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	6921
Altbier 2	5.5 gal	5.14%	35.3	1.052	1.013		All Grain	4901
Bolten Ur-Alt Clone	21 L	4.84%	32.21	1.048	1.011		All Grain	4610
Sleigh'r Clone (double alt)	5 gal	7.2%	66.18	1.068	1.013		All Grain	4331
Alt Bier northern German style	5.5 gal	5.07%	41.25	1.050	1.011		All Grain	3794
Birra Vecchia - Altbier	28 L	5.48%	33.8	1.050	1.008		All Grain	3512
Alt - Who Goes There	23 L	5.13%	24.51	1.050	1.010		BIAB	3438
Altbier-Tabarnak 2e essaie	18.5 L	5.06%	42.17	1.056	1.017		All Grain	3420
Herring Flight II	5.5 gal	5.04%	34.57	1.051	1.013		extract	3387
Alt	5.7 gal	5.44%	38.5	1.052	1.011		All Grain	3255

Newest Altbier Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Altbier the 1st	5.5 gal	4.93%	30.32	1.054	1.017		All Grain	28
Dusseldorf Alt Bier	5 gal	4.78%	37.37	1.052	1.015		All Grain	45
Altbier II	5.5 gal	5.3%	41.56	1.054	1.013		BIAB	69
German Alt Bier	5 gal	7.48%	50.95	1.072	1.015		All Grain	57
Alt Bier	5.5 gal	5.17%	43.55	1.052	1.013		All Grain	44
Awesome Recipe	5.5 gal	5.32%	35.68	1.050	1.010		All Grain	45
Düsseldorfer Alt	24 L	5.45%	32.22	1.052	1.010		All Grain	75
Alt-Bier	5.5 gal	4.84%	38.85	1.052	1.015		All Grain	48
Altbier	2.5 gal	5.59%	20.72	1.057	1.014		BIAB	43
Old Red	3 gal	5.21%	35.14	1.052	1.012		BIAB	61

Fermentables Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Munich - Light 10L	221		Grain	specialty malt	10°L	33	33%	2% - 100%
German - Pilsner	207	German	Grain	base malt	1.6°L	38	59%	8% - 100%
German - Carafa II	110	German	Grain	roasted malt	425°L	32	2%	1% - 11%
German - CaraMunich I	94	German	Grain	crystal malt	39°L	34	7%	2% - 40%
Munich Dark 20L	92		Grain	specialty malt	20°L	34	24%	2% - 100%
German - CaraMunich II	81	German	Grain	crystal malt	46°L	34	5%	2% - 21%
Munich	74		Grain	specialty malt	6°L	37	27%	1% - 100%
German - CaraMunich III	69	German	Grain	crystal malt	57°L	34	6%	2% - 18%
German - Vienna	68	German	Grain	base malt	4°L	37	19%	2% - 56%
American - Pilsner	62	American	Grain	base malt	1.8°L	37	52%	14% - 98%

Hops Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Average AA	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Magnum	172	15	45%	5% - 100%
Tettnanger	172	4.5	39%	6% - 100%
Spalt	115	4.5	38%	6% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh	101	3.75	36%	2% - 100%
Perle	92	8.2	37%	7% - 100%
Saaz	89	3.5	35%	10% - 100%
Northern Brewer	38	7.8	43%	16% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker	29	4	38%	14% - 75%
Domestic Hallertau	27	3.9	38%	6% - 100%
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	131	Wyeast	Ale	0.11	Low	75%	55°F	68°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97	117	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.104	High	81%	54°F	77°F
White Labs - Dusseldorf Alt Yeast WLP036	81	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Medium	68.5%	65°F	72°F
White Labs - German Ale/ Kölsch Yeast WLP029	48	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Medium	75%	65°F	69°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05	46	Fermentis / Safale	Ales	Low	Medium	81%	54°F	77°F
Fermentis - Saflager - German Lager Yeast W-34/70	28	Fermentis / Safale	Lagers	.105	High	83%	48°F	72°F
Imperial Yeast - G02 Kaiser	24	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	17	Lallemand	Ales	Medium	Medium	75%	59°F	72°F
Fermentis - Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04	13	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.0975	High	75%	54°F	77°F

Other Ingredients Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Type	Use	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Gypsum	162	Water Agt	Mash	16%	0% - 100%
Whirlfloc	91	Water Agt	Boil	61%	1% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	76	Water Agt	Mash	15%	0% - 100%
Lactic acid	73	Water Agt	Mash	68%	0% - 100%
Epsom Salt	73	Water Agt	Mash	6%	0% - 50%
Baking Soda	57	Water Agt	Mash	10%	0% - 99%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	38	Water Agt	Mash	14%	0% - 100%
Yeast Nutrient	35	Other	Boil	30%	0% - 100%
Irish Moss	35	Fining	Boil	67%	2% - 100%
Chalk	31	Water Agt	Mash	12%	0% - 58%

Photos