Craft Beer 101: What Does IBU Mean?

While expert beer drinkers may know, many casual drinkers are unfamiliar with precisely what an IBU means when it comes to craft brews. IBU stands for International Bitterness Units. Essentially, it is the measurement of just how bitter your craft beer will be. It affects the taste of the beer and the aftertaste left in your mouth after you've taken a swig. Anyone in the Lawrenceville, NJ, area can find a mixture of high and low IBU choices and a wide selection of beers from Joe Canal's.

What Exactly Does an IBU Measure?

The way IBU gets its measurement is by recording the amount of a certain acid found in hops. It estimates the parts of isohumulone, or alpha acids, per million. This generally gives you a range anywhere between 0 and 120 IBU. The higher the IBU rating, the more bitter your beer tends to be.

What to Expect From a Beer With High IBU

A beer with a high IBU will have a much more bitter flavor and aftertaste. However, this can be counteracted depending on the other flavors that are used to create the beer. When smoky flavors or sweet malts are included, the bitterness will not have such a strong impact.

How IBU Differs Between Various Beer Styles

Your IBU rating will differ drastically between various beer styles. Traditionally, IPAs, or India pale ales, are said to be higher on the bitterness scale. They often have a range of 50-70 IBU. Many American-made IPAs vary widely, with some falling lower on the IBU scale and some resulting in much higher numbers. Barley wine beer is one of the highest IBU choices, with a range between 50-100 for many versions.

If you prefer a beer without such a bitter taste, you will want to stick with the options that offer lower IBU ratings, such as:

• Sour beers that maintain a range of 5-10 IBU
• Gose - a German beer that is often served warm and made with 50% malted wheat - tends to have an IBU of 5-15
• American lagers that see a 5-15 range
• Sweet and fruity wheat ales that fall in the 10-35 range

You may also opt for a pale ale or stout that tends to fall in the mid-range level. You'll often see numbers between 30-50 for a pale ale, and anywhere between 25-80 for a stout, depending on the subtype. Oatmeal stouts tend to fall on the lower end, while imperial stouts are on the higher side.

Popular Craft Beers Carried by Joe Canal's

Joe Canal's is one solution when you're looking for popular craft beers of varying IBU ratings. Whether you prefer a beer with light bitterness or a strong ale with bitterness that gives a bite, you'll find what you desire. Get a fall beer that befits the season, a New Jersey favorite, a malt beverage, or even a gluten-free beer. Some of our high IBU selections include:

• 21st Amendment - Blood Orange IPA
• Ballast Point Brewing Company - Sculpin IPA
• Cape May Brewing Company - Coastal Evacuation

Some of our low-to-medium IBU selections include:

• Brewdog - Elvis Juice
• Goose Island - Oktoberfest
• Amstel Brouwerij B. V. - Amstel Light
• Alternate Ending Beer Co - Royal Rug

You can even get something like the Bell's Brewery Jingle Bells Holiday Variety Pack that mixes American IPAs, Juicy Pale Ale, Lo-Cal IPAs, and Hazy IPAs. You'll get three of each, for 12 total in one convenient package.

Can I Get Beer Shipped to Me?

If you're looking for shipping options for beer, or other wine and spirits, Joe Canal's is the way to go. We offer a shipping and delivery system that helps get your selections to you fast. You can get your beer and other favorites shipped to you if you're in New Jersey or any other state where the law allows you to receive alcohol this way. It will just take one to three days to process the order, and another one to five days to make its way to your door.

To qualify for delivery, you must live within Lawrenceville, Princeton, West Windsor, Plainsboro, Pennington, Hamilton Square, Skillman, and other nearby towns. There are some restrictions, however, depending on how far away you reside from Joe Canal's. If you live close, you may be able to get same-day delivery if you've placed your order by 2 p.m. and meet the qualifying minimum. Otherwise, shipping is the better option if you do not reside nearby.

Get Your Craft Beer From Joe Canal's

With a staff that's knowledgeable in all things craft beer, ale, wine, and liquor, you can rest assured you'll find the right choice from the huge selection at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville, NJ. Purchase it in-store or use the shipping or delivery options for your convenience. When you're ready to place your order, or want to discover more about our selections, contact us to speak with our skilled staff.