Amber Bitter European Lager - Altbier

A well-balanced, well-attenuated, bitter yet malty, clean, and smooth, amber- to copper-colored German beer. The bitterness is balanced by the malt richness, but the malt intensity and character can range from moderate to high (the bitterness increases wi

Flavor Profile: Assertive hop bitterness well balanced by a sturdy yet clean and crisp malt character. The malt presence is moderated by medium-high to high attenuation, but considerable rich, complex, and somewhat grainy malt flavors can remain. Some fruity esters (espe

Ingredients: Grists vary, but usually consist of German base malts (usually Pils, sometimes Munich) with small amounts of crystal, chocolate, and/or black malts used to adjust color. Occasionally will include some wheat, including roasted wheat. Spalt hops are traditi

BJCP Style Guide

Top 10 Altbier Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Long Trail Ale Clone	8.57 gal	4.61%	15.01	1.046	1.011		All Grain	6504
Altbier 2	5.5 gal	5.14%	35.3	1.052	1.013		All Grain	4545
Sleigh'r Clone (double alt)	5 gal	7.2%	66.18	1.068	1.013		All Grain	3966
Alt Bier northern German style	5.5 gal	5.07%	41.25	1.050	1.011		All Grain	3489
Bolten Ur-Alt Clone	21 L	4.84%	32.21	1.048	1.011		All Grain	3324
Birra Vecchia - Altbier	28 L	5.48%	33.8	1.050	1.008		All Grain	3197
Altbier-Tabarnak 2e essaie	18.5 L	5.06%	42.17	1.056	1.017		All Grain	3169
Herring Flight II	5.5 gal	5.04%	34.57	1.051	1.013		extract	3119
Alt - Who Goes There	23 L	5.13%	24.51	1.050	1.010		BIAB	3109
alt	1 gal	4.69%	35.73	1.048	1.012		All Grain	2573

Newest Altbier Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Altbier	5.5 gal	5.09%	32.82	1.051	1.012		All Grain	24
Altbier	5.5 gal	5.13%	30.19	1.052	1.013		BIAB	20
Alternative mind set	1 gal	5.84%	34.3	1.055	1.011		BIAB	32
Altbier	5.5 gal	4.01%	46.42	1.044	1.014		All Grain	29
Altbier	5.5 gal	6.17%	43.02	1.059	1.012		All Grain	46
Alt Bier	1 gal	4.74%	0	1.048	1.011		BIAB	54
Split Batch Collab	5.5 gal	5.6%	29.77	1.057	1.014		All Grain	65
Altbier	260 gal	5%	37.97	1.048	1.010		All Grain	66
Dusseldorf Altbier	5.5 gal	4.79%	41.73	1.052	1.016		BIAB	52
bier	23 L	4.46%	29.87	1.045	1.011		All Grain	51

Fermentables Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Munich - Light 10L	214		Grain	specialty malt	10°L	33	33%	2% - 100%
German - Pilsner	200	German	Grain	base malt	1.6°L	38	59%	8% - 100%
German - Carafa II	104	German	Grain	roasted malt	425°L	32	2%	1% - 11%
Munich Dark 20L	88		Grain	specialty malt	20°L	34	23%	2% - 100%
German - CaraMunich I	84	German	Grain	crystal malt	39°L	34	7%	2% - 40%
German - CaraMunich II	79	German	Grain	crystal malt	46°L	34	5%	2% - 21%
Munich	67		Grain	specialty malt	6°L	37	28%	1% - 100%
German - CaraMunich III	64	German	Grain	crystal malt	57°L	34	6%	2% - 18%
German - Vienna	64	German	Grain	base malt	4°L	37	19%	2% - 56%
American - Pilsner	58	American	Grain	base malt	1.8°L	37	54%	14% - 98%

Hops Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Average AA	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Magnum	162	15	45%	5% - 100%
Tettnanger	158	4.5	39%	6% - 100%
Spalt	107	4.5	38%	6% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh	93	3.75	36%	2% - 100%
Perle	86	8.2	37%	7% - 100%
Saaz	84	3.5	36%	10% - 100%
Northern Brewer	38	7.8	43%	16% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau	27	3.9	38%	6% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker	27	4	38%	15% - 75%
Cascade	24	7	40%	14% - 86%

Steeping Grains Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
American - Chocolate	7	American	Grain	roasted malt	350°L	29	15%	4% - 33%
Special B	4		Grain	crystal malt	115°L	34	44%	40% - 50%
German - CaraMunich I	4	German	Grain	crystal malt	39°L	34	38%	20% - 50%
German - CaraMunich II	4	German	Grain	crystal malt	46°L	34	100%	100% - 100%
Aromatic Malt	3		Grain	specialty malt	20°L	35	48%	8% - 80%
Caramel / Crystal 60L	3		Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	87%	60% - 100%
German - Carafa III	3	German	Grain	roasted malt	535°L	32	9%	2% - 15%
American - Caramel / Crystal 80L	2	American	Grain	crystal malt	80°L	33	26%	8% - 44%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	2	American	Grain	crystal malt	120°L	33	70%	40% - 100%
Belgian - CaraMunich	2	Belgian	Grain	crystal malt	50°L	33	40%	40% - 40%

Yeasts Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Laboratory	Type	Alcohol Tolerance	Flocculation	Attenuation	Min. Temp	Max. Temp
Wyeast - German Ale 1007	123	Wyeast	Ale	0.11	Low	75%	55°F	68°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97	104	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.104	High	81%	54°F	77°F
White Labs - Dusseldorf Alt Yeast WLP036	77	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Medium	68.5%	65°F	72°F
White Labs - German Ale/ Kölsch Yeast WLP029	44	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Medium	75%	65°F	69°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05	44	Fermentis / Safale	Ales	Low	Medium	81%	54°F	77°F
Fermentis - Saflager - German Lager Yeast W-34/70	25	Fermentis / Safale	Lagers	.105	High	83%	48°F	72°F
Imperial Yeast - G02 Kaiser	23	Imperial Yeast	German Ale		Low	73%	55°F	65°F
Wyeast - Kölsch 2565	21	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Low	75%	56°F	70°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® KÖLN KÖLSCH KOLSCH STYLE ALE YEAST	15	Lallemand	Ales	Medium	Medium	75%	59°F	72°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast	12	Danstar	Ale	Med-High	High	77%	57°F	70°F

Other Ingredients Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Type	Use	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Gypsum	146	Water Agt	Mash	17%	0% - 100%
Whirlfloc	88	Fining	Boil	62%	1% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	69	Water Agt	Mash	14%	0% - 100%
Lactic acid	65	Water Agt	Mash	70%	0% - 100%
Epsom Salt	63	Water Agt	Mash	7%	0% - 50%
Baking Soda	51	Water Agt	Mash	10%	0% - 99%
Irish Moss	33	Fining	Boil	71%	11% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	31	Water Agt	Mash	14%	0% - 100%
Yeast Nutrient	30	Water Agt	Boil	32%	0% - 100%
Chalk	27	Water Agt	Mash	12%	0% - 58%

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