Hop Horizons
Beer Style Information
altbier
There are 47 different altbier listed on Hop Horizons, with a weighted average score of 52.2%.
What is Altbier?
Altbier is Germany’s beautifully awkward middle child - an ale that’s cold-fermented like a lager. Born in Düsseldorf, this copper-coloured classic bridges old and new (“alt” means “old” in German), using traditional top-fermenting yeast but with a longer, cooler maturation that smooths everything out.
The result? A clean, dry beer with a toasty malt base, gentle bitterness and subtle fruitiness. It’s crisp enough for lager fans, but with enough depth to please ale drinkers too. Altbier doesn’t shout; it nods politely and hands you another round.
How It’s Brewed
Altbier is brewed with top-fermenting ale yeast at cool temperatures, then lagered (cold-conditioned) for a clean, smooth finish. The malt bill leans towards German pale and caramel malts, giving a dry toastiness, while hops - often Spalt or Hallertau - add a firm but balanced bitterness.
ABV usually falls between 4.5% and 5.2%, with moderate carbonation and a lovely amber to copper colour. It’s fermented like an ale but finishes like a lager - alt indeed!
Famous Examples
Want the real deal? Head to DĂĽsseldorf. But here are some classic and craft takes worth trying:
- Uerige Alt (Germany) – Bitter, dry and full of personality.
- Füchschen Alt (Germany) – Toasty and balanced, a Düsseldorf staple.
- Diebels Alt (Germany) – A milder, more widely available example.
- The Kernel Altbier (UK) – A British take with modern finesse.
How Altbier Differs from Similar Styles
Altbier is sometimes mistaken for a lager - but it’s actually an ale at heart, just cold-fermented. Compared to Kölsch (its Cologne cousin), Altbier is darker, toastier and more bitter. Kölsch is lighter and more delicate; Altbier is heartier and drier.
It’s also not to be confused with English bitters or milds - Altbier is crisper and more structured, with a pronounced clean finish from that cool fermentation and lagering step.
Food Pairings
Altbier loves savoury, roasted flavours - grilled aubergine, veggie bratwurst, soft pretzels with mustard or a mushroom schnitzel. It also plays nicely with nutty cheeses and rye bread. A great pick for autumn dinners or anything that smells a bit toasty.
Style Stats (Typical Ranges)
- ABV: 4.5% – 5.2%
- IBU (Bitterness): 25 – 40
- Colour (SRM): 11 – 17 (deep amber to light brown)
- Carbonation: Moderate
FAQs About Altbier
Why is it called “Altbier”?
“Alt” means “old” in German - Altbier uses an older style of top-fermenting yeast, in contrast to the modern bottom-fermented lagers that took over much of Germany. But thanks to its cold conditioning, it’s smooth and clean like a lager.
Is Altbier the same as a brown ale?
Not quite. While both may look similar, Altbier is cleaner, drier and more bitter than most English brown ales. It’s also fermented cooler and lagered, giving it that signature crispness.
Where can I find Altbier?
Your best bet is Germany, especially Düsseldorf, where it’s still brewed fresh in brewpubs. But some craft breweries around the world now make their own interpretations, so keep an eye out!
Beers of This Style
Click or tap on the brewery, ABV or score headers to sort by that column.
| Beer | Brewery | ABV | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALTernative | Bronckhorster | 6.5% | 82.85% |
| Lapsang Souchong (w/ Marble Arch and De Molen) | Kees | 6.0% | 77.12% |
| Manzanita | Fort Point | 6.5% | 76.14% |
| London Alt | Mondo | 4.8% | 67.72% |
| Rhenania Alt | Krombacher | 4.8% | 66.62% |
| Niederrhein Alt | Bolten | 4.8% | 65.43% |
| La Torreta Alt Bier | La Sitgetana | 5.6% | 63.64% |
| Over Draught Alt Ale | Elmar's in the Valley | 4.8% | 62.87% |
| Scurry | Off Color | 5.3% | 62.08% |
| Ur-Alt | Bolten | 4.8% | 61.06% |
| Altbier | Gatz | 4.8% | 59.65% |
| DĂĽsseldorf Altbier | Uerige | 4.7% | 59.63% |
| Ctrl Alt Delete | Nils Oscar | 4.5% | 58.37% |
| Alternate Universe | 8th Wonder | 4.7% | 57.74% |
| Dampfbier | Zwiesel | 5.0% | 56.62% |
| Oosik Amber Ale | Midnight Sun | 5.0% | 55.62% |
| Weiherer OS-Alt | KundmĂĽller | 4.2% | 55.03% |
| Alt Frankisches Dunkel | Duckstein | 5.0% | 54.06% |
| Alt Bier | Great Divide | 5.3% | 53.70% |
| Neu | Orbit | 4.7% | 52.18% |
| Alt | Frankenheim | 4.8% | 51.56% |
| Alt | Bolten | 4.8% | 51.35% |
| Sticke Alt | Heater Allen | 5.8% | 50.48% |
| A Moment of Clarity Alt-ernative | Mad Hatter | 6.0% | 50.45% |
| Amber | Alaskan Brewing Company | 5.0% | 50.24% |
| Auld Fokker | Grumpy's | 3.9% | 49.16% |
| Duckstein | Holsten | 4.9% | 48.33% |
| Gravel Road | Rahr & Sons | 7.3% | 48.16% |
| Alt | Diebels | 4.8% | 48.08% |
| Budels Alt | Budelse | 6.0% | 47.86% |
| Iron Works Alt | Metropolitan | 5.8% | 47.62% |
| Dusseldorf Altbier | Hornbeam | 4.8% | 46.96% |
| Altbairisch Dunkel | Traunstein | 5.5% | 46.92% |
| Das Alt | Schlösser | 4.8% | 46.83% |
| Altbier | Top Out | 4.5% | 45.38% |
| Venloosch Alt | Lindeboom | 4.5% | 45.38% |
| Alt | Hannen | 4.8% | 45.29% |
| Original Königshofer Alt | Königshof | 5.0% | 44.29% |
| The Bennie | Granite City Brewery | 5.5% | 42.46% |
| SummĂĄrn | Mora Bryggeri | 5.0% | 42.43% |
| Candy Kaiser | BrewDog | 5.4% | 42.23% |
| Noble Intentions Neu World Altbier | Wild Horse | 4.8% | 40.71% |
| Alt Bier | Brewerkz | 5.2% | 40.39% |
| Copperhead | Fordham Brewing Company | 5.2% | 39.70% |
| Alt Amber (Prototype Challenge 2014) | BrewDog | 5.2% | 39.26% |
| Klosterbrau | Eichhof | 4.8% | 34.64% |
| Poūwa (for Beer52) | Büro Brauerei | 6.8% | on deck |