The diameter of its cap usually does not exceed 15 cm. Spore powder is pink. This musroom is common in Latvia. It grows abundantly in coniferous forests, also in mixed forests on acidulous soil from July to October. It looks quite similar to Boletus edulis. The main differences are that Tylopilus felleus has distinct veins on its stalk, more or less pink pores, and the entire fruiting body is very bitter. (To be sure, one can slightly touch the mushroom with the tip of the tongue.) A single specimen can mar the whole meal. Inedible.

Neēdama, jo ir ļoti rūgta, bet nav indīga. Lai pārliecinātos, vai tā ir žultsbeka, viegli ar mēles galu jāpieskaras tās pelēcīgajiem vai rozīgajiem stobriņiem. Viena žultsbeka baraviku kompānijā var sabojāt visu ēdienu!

Piezīme. Daudzi cilvēki jauc trīs atšķirīgas sēņu sugas -- raganu beku (Boletus luridus), kas aug zem lapu kokiem, nav rūgta un ir ēdama (gan jānovāra); velna beku (Boletus satanas), kas Latvijā ir ļoti reta, vāji indīga un aug zem ozoliem; visbeidzot, parasto žultsbeku.