Yeah, I have a much better handle on it now, the IBU calculator, etc. And of course hops vary, and 'nominal' AA values may only give a rough guide, I get that.
So after some thought, I had the chastening experience this morning of pouring a batch of beer down the drain and washing the bottles, something I've never done before. But I reasoned it was never going to improve, too bitter is too bitter, and why drink beer that doesn't taste good? Sunk cost fallacy!
It's such a shame, cos on every other criterion, colour, strength, carbonation, etc, it looked very good. But it got me a bit worried. What about the next batch? Well the 'next' batch was actually brewed before this one, but it's still pretty cloudy, mostly cos I forgot the protofloc on that one. So I'd kinda put it to one side. But hey ho, it'll clear eventually.But I decided i would open one to taste it. And it's OK. Hoppy, but OK. Likewise, another batch, in demi-johns and just about ready for bottling (this was my first all-grain no-sugar brew), tasted that, and it tasted lovely. Flat, but lovely!
What IBU did you end up with? I've never actually made a beer that's too bitter to my taste, although I did find one at a beer festival once.
Lets just say, it was in three figures!