What Is IBU (Beer)?

Question: What are IBU's and why should I care?

Answer: IBU stands for International Bittering Unit - the scale used to measure hop bitterness in beer. An IBU is one part per million of isohumulone, an acid derived from hops. If you like the very bitter “bite” of the “Extreme Beers,” a higher IBU would be an indication of that snap.

Ales
Pale Ale / Amber Ale – 20-50 IBU
India Pale Ale – 40-60 IBU
ESB, aka Extra Special Bitters – 28-40 IBU
English Brown Ale – 20 IBU
Porter – 20-40 IBU
Irish Stout – 30-60 IBU
Barleywine – 50-100 IBU

Lagers
American Pale Lager – 10-15 IBU
Pilsner – 25-45 IBU
Bock – 20-30 IBU