bittering

See also: Bittering

English

Etymology

From bitter +‎ -ing.

Noun

bittering (plural bitterings)

1. A bitter compound, such as that used in adulterating beer or that removed from coffee.
   • 1839, “Dear's Process of Separating and Removing the Bitterings from the Kettles or Boilers Used in the Manufacture of Salt”, in Mechanics' Magazine, volume 30, page 94:

     A patent was lately grantedd to David Dear, of the town of Salina, county of Onondaga, and state of New York, for an improved mode of separating the bitterings from, and cleaning hte same from salt kettles or boilers of any description used in the manufacture of salt.

   • 2013, Encyclopaedia of Brewing:

     It is used as a kettle addition in conjunction with other post-fermentation bitterings.

2. The act of making or becoming bitter.
   • 1898, Franz Lafar, Technical mycology v.1,, page 405:

     This observation would suffice to explain the fact mentioned at the commencement of this paragraph, that bittering is almost exclusively confined to red wines, these containing, as is well known, a somewhat large amount of tannin absorbed from the skins and kernels of the grape during the primary fermentation.

   • 2001, John J. Palmer, How to Brew, page 56:

     Aroma hops can be used for bittering also, and many homebrewers swear by this, claiming a finer, cleaner overall hop profile.

Synonyms

• bittern

Adjective

bittering (not comparable)

1. Causing a bitter taste or smell.
   • 2006, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, H.R. 2567, the Antifreeze Bittering Act of 2005, page 4:

     The Consumer Product Safety Commission also questions the effectiveness of the bittering agent and wrote that there is no evidence that DB or any other possible adversive agent is actually effective at limiting the ingestion of consumer products .

   • 2012, Sam Calagione, Extreme Brewing, page 214:

     Centennial is an aroma-type cultivar that is used for its aromatic properties and bittering potential .

   a bittering agent in antifreeze

Verb

bittering

1. present participle and gerund of bitter

Anagrams

• Bittinger