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 6206
Altbier 2
5.5 gal 5.14% 35.3 1.052 1.013
All Grain 4293
Sleigh'r Clone (double alt)
5 gal 7.2% 66.18 1.068 1.013
All Grain 3692
Alt Bier northern German style
5.5 gal 5.07% 41.25 1.050 1.011
All Grain 3341
Birra Vecchia - Altbier
28 L 5.48% 33.8 1.050 1.008
All Grain 3048
Altbier-Tabarnak 2e essaie
18.5 L 5.06% 42.17 1.056 1.017
All Grain 3015
Herring Flight II
5.5 gal 5.04% 34.57 1.051 1.013
extract 2960
Alt - Who Goes There
23 L 5.13% 24.51 1.050 1.010
BIAB 2916
alt
1 gal 4.69% 35.73 1.048 1.012
All Grain 2483
Dusseldorf - II
22.5 L 5.97% 49.16 1.051 1.006
BIAB 2238

Newest Altbier Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Alt Bier
7.5 gal 5.1% 43.62 1.050 1.011
BIAB 18
Frank Morris Altbier
109 gal 5.62% 28.4 1.052 1.009
All Grain 31
1 Gal Jewel Sticke Alt
1.25 gal 7.57% 54.92 1.067 1.012
All Grain 31
tester
5.5 gal 6.21% 37.85 1.062 1.015
BIAB 121
Altbier AF 5 gal
5 gal 5.27% 46.16 1.050 1.009
BIAB 39
The great leftover
8.5 L 4.59% 47.92 1.051 1.016
BIAB 46
Manitou Altbier
5.5 gal 5.71% 39.87 1.058 1.014
All Grain 42
Första alt
21 L 5.32% 31.43 1.052 1.012
All Grain 74
Konigs Altbier
5.5 gal 4.8% 48.13 1.049 1.012
All Grain 40
Altbier
5.5 gal 6.54% 27.39 1.061 1.011
All Grain 47

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 201 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 89 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%
Munich 64 Grain specialty malt 6°L
37 29% 1% - 100%
German - CaraMunich III 63 German Grain crystal malt 57°L
34 6% 2% - 18%
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 148 4.5 40% 6% - 100%
Spalt 108 4.5 38% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh 87 3.75 36% 8% - 100%
Perle 84 8.2 38% 7% - 100%
Saaz 82 3.5 36% 10% - 100%
Northern Brewer 37 7.8 44% 16% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau 27 3.9 38% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 27 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 118 Wyeast Ale 0.11 Low 75% 55°F 68°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97 102 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 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
Fermentis - Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04 12 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 141 Water Agt Mash 16% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 83 Water Agt Boil 61% 1% - 100%
Lactic acid 65 Water Agt Mash 70% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 64 Water Agt Mash 13% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 61 Water Agt Mash 7% 0% - 50%
Baking Soda 50 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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