International Bitterness Unit

noun

variants or less commonly international bitterness unit or International Bittering Unit

plural International Bitterness Units also international bitterness units or International Bittering Units

: a unit of measurement used to assess the concentration of a bitter compound found in hops in order to provide information about how bitter a beer is : ibu

… hop bitterness is measured in International Bitterness Units, or IBUs. Some of the beers we tasted were more than 100 IBUs.

—Roger Bull and Ed Stansel

The beer contains 5.5% alcohol by volume and 15 international bitterness units, a low level of bitterness.

—Eric Kolenich

This English style ale has … International Bittering Units (IBUs) between 21-25, a lot less than other ales, making it less bitter and easier to drink.

—Internet Wire

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above