|
Beer legend scale: IBUS (International Bitternes Units)
The bitterness of beer is measured by an internationally-agreed scale, International Bitterness Units, or IBUs.
They are sometimes known as EBUs (from European Bitterness Units), but the scale is now used in North America as well.
The measurement is based on the level op hop acids and the quantity of hops used in a beer.
IBUs do not give an indication of hop aroma or flavour, since they have to be balanced against the alcoholic strencth of a beer and the amount of malt used.
A ‘lite' American lager may have around 10 IBUs, whereas a genuine Czech Pilsner will have 40.
An English mild ale will have 20 units, and India Pale Ale 40 or higher, an Irish stout 55 to 60 and a barley wine 65
?xml:namespace> |