What beer are those British people referring to when they want a "bitter"?

Question

Would any bitter beer do? Is Boddington's a bitter? I'm confused!

Answer 1

A Bitter would be a dark brown beer made with hops that give it a bitter taste. There are many brands of bitter beer and every pub will have at least one on draught.

So if a Briton asks at the bar for 'a bitter' he's asking for the house draught bitter beer -- since until recently most pubs have been 'tied' to a brewery, i.e. sell mostly that breweries beer. If he wanted an American style beer he's ask for a lager. Bitters are served slightly cool, not cold, and are not very gassy. American visitor sometimes recoil from bitter at first, expecting an ice cold drink, but bitter has a lot of flavor which can be appreciated when served at 'cellar temperature'.

Guinness is not a bitter - its a Stout. An IPA (India Pale Ale) would not generally be considered to be a bitter, that is you wouldn't be poured one if you asked for a bitter in a pub.

Boddingtons is a bitter.

The sub divisions of beers are confusing, but this page of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale - the UKs consumer organization for promoting traditional beers) gives authoratative descriptions of the different beers : http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=180657

Answer 2

It's just a general class of beer named "bitter" It doesn't really mean much anyways. I've tasted stouts or ale more bitter than the labeled "bitters" like Boddington's and many micro brew bitters. But mostly it's just an amber to pale ale that is very "hoppy".
The bitterness in beer and ales comes from the hops.

Answer 3

refers to a bitter pale ale...i think boddington's qualifies
most IPA's would be a bitter

Answer 4

British generally classify beer into bitters,lager etc. bitters as the word is very bitter compared to lager, which is of mild taste. bitters I tried is GUINEES(not sure of spelling).