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	6373
Altbier 2	5.5 gal	5.14%	35.3	1.052	1.013		All Grain	4413
Sleigh'r Clone (double alt)	5 gal	7.2%	66.18	1.068	1.013		All Grain	3800
Alt Bier northern German style	5.5 gal	5.07%	41.25	1.050	1.011		All Grain	3411
Birra Vecchia - Altbier	28 L	5.48%	33.8	1.050	1.008		All Grain	3104
Altbier-Tabarnak 2e essaie	18.5 L	5.06%	42.17	1.056	1.017		All Grain	3068
Herring Flight II	5.5 gal	5.04%	34.57	1.051	1.013		extract	3033
Alt - Who Goes There	23 L	5.13%	24.51	1.050	1.010		BIAB	3008
Bolten Ur-Alt Clone	21 L	4.84%	32.21	1.048	1.011		All Grain	2541
alt	1 gal	4.69%	35.73	1.048	1.012		All Grain	2519

Newest Altbier Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Summer's Last Sip Altbier	5.5 gal	5.14%	37.34	1.052	1.013		extract	14
Opa Harrison	5.5 gal	5.45%	36.72	1.052	1.011		All Grain	23
Alt	125 gal	4.36%	30.72	1.044	1.011		All Grain	21
el seniõr loco	8 L	5.16%	36.43	1.052	1.013		All Grain	29
Altbier	5 gal	5.63%	29.84	1.057	1.014		All Grain	43
Altbier	5 gal	4.99%	38.83	1.047	1.009		All Grain	46
Special rye of New Arnisgar	33 L	4.57%	27.08	1.044	1.009		All Grain	20
Schlussel Stike (Alt Clone)	5 gal	5.99%	35.65	1.061	1.015		extract	62
Throwing Copper	5.5 gal	4.87%	34	1.050	1.012		All Grain	74
Awesome Recipe	55 L	4.87%	24.78	1.046	1.009		All Grain	69

Fermentables Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Munich - Light 10L	210		Grain	specialty malt	10°L	33	33%	2% - 100%
German - Pilsner	199	German	Grain	base malt	1.6°L	38	59%	8% - 100%
German - Carafa II	101	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	82	German	Grain	crystal malt	39°L	34	7%	2% - 40%
German - CaraMunich II	76	German	Grain	crystal malt	46°L	34	6%	2% - 21%
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%
Munich	64		Grain	specialty malt	6°L	37	28%	1% - 100%
American - Pilsner	57	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	155	15	45%	5% - 100%
Tettnanger	152	4.5	40%	6% - 100%
Spalt	104	4.5	37%	6% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh	86	3.75	36%	8% - 100%
Perle	85	8.2	37%	7% - 100%
Saaz	83	3.5	36%	10% - 100%
Northern Brewer	37	7.8	44%	16% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker	27	4	38%	15% - 75%
Domestic Hallertau	27	3.9	38%	6% - 100%
Cascade	23	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	120	Wyeast	Ale	0.11	Low	75%	55°F	68°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97	100	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.104	High	81%	54°F	77°F
White Labs - Dusseldorf Alt Yeast WLP036	73	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	22	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	16	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	139	Water Agt	Mash	17%	0% - 100%
Whirlfloc	82	Water Agt	Boil	63%	1% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	64	Water Agt	Mash	14%	0% - 100%
Lactic acid	63	Water Agt	Mash	69%	0% - 100%
Epsom Salt	57	Water Agt	Mash	7%	0% - 50%
Baking Soda	48	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 99%
Irish Moss	30	Fining	Boil	70%	11% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	29	Water Agt	Mash	15%	0% - 100%
Yeast Nutrient	27	Other	Boil	28%	0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	27	Water Agt	Mash	13%	0% - 57%

Photos