IBU Calculator: Optimize Your Beer Bitterness Levels

This IBU calculator helps you estimate the bitterness of your beer to achieve the perfect balance for your homebrew.

International Bitterness Units (IBU) Calculator

This calculator is designed to help homebrewers determine the International Bitterness Units (IBU) of their beer recipes. IBUs measure the bitterness brought by hops in beer, which is a key component of beer flavor.

How to Use the Calculator

  1. Enter the Original Gravity (OG) of your wort. This is a measure of the sugar concentration before fermentation starts.
  2. Enter the Volume of Wort in liters. This is the amount of liquid you are brewing.
  3. Enter the Weight of Hops in grams. This is the total weight of hops used for bitterness.
  4. Input the Alpha Acid (AA) percentage of your hops. This indicates the bitterness potential of the hops.
  5. Fill in the Boil Time in minutes. This is how long you will boil the hops in the wort.
  6. Click ‘Calculate’ to find out the IBU of your recipe.

How the Results are Calculated

The calculation uses the formula for IBUs which takes into account the gravity of the wort, the volume of the wort, the weight of the hops, the alpha acid percentage, and the boiling time to determine the utilization of the hops. The formula applies factors for bigness, which accounts for gravity, and another for boil time.

Limitations of the Calculator

The IBU calculator provides an estimated value based on the inputs provided. It does not account for specific hop utilization rates that may vary with different brewing conditions or systems. The calculator also assumes a simple linear relationship between time and utilization, which may not be accurate for all boil durations or hop varieties.