Koelsch & Altibier - Northern German Altbier

BJCP 08-C

AROMA

Little aroma; malt should dominate to the extent that any aroma is discernible

APPEARANCE

Copper to brown color; very clear. Good head retention.

FLAVOR

Assertively bitter yet balanced. Munich malt-derived flavor, along with a chocolate-like malt aspect, supports the bitterness. Esters are restrained, and hop flavor should be low to medium.

MOUTH FEEL

Medium body, with an overall balanced impression

OVERALL

A very clean and relatively bitter beer, balanced by Munich malt character. Less intense than the Duesseldorf version of Altbier.

INGREDIENTS

Typically made with a Pils base and colored with roasted malt or some dark color syrup. May include Munich malt. Hops are traditionally Spalt, though other German varieties may be substituted.

COMMENTS

Most Altbiers produced outside of Duesseldorf are of the Northern German style. Many are simply moderately bitter brown lagers.

COMMERCIAL EXAMPLES

DAB Dark, Diebels Alt, Alaskan Amber, Grolsch Autumn Amber

VITAL

OG: 1.040-1.055 IBUs: 25-40 FG: 1.012-1.019 SRM: 11-19 ABV: 5-5.5%