Take the Alternative Path and Experience a traditional crisp, Malty German Ale.

Altbier is a traditional German ale originating from Düsseldorf and the surrounding Rhineland region. The name “Alt” means “old” in German, referencing the historic top-fermentation methods used before lagering became widespread. Brewed with top-fermenting ale yeast but often conditioned cool like a lager.

Historically, Altbier was the everyday beer of Düsseldorf, designed to be refreshing yet flavourful enough to enjoy over a long session. It typically pours amber to copper, with a firm malt backbone providing notes of caramel, bread crust, and subtle nuttiness, while bitterness from traditional hops keeps the beer balanced.

Vitals

Original Gravity: 1.046
Final Gravity: 1.009
IBU (Tinseth): 31
BU/GU: 0.69
Colour: 31.5 EBC 

ABV: 4.9%
75% efficiency
Batch Volume: 23 L
Boil Time: 60 min

Mash Water: 16.91 L
Sparge Water: 13.55 L
Total Water: 30.46 L
Boil Volume: 28 L
Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.041

Mash

Sacc Rest — 67 °C — 45 min
Mash Out — 75 °C — 15 min

Malts (4.47 kg)

2.9 kg (64.9%) — Joe White Maltings Pilsner, Malt Craft Export — Grain — 3.2 EBC
1.1 kg (24.6%) — Joe White Maltings Munich, Light — Grain — 17.7 EBC
330 g (7.4%) — Weyermann Caramunich III — Grain — 140 EBC
140 g (3.1%) — Joe White Maltings Chocolate Malt — Grain — 750 EBC

Hops (100 g)

50 g (26 IBU) — Tettnang 4.5% — Boil — 60 min
25 g (6 IBU) — Hallertauer Mittelfrueh 4% — Boil — 15 min
25 g — Hallertauer Mittelfrueh 4% — Boil — 0 min

Miscs

3.02 g — Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) — Mash
4.53 g — Gypsum (CaSO4) — Mash
1 items — Whirlfloc — Boil — 15 min

Yeast

2 pkg — Fermentis K-97 SafAle German Ale 81%
1 pkg - Bluestone Cologne Yeast

Fermentation

Pitching Temp — 15 °C — 1 days
Main Ferment — 16 °C — 6 days
Main Ferment — 18 °C — 2 days
Diacetyl Rest — 20 °C — 1 days

Carbonation: 2.8 CO2-vol

Water Profile

Ca2+: 63
Mg2+: 0
Na+: 8
Cl-: 52
SO42-: 84
HCO3-: 16

The best way we could describe this beer - the love child of a brown ale and a Kolsch.

Longer conditioning times will do this beer a great deal too! (if you can stay away from it for long enough)