BU:GU Ratio Calculator
Bitterness-to-gravity ratio - how malty or hoppy your beer is balanced to be.
Estimated or measured, e.g. 40
Pre-fermentation, e.g. 1.050
BU:GU = 0.80
Balancehoppy
How it works
The BU:GU ratio divides a beer's bitterness in IBU by its gravity units - the points of original gravity. A gravity of 1.050 is 50 gravity points, so 40 IBU at 1.050 gives a ratio of 0.80.
BU:GU = IBU / gravity points (e.g. 1.050 → 50)
Sources: balance-ratio guidance from Brewer's Friend.
A planning heuristic only - perceived balance also depends on attenuation, residual sweetness and water chemistry.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the BU:GU ratio?
- BU:GU is the ratio of bitterness (IBU) to gravity units - the gravity points of the original gravity (e.g. 1.050 → 50). It is a quick gauge of how a beer balances malt sweetness against hop bitterness.
- What BU:GU ratio should my beer have?
- As a rough guide: below 0.3 is very malty, 0.3–0.6 malty/balanced, 0.6–0.8 balanced, 0.8–1.2 hoppy, and above 1.2 very bitter. A sweet stout might sit near 0.4 while a West Coast IPA can exceed 1.0.
- Does BU:GU account for actual perceived bitterness?
- It is an approximation. Residual sugar, water sulfate-to-chloride balance and hop character all shift perception, so treat BU:GU as a planning lever rather than an absolute measure of taste.