that I like the IBU/SG at the low end (sweeter) except for my Stout which I like at the high end of IBU/SG. This may be because I like and drink a lot of strong coffee during the day so I like the bitter, strong and burnt taste.

As you have brewed, have you found that you like your brew on the high end or the low end of the slope for the SG of your wort?

Actually that depends..

There is more to mouth & hop feel than just the ibu/sg rating.

Mouth feel is dependent on mashing temperatures, dextriness malts, water profile, and adjuncts if present. to name just a few variables.

The same goes for hops. The number can be achieved by a variety of different styles of hops, the alpha content, when in the boil process they are added- all late kettle addition hops vs traditional 60 min, the co-humulone level of the hops plays a big role as well.

The sg/ibu can be the exact same for a dozen different beers of the same style and same "rating" but be totally different in the perceived mouth feel. So generally my tastes coincide with yours... but in reality the numbers don't always tell the whole story.

Your points are very good. Thanks!