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 GuideTop 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 | 7011 | |
| Altbier 2 |
5.5 gal | 5.14% | 35.3 | 1.052 | 1.013 | All Grain | 4977 | |
| Bolten Ur-Alt Clone |
21 L | 4.84% | 32.21 | 1.048 | 1.011 | All Grain | 4809 | |
| Sleigh'r Clone (double alt) |
5 gal | 7.2% | 66.18 | 1.068 | 1.013 | All Grain | 4408 | |
| Alt Bier northern German style |
5.5 gal | 5.07% | 41.25 | 1.050 | 1.011 | All Grain | 3868 | |
| Birra Vecchia - Altbier |
28 L | 5.48% | 33.8 | 1.050 | 1.008 | All Grain | 3576 | |
| Altbier-Tabarnak 2e essaie |
18.5 L | 5.06% | 42.17 | 1.056 | 1.017 | All Grain | 3506 | |
| Alt - Who Goes There |
23 L | 5.13% | 24.51 | 1.050 | 1.010 | BIAB | 3485 | |
| Herring Flight II |
5.5 gal | 5.04% | 34.57 | 1.051 | 1.013 | extract | 3435 | |
| Alt |
5.7 gal | 5.44% | 38.5 | 1.052 | 1.011 | All Grain | 3422 |
Newest Altbier Recipes
| Title | Size | ABV | IBU | OG | FG | Color | Method | Views |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altbier - Recipe Example |
82 gal | 4.9% | 43.44 | 1.053 | 1.015 | All Grain | 44 | |
| Kottbusser II |
5.5 gal | 5.44% | 36.5 | 1.050 | 1.009 | All Grain | 29 | |
| Fest-Altbier 2026 |
11 gal | 5.89% | 40.28 | 1.055 | 1.011 | extract | 19 | |
| Awesome Recipe |
11 gal | 4.36% | 28.36 | 1.044 | 1.010 | All Grain | 31 | |
| Waypoint 002: Copper Heading |
12 gal | 5.14% | 34.9 | 1.048 | 1.009 | All Grain | 114 | |
| Alt v3 BSG |
310 gal | 4.7% | 12.44 | 1.051 | 1.015 | All Grain | 40 | |
| Altbier |
5.5 gal | 5.53% | 45.07 | 1.056 | 1.014 | All Grain | 68 | |
| EO |
340 gal | 5.42% | 10.88 | 1.051 | 1.009 | extract | 65 | |
| Alt v2 |
280 gal | 6.08% | 0 | 1.058 | 1.012 | All Grain | 50 | |
| Lawnmower Fizz |
26 L | 5.1% | 22 | 1.051 | 1.012 | All Grain | 77 |
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 | 111 | German | Grain | roasted malt |
425°L
|
32 | 2% | 1% - 11% |
| German - CaraMunich I | 96 | German | Grain | crystal malt |
39°L
|
34 | 7% | 2% - 40% |
| Munich Dark 20L | 93 | Grain | specialty malt |
20°L
|
34 | 24% | 2% - 100% | |
| German - CaraMunich II | 81 | German | Grain | crystal malt |
46°L
|
34 | 5% | 2% - 21% |
| Munich | 76 | Grain | specialty malt |
6°L
|
37 | 26% | 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 | 65 | American | Grain | base malt |
1.8°L
|
37 | 53% | 14% - 98% |
Hops Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)
| Name | Recipes | Average AA | Avg. Usage | Usage Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnum | 175 | 15 | 45% | 5% - 100% |
| Tettnanger | 172 | 4.5 | 39% | 6% - 100% |
| Spalt | 114 | 4.5 | 38% | 6% - 100% |
| Hallertau Mittelfruh | 105 | 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 | 30 | 4 | 38% | 14% - 75% |
| Domestic Hallertau | 28 | 3.9 | 39% | 6% - 100% |
| Cascade | 25 | 7 | 39% | 10% - 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% |
| Caramel / Crystal 60L | 4 | Grain | crystal malt |
60°L
|
34 | 87% | 60% - 100% | |
| 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% |
| 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 | 132 | Wyeast | Ale | 0.11 | Low | 75% | 55°F | 68°F |
| Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97 | 119 | 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 | 49 | White Labs | Ale | Medium | Medium | 75% | 65°F | 69°F |
| Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 | 47 | 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 | 166 | Water Agt | Mash | 15% | 0% - 100% |
| Whirlfloc | 94 | Water Agt | Boil | 60% | 1% - 100% |
| Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) | 78 | Water Agt | Mash | 15% | 0% - 100% |
| Lactic acid | 77 | Water Agt | Mash | 67% | 0% - 100% |
| Epsom Salt | 73 | Water Agt | Mash | 6% | 0% - 50% |
| Baking Soda | 56 | Water Agt | Mash | 10% | 0% - 99% |
| Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) | 40 | Water Agt | Mash | 14% | 0% - 100% |
| Yeast Nutrient | 35 | Other | Boil | 30% | 0% - 100% |
| Irish Moss | 35 | Fining | Boil | 70% | 2% - 100% |
| Chalk | 32 | Water Agt | Mash | 11% | 0% - 58% |
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