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Pale Bitter European Beer - German Leichtbier


A pale, highly-attenuated, light-bodied German lager with lower alcohol and calories than normal-strength beers. Moderately bitter with noticeable malt and hop flavors, the beer is still interesting to drink.

Flavor Profile: Low to medium grainy-sweet malt flavor initially. Medium hop bitterness. Low to medium hop flavor, with a spicy, herbal, or floral quality. Clean fermentation character, well-lagered. Dry finish with a light malty and hoppy aftertaste.

Ingredients: Similar to a German Pils or Helles, continental Pils malt, German lager yeast, Saazer-type hops.

BJCP Style Guide

Top 10 German Leichtbier Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
SchuBrew Leichtbier
5 gal 3.58% 18.47 1.033 1.006
BIAB 2735
German Lite
5.5 gal 3.2% 12.77 1.032 1.008
Partial Mash 2627
Session Oat IPA
5.5 gal 4.23% 39.15 1.042 1.009
All Grain 2254
Rising sun
3.5 gal 3.37% 12.49 1.033 1.008
BIAB 2221
Kölsch
25 L 4.98% 24.58 1.049 1.011
All Grain 2183
Dortmunder
8 gal 4.66% 24.86 1.048 1.012
All Grain 2115
Spiced Pumpkin Ale
6 gal 4.78% 32.04 1.048 1.012
All Grain 2079
Gold Bear Kölsch
5.5 gal 4.96% 32.53 1.049 1.011
BIAB 1950
Batch #24
25 L 5.28% 81.05 1.053 1.013
BIAB 1704
Leichtbier
5.5 gal 3.56% 24.04 1.034 1.007
All Grain 1676

Newest German Leichtbier Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Hoppy Daze
20.8 L 4.35% 30.16 1.044 1.011
All Grain 39
Kolsch RodBeer
20 L 5.35% 26.23 1.049 1.008
All Grain 57
German Leichtbier 2
3 gal 3.24% 20.53 1.033 1.008
BIAB 61
German Leichtbier
3 gal 3.6% 18.04 1.034 1.006
BIAB 110
Street
16 L 4.21% 32.01 1.042 1.010
All Grain 80
Level Devil Game
5.5 gal 15% 0.63 1.184 1.070
extract 102
*2g Mr. Beer - Workout Pils (CZ)
2.25 gal 3.09% 0 1.029 1.006
extract 95
Low ABV all extract expt
1 gal 2.22% 0 1.023 1.006
extract 121
Awesome Recipe
300 L 5.67% 17.28 1.054 1.011
All Grain 151
Swift Wolf
6 gal 3.7% 15.77 1.034 1.006
All Grain 317

Fermentables Used In German Leichtbier Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
German - Pilsner 50 German Grain base malt 1.6°L
38 76% 26% - 100%
American - Pilsner 27 American Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 84% 37% - 100%
Munich - Light 10L 26 Grain specialty malt 10°L
33 20% 4% - 100%
German - Acidulated Malt 26 German Grain acidulated malt 3.4°L
27 3% 1% - 9%
US - Pale 2-Row 19 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 72% 17% - 100%
American - Vienna 17 American Grain base malt 4°L
35 17% 4% - 33%
German - Carapils 16 German Grain crystal malt 1.3°L
35 9% 0% - 19%
German - Vienna 16 German Grain base malt 4°L
37 18% 2% - 83%
Flaked Oats 14 Adjunct raw 2.2°L
33 13% 2% - 100%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 14 American Grain crystal malt 1.8°L
33 5% 2% - 9%

Hops Used In German Leichtbier Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Average AA Avg. Usage Usage Range
Hallertau Mittelfruh 46 3.75 47% 13% - 100%
Magnum 32 15 32% 9% - 100%
Saaz 30 3.5 38% 13% - 80%
Tettnanger 24 4.5 39% 10% - 90%
Cascade 15 7 39% 3% - 100%
Perle 15 8.2 35% 9% - 100%
Citra 14 11 22% 5% - 100%
Centennial 12 10 24% 3% - 100%
Styrian Goldings 12 5.5 41% 7% - 100%
East Kent Goldings 12 5 35% 16% - 100%

Steeping Grains Used In German Leichtbier Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range

Yeasts Used In German Leichtbier Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Laboratory Type Alcohol Tolerance Flocculation Attenuation Min. Temp Max. Temp
Fermentis - Saflager - German Lager Yeast W-34/70 30 Fermentis / Safale Lagers .105 High 83% 48°F 72°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 21 Fermentis / Safale Ales Low Medium 81% 54°F 77°F
White Labs - German Ale/ Kölsch Yeast WLP029 14 White Labs Ale Medium Medium 75% 65°F 69°F
Lallemand - LalBrew Diamond Lager 14 Danstar Lagers High High 80% 50°F 59°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97 12 Fermentis / Safale Ale .104 High 81% 54°F 77°F
Fermentis - Saflager - German Lager Yeast S-23 9 Fermentis / Safale Lagers .105 High 82% 48°F 72°F
Fermentis - Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04 9 Fermentis / Safale Ale .0975 High 75% 54°F 77°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® KÖLN KÖLSCH KOLSCH STYLE ALE YEAST 7 Lallemand Ales Medium Medium 75% 59°F 72°F
Lallemand - LalBrew NovaLager™ 6 Lallemand Lagers High Medium 81% 50°F 68°F
Wyeast - German Ale 1007 6 Wyeast Ale 0.11 Low 75% 55°F 68°F

Other Ingredients Used In German Leichtbier Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 60 Water Agt Mash 24% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 37 Water Agt Mash 24% 0% - 78%
Lactic acid 28 Water Agt Mash 73% 0% - 100%
Brewtan B 18 Water Agt Mash 7% 0% - 25%
Whirlfloc 17 Water Agt Boil 43% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 16 Water Agt Mash 31% 0% - 73%
Epsom Salt 15 Water Agt Mash 8% 0% - 36%
Table Salt 7 Water Agt Mash 17% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 7 Fining Boil 64% 33% - 100%
Wyeast - Beer Nutrient 5 Other Primary 29% 12% - 40%

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