Amber Bitter European Lager - Altbier - Beer Recipes | Brewer's Friend

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 6158
Altbier 2
5.5 gal 5.14% 35.3 1.052 1.013
All Grain 4237
Sleigh'r Clone (double alt)
5 gal 7.2% 66.18 1.068 1.013
All Grain 3646
Alt Bier northern German style
5.5 gal 5.07% 41.25 1.050 1.011
All Grain 3305
Birra Vecchia - Altbier
28 L 5.48% 33.8 1.050 1.008
All Grain 3021
Altbier-Tabarnak 2e essaie
18.5 L 5.06% 42.17 1.056 1.017
All Grain 2952
Herring Flight II
5.5 gal 5.04% 34.57 1.051 1.013
extract 2930
Alt - Who Goes There
23 L 5.13% 24.51 1.050 1.010
BIAB 2864
alt
1 gal 4.69% 35.73 1.048 1.012
All Grain 2451
Dusseldorf - II
22.5 L 5.97% 49.16 1.051 1.006
BIAB 2206

Newest Altbier Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Konigs Altbier
5.5 gal 4.8% 48.13 1.049 1.012
All Grain 12
Altbier
5.5 gal 6.54% 27.39 1.061 1.011
All Grain 26
Altbier
5.5 gal 5.75% 43.45 1.053 1.009
All Grain 32
Triticalt
5.8 gal 4.8% 45.13 1.048 1.011
All Grain 29
Aveurequesurt
75 L 5.5% 31.37 1.050 1.008
All Grain 35
Candy Kaiser
5.5 gal 4.89% 57.06 1.048 1.011
All Grain 32
Segundo intento Altbier
10 L 5.23% 33.67 1.050 1.011
All Grain 22
Colab Altbier
5.5 gal 4.88% 35.93 1.052 1.016
BIAB 36
1 Gal Briess Achtung Alt
1.25 gal 5.15% 33.91 1.048 1.009
All Grain 20
Altbier
5.5 gal 5.17% 37.4 1.048 1.009
BIAB 41

Fermentables Used In Altbier Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
Munich - Light 10L 208 Grain specialty malt 10°L
33 33% 2% - 100%
German - Pilsner 199 German Grain base malt 1.6°L
38 59% 8% - 99%
German - Carafa II 101 German Grain roasted malt 425°L
32 2% 1% - 11%
Munich Dark 20L 88 Grain specialty malt 20°L
34 23% 2% - 100%
German - CaraMunich I 80 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 - Vienna 64 German Grain base malt 4°L
37 20% 4% - 56%
German - CaraMunich III 63 German Grain crystal malt 57°L
34 6% 2% - 18%
Munich 62 Grain specialty malt 6°L
37 28% 1% - 100%
American - Pilsner 56 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 154 15 45% 3% - 100%
Tettnanger 146 4.5 40% 6% - 100%
Spalt 107 4.5 38% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh 85 3.75 36% 8% - 100%
Perle 82 8.2 38% 7% - 100%
Saaz 81 3.5 35% 10% - 90%
Northern Brewer 37 7.8 44% 16% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau 27 3.9 38% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 26 4 38% 15% - 75%
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 117 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 72 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 43 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 21 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 15 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 140 Water Agt Mash 16% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 82 Fining Boil 60% 1% - 100%
Lactic acid 65 Water Agt Mash 70% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 63 Water Agt Mash 13% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 60 Water Agt Mash 7% 0% - 50%
Baking Soda 49 Water Agt Mash 10% 0% - 99%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 30 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 30 Fining Boil 70% 11% - 100%
Yeast Nutrient 29 Other Boil 25% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 27 Water Agt Mash 13% 0% - 57%

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