Brew a Classic British Session Ale at Home

Discover the timeless character of traditional British brewing with our English Bitter | Award-Winning Ordinary Bitter All Grain Recipe Kit. Crafted using premium English malts, classic East Kent Goldings hops and Lallemand Nottingham yeast, this recipe delivers everything you'd expect from an authentic Ordinary Bitter—rich biscuit malt character, subtle earthy hop flavour and exceptional drinkability.

Designed for brewers who appreciate traditional English ales, this recipe produces a beautifully balanced session beer with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a crisp, dry finish. At just 3.3% ABV, it's a beer you'll happily enjoy pint after pint.

Every Border Brewing Recipe Kit is brewed, tested and packed fresh using premium ingredients to ensure consistent, competition-quality results in your own brewery.

Why You'll Love This Kit

• Award-winning English Bitter recipe
• Authentic British Ordinary Bitter
• Rich biscuit and nutty malt flavour
• Classic East Kent Goldings hop character
• Smooth creamy mouthfeel
• Perfect low-alcohol session beer
• Freshly crushed grain packed to order
• Includes premium Lallemand Nottingham yeast
• Complete Brewfather recipe included
• Makes approximately 23 litres
• Suitable for Grainfather, BrewZilla, Guten, RoboBrew, BIAB and traditional three-vessel systems

Flavour Profile

This traditional English Bitter pours a brilliant amber with excellent clarity and a lasting off-white head.

Rich biscuit and nutty malt flavours are supported by gentle caramel sweetness before classic East Kent Goldings hops provide subtle earthy and floral notes. The finish is crisp, balanced and highly drinkable with a smooth, creamy texture that makes this beer a true British pub classic.

Style: Ordinary Bitter

Appearance: Brilliant amber

Aroma: Biscuit malt, light caramel and earthy English hops

Flavour: Nutty, biscuity malt with gentle caramel and balanced hop bitterness

Body: Light to medium

Bitterness: Medium to firm

Finish: Smooth, dry and exceptionally drinkable

What's Included

Your recipe kit contains everything required for the grain bill, hops and yeast.

Included in this kit

• Fresh crushed grain
• 100g East Kent Goldings (EKG) hops
• 1 x Lallemand Nottingham Yeast
• Complete Brewfather recipe
• Full brewing specifications

Additional products such as Whirlfloc Tablets, Servomyces Yeast Nutrient and Water Chemistry Salts are available separately to help optimise clarity, fermentation performance and overall beer quality.

Recipe Specifications

Complete Brewfather Recipe

Every Border Brewing Recipe Kit includes a complete Brewfather recipe to make brew day simple.

Your Brewfather recipe includes:

• Complete grain bill
• Mash schedule
• Water volumes
• Reverse osmosis water profile
• Hop additions
• Fermentation schedule
• Brewing notes
• Complete brewing specifications

Simply open the included Brewfather recipe and brew with confidence.

Link Title

Open the Brewfather recipe for the English Bitter Recipe Kit: English Bitter Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

What style of beer is this?

English Bitter, also known as Ordinary Bitter, is one of Britain's most iconic beer styles. It is known for its balanced malt profile, moderate bitterness and exceptional drinkability, making it a favourite in traditional English pubs.

What makes this recipe award-winning?

This recipe has been refined through competition brewing to produce an authentic English Bitter with excellent balance, flavour and drinkability.

What does this beer taste like?

Expect rich biscuit and nutty malt flavours, subtle caramel sweetness and gentle earthy hop character from East Kent Goldings. The result is a smooth, balanced session ale with a crisp finish.

Is the grain crushed?

Yes. All grain is freshly crushed immediately before dispatch unless otherwise requested.

Which brewing systems is this recipe suitable for?

This recipe is suitable for:

• Grainfather
• BrewZilla
• Guten
• RoboBrew
• BIAB
• Traditional three-vessel brewing systems

Does this include yeast?

Yes. This kit includes 1 x Lallemand Nottingham Yeast, a classic English ale strain that produces a clean fermentation while allowing the malt and hop character to shine.

Do I need anything else?

For the best possible results we recommend adding:

• Whirlfloc Tablets
• Servomyces Yeast Nutrient
• Water Chemistry Salts

These products are available separately.

Is this suitable for beginner all grain brewers?

Absolutely. English Bitter is one of the most forgiving beer styles to brew, making it an excellent choice for both first-time all grain brewers and experienced home brewers.

Recommended Products

• Whirlfloc Tablets
• Servomyces Yeast Nutrient
• Water Chemistry Salts
• Brewfather Subscription
• Digital Thermometer
• Brewing Cleaner