Beer, like wine or baseball or fashion, has its own lexicon. There are acronyms like IPA (India Pale Ale) and obscure hop names like Motueka, all worth knowing in the name of understanding your drink better. Today, we focus on another acronym in IBUs.
Short for International Bitterness Units, IBUs is a scale for beer. It measures bitterness, often afforded from hops, much in the same way Scoville units measure the spice intensity of peppers. The scale runs numerically from zero to roughly 120. I say roughly because really, there’s no end to the scale. But so few beers end up with higher IBU counts than this and, even if they did, your palate might be so wrecked from the bitterness it could not really process the bitterness level properly anyway.
In the name of better understanding the craft beer movement, we reached out to Jared Rouben, brewmaster at Michelin-starred Moody Tongue in Chicago.
History of IBUs
It all started back in the mid-20th Century. IBUs were devised essentially to dial in big batches of beer. This was, after all, well before the craft beer movement during an era of mostly just a few giants. They wanted their batches consistent, and sticking to a single IBU figure via the recipe was one more way to make sure the next batch was the same as the previous (and so on). This was a different time, when being was more of an afterthought.
Today, IBU counts vary a lot more, mainly because the number of beer styles and producers varies a lot more. You could have a barely-hoppy lager come in at around 20 IBUs or a bitter-bomb of a triple IPA approach the triple-digit mark. Most beers fall between 15-80 on the IBU spectrum.
With beer drinkers paying ever more attention to what’s inside the bottle, can, or keg, IBU numbers are being advertised more often. The number is often placed prominently next to the ABV and beer style, often with an inclusion of hop varieties, too. Generally speaking, a beer with 50 IBUs or higher is considered quite hoppy. Once you crest 65 or so, you’re getting into very hoppy territory.
What IBUs reveal
“IBUs are a good starting compass for beer drinkers when deciding how much hops they want in their beer,” Rouben says. “They are also helpful in guiding customers towards styles they enjoy.”
Now, don’t simply assume that it’s just IPAs raking in those high IBU counts. Dark beers, stouts, and barrel-aged beers can achieve high numbers too, even if your palate doesn’t seem to pick it up. That’s generally because those types of heavier beers are balanced out by a rich malt bill that can really cut into any hoppy bitterness.
He says IBUs offer a quality control gauge as well, among other things. “IBUs are a great way for brewers to focus on stylistic guidelines when creating new beers. The range of IBUs correlates with specific BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Guidelines) guidelines for beer styles,” he says.
Now, more than ever, it’s about transparency. Beer drinkers want to know exactly how their beer comes about. This scale can provide a better picture of that process. “Beer drinkers are not only interested in their favorite beers but also how they are created,” he admits. “Sharing a beer’s IBUs is a sneak peek into the brewer’s beer recipe.”
What are other figures to pay attention to when analyzing a beer? Hop varietals, according to Rouben. He says that info can help you gain a better understanding of aromatics and flavor profiles.
What’s the highest IBU beer ever brewed? Rumors are floating around about a Dogfish Head beer that once reached more than 650 IBUs (again, not that you could even sense much beyond massive bitterness). The brand’s 120-Minute IPA is a better example, coming right in at 120 IBUs, about the high note for the human palate.
So, as you navigate IBUs, do pay attention to the number and do expect to see less hoppy beers like cream ales, hefeweizens, and lagers to offer numbers like 15-30. Look for hoppy beers like American Pale Ales, IPAs, and Imperial Stouts to be quite a bit higher. But also keep in mind that taste is subjective, and no two palates will perceive the same beer quite the same.
It’s most fun to keep that number in mind as you see how integrated the beer is at large. You can have a 90-IBU beer that’s still tremendously balanced. After all, IBU is a measure of the bitterness units, aka isomerized alpha acids from hops. But other things go into beer and can offset that number nicely. It’s another gauge to have in your back pocket as you hone in on exactly the kind of beer you covet.
Here’s to finding your sweet spot, wherever that may be along the IBU scale.
