Amber Bitter European Lager - Altbier - Beer Recipes | Brewer's Friend
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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 5733
Altbier 2
5.5 gal 5.14% 35.3 1.052 1.013
All Grain 3867
Sleigh'r Clone (double alt)
5 gal 7.2% 66.18 1.068 1.013
All Grain 3391
Alt Bier northern German style
5.5 gal 5.07% 41.25 1.050 1.011
All Grain 2985
Birra Vecchia - Altbier
28 L 5.48% 33.8 1.050 1.008
All Grain 2851
Herring Flight II
5.5 gal 5.04% 34.57 1.051 1.013
extract 2760
Altbier-Tabarnak 2e essaie
18.5 L 5.06% 42.17 1.056 1.017
All Grain 2717
Alt - Who Goes There
23 L 5.13% 24.51 1.050 1.010
BIAB 2687
alt
1 gal 4.69% 35.73 1.048 1.012
All Grain 2293
Dusseldorf - II
22.5 L 5.97% 49.16 1.051 1.006
BIAB 1989

Newest Altbier Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Alt Beer 5
5.5 gal 5.18% 48.02 1.052 1.013
BIAB 13
Alt is New
5.5 gal 4.44% 40.65 1.041 1.007
All Grain 22
Altbier
3.5 gal 5.54% 21.3 1.047 1.005
BIAB 8
Auenviertel Alt
5 gal 4.96% 35.23 1.053 1.015
All Grain 37
SLY FOX ALTBIER
6.25 gal 5.6% 29.38 1.052 1.009
All Grain 56
Alt
6 gal 4.95% 41.4 1.049 1.012
All Grain 41
Alternate Universe
14 gal 5.59% 51.12 1.057 1.014
All Grain 49
HHH Alt Bier
5 gal 4.68% 13.64 1.048 1.013
BIAB 112
Awesome Recipe
5.5 gal 4.31% 26.69 1.044 1.011
All Grain 37
German Altbier
5.5 gal 5.24% 48.78 1.048 1.008
BIAB 46

Fermentables Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
Munich - Light 10L 202 Grain specialty malt 10°L
33 33% 2% - 100%
German - Pilsner 190 German Grain base malt 1.6°L
38 59% 8% - 99%
German - Carafa II 99 German Grain roasted malt 425°L
32 2% 1% - 11%
Munich Dark 20L 89 Grain specialty malt 20°L
34 23% 2% - 100%
German - CaraMunich I 74 German Grain crystal malt 39°L
34 7% 2% - 40%
German - CaraMunich II 74 German Grain crystal malt 46°L
34 6% 2% - 21%
German - Vienna 63 German Grain base malt 4°L
37 20% 4% - 56%
German - CaraMunich III 60 German Grain crystal malt 57°L
34 6% 2% - 18%
Munich 58 Grain specialty malt 6°L
37 28% 1% - 85%
American - Pilsner 53 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 151 15 46% 5% - 100%
Tettnanger 137 4.5 39% 6% - 100%
Spalt 98 4.5 38% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh 80 3.75 36% 8% - 100%
Saaz 79 3.5 35% 10% - 79%
Perle 77 8.2 39% 7% - 100%
Northern Brewer 34 7.8 44% 16% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau 27 3.9 38% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 26 4 38% 15% - 75%
Cascade 20 7 39% 17% - 83%

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%
German - Carafa III 3 German Grain roasted malt 535°L
32 9% 2% - 15%
Caramel / Crystal 60L 2 Grain crystal malt 60°L
34 80% 60% - 100%
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 105 Wyeast Ale 0.11 Low 75% 55°F 68°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97 92 Fermentis / Safale Ale .104 High 81% 54°F 77°F
White Labs - Dusseldorf Alt Yeast WLP036 66 White Labs Ale Medium Medium 68.5% 65°F 72°F
White Labs - German Ale/ Kölsch Yeast WLP029 42 White Labs Ale Medium Medium 75% 65°F 69°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 40 Fermentis / Safale Ales Low Medium 81% 54°F 77°F
Fermentis - Saflager - German Lager Yeast W-34/70 23 Fermentis / Safale Lagers .105 High 83% 48°F 72°F
Imperial Yeast - G02 Kaiser 21 Imperial Yeast German Ale Low 73% 55°F 65°F
Wyeast - Kölsch 2565 19 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Low 75% 56°F 70°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® KÖLN KÖLSCH KOLSCH STYLE ALE YEAST 12 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 120 Water Agt Mash 16% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 72 Fining Boil 62% 1% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 55 Water Agt Mash 13% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 54 Water Agt Mash 75% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 50 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 50%
Baking Soda 41 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 99%
Irish Moss 28 Fining Boil 69% 11% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 27 Water Agt Mash 13% 0% - 57%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 26 Water Agt Mash 13% 0% - 50%
Phosphoric acid 24 Water Agt Mash 67% 0% - 100%

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