When I took my specific gravity at 38 (or more properly 1.038) I had forgotten to adjust for the temperature, which I estimate at that point being around 80 degrees. Since the hydrometer measures accurately at 60, my true original gravity would have been closer to 1.044. Hopped extract I started with as a base gives an IBU (international bittering unit) of 19.00 in a batch. I added Sterling leaf hops for 30 minutes and Liberty hop pellets dry. I found a handy ipod app to calculate the total IBU's and they turned out to be 33.83. According to the homebrewer's bible (aka The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing) my beer-or perhaps more correctly the beer style I am attempting to create-is an English Extra Special Bitter and seems to be as the brits might say "spot on". The bible says an ESB "may be brewed from specific gravities between 1.043 and 1.049" and have bitterness 20-35 IBU. I can't wait to try some...
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