Altbier

A well-balanced, well-attenuated, bitter yet malty, clean, smooth, amber to copper-colored German ale. Assertive bitterness from German hops with clean fermentation character.

Clean, intense hop aroma with herbal, floral, spicy, and earthy notes from German hops. Moderate bready or nutty malt aroma. Clean, minimal esters typical of cold-conditioned ale. Assertive and balanced.

Amber to copper, 11-17 SRM. Clear to brilliant. Persistent off-white head with good retention.

Clean, assertive hop bitterness with herbal, floral, earthy German hop flavor. Moderate bready, nutty malt flavor. Firm, clean bitter finish with no residual sweetness. Well-attenuated.

Medium body with moderate to moderately high carbonation. Smooth and well-attenuated. Firm but not harsh bitterness.

A traditional top-fermented ale from the Düsseldorf region of Germany, with roots going back hundreds of years. The name means 'old beer,' referring to the old-style top fermentation used before lager yeast dominated. The style is cold-conditioned like a lager despite ale fermentation. Uerige, Schumacher, and Füchschen are iconic brewpubs.

What is Altbier beer?

Altbier (BJCP 7B) — a clean, bitter, amber German ale from Düsseldorf. Style guide and specs.

What is the ABV of Altbier?

Altbier has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 4.3-5.5%.

How bitter is Altbier beer?

Altbier measures 25-50 IBU (International Bitterness Units).

What are some examples of Altbier beers?

Uerige Alt, Füchschen Alt, Schumacher Alt, Zum Schlüssel Alt, Düsseldorfer Altbier