IBU
abbreviation or noun
plural IBUs
: 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
Brewers use the IBU to convey how bitter their beer is due to the addition of hops …—
Jonathan Chadwick
Jonathan ChadwickDogfish Head Brewery is releasing what will be "the hoppiest beer ever documented through scientific analysis," coming in at 658 IBUs.—Joanna Harkins
Joanna Harkinscalled also International Bitterness Unit, International Bittering Unit
Examples of IBU in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Max Cobb, the general secretary of biathlon’s world governing body, the International Biathlon Union (IBU), isn’t debating whether women are strong enough to cover the distances.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
After the 2022 season, the athlete was diagnosed with myocarditis, a heart condition, and took a break from competition, the IBU confirmed.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 24 Dec. 2025
Still, several federations have either upheld the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes or decided not to facilitate the qualification of either nation, such as the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and World Curling.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025
The brew: Pumpkin ale, 6.2% ABV, 14 IBU Greenfield’s first brewery brews its pumpkin ale with a single hop variety and traditional fall spices.
—Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Oct. 2024
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Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
After the 2022 season, the athlete was diagnosed with myocarditis, a heart condition, and took a break from competition, the IBU confirmed.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 24 Dec. 2025
Still, several federations have either upheld the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes or decided not to facilitate the qualification of either nation, such as the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and World Curling.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025
The brew: Pumpkin ale, 6.2% ABV, 14 IBU Greenfield’s first brewery brews its pumpkin ale with a single hop variety and traditional fall spices.
—Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“IBU.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/IBU. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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