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{{Short description|Style of beer}}
]'''Altbier''' (often abbreviated to ''Alt'') is a dark, top-fermented type of beer (an ]) from ] and the ] region in ].
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}


]
The name ''Altbier'', which literally means ''old beer'', refers to the old brewing style (top-fermenting ] and dark ]). Up to the ], ''Alt'' was also called ''Düssel'' (from ''Düssel''dorf), but since the term is not a ], ''Altbier'' may also be produced outside of the Düsseldorf region. ], a city in the Netherlands on the German border near Düsseldorf, produces the first Dutch Altbier. Similar varieties, also called altbiers, are associated with some other cities in Germany, particularly ].
'''Altbier''' ({{IPA|de|ˈaltˌbiːɐ̯|lang|De-Altbier.ogg}}, ] for ''old beer'') is a ] brewed in the ], especially around the city of ], Germany. It is a copper coloured ] whose name comes from it being ], an older method than the bottom fermentation of ]s.


== Characteristics ==
Düsseldorf and Cologne are long-time rivals, though today it mostly comes down to whose beer is better, Düsseldorf's Altbier or Cologne's ], another top-fermented beer.
Altbier is usually a dark, copper colour. It is fermented at a moderate temperature using a ]—which gives its flavour some fruitiness. Because Altbier is then matured at a cooler temperature, its flavour is more akin to ] beer styles than is the norm for top-fermented beers (such as British ]).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000838.html |title=Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Copper-bottom ales halt lager tide in Germany |publisher=Beerhunter.com |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/dusspubs.htm |title=Düsseldorf Pub Guide: the best beer bars, pubs and brewpubs |publisher=Europeanbeerguide.net |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref>


== Altbier in Germany ==
In America, Alt style beer is something of a rarity, but examples of the style are produced by the premium breweries of ] (under the label of ]) and ] in ].
]


The first producer to use the name Altbier—to contrast its top-fermenting beer with the bottom-fermenting kinds—was the Schumacher brewery of Düsseldorf, that opened in 1838.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/dussbrew.htm#schumacher |title=Düsseldorf Breweries |publisher=Europeanbeerguide.net |access-date=25 September 2012}}</ref> Mass-market brewers of Altbier include ] and the Radeberger Gruppe under the brands Schlösser Alt and Hansa Alt. These are complemented by small breweries in Düsseldorf and other nearby cities.
Some alt breweries have a tradition of producing a strong ale known as ''Sticke Alt'', coming from a local dialect word meaning "secret". It is generally a seasonal or special occasion brew, and is stronger and sometimes darker than the brewery's standard output.


Some Altbier breweries have a tradition of producing a stronger version, called ''sticke alt'', coming from a local dialect word meaning "secret". Originally made as a special reserve beer intended for the brewers' own consumption, today it is generally a seasonal or special occasion brew.
== Altbier Song (Das Altbier Lied) ==
There is a song about Altbier, sung in Düsseldorf, especially during ]. The lyrics are as follows:


There exists a regional rivalry between the drinkers of Altbier in the Düsseldorf area and the drinkers of ] beer in the Cologne (Köln) area.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/dusseldorf-v-cologne-a-rivalry-you-can-grin-and-beer/2015/03/12/4ab6b3e0-c122-11e4-9ec2-b418f57a4a99_story.html |title=Kölsch Alt Rivalry |work=WashingtonPost.com |access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref>
Jeder Mensch der liebt nun mal stolz sein Heimatland<br/>
Darum lieben wir, ganz klar, unseren Rheinschen Strand<br/>
Wo der Alte Schlossturm steht da sind wir zu Haus´<br/>
Weil es ohne Bier nicht geht rufen wir ganz schnell heraus:<br/>


== Production ==
<br/>
A beer variety associated with the ], Altbier is especially found in ], ], and ].
Ja, sind wir im Wald hier? Wo bleibt unser Altbier?<br/>
Wir haben in Düsseldorf die längste Theke der Welt, jajajaja<br/>
Ja, sind wir im Wald hier? Wo bleibt unser Altbier?<br/>
Wo ist denn der Held der mit seinem Geld die Runde bestellt?<br/>


=== Producers in Düsseldorf ===
Machen wir 'ne Herrentour an die schöne Ahr<br/>
There are seven bars in Düsseldorf which brew Altbier on the premises:<ref>{{cite web |author=Langenfelder sagt |url=http://www.my-duesseldorf.info/2011/02/11/brauerei-kurzer-altstadt/ |title=Brauerei Kürzer (Altstadt) &#124; My DuesselDorf – Typisch Düsseldorf! |publisher=My-duesseldorf.info |date=14 January 2011 |access-date=15 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103101333/http://www.my-duesseldorf.info/2011/02/11/brauerei-kurzer-altstadt/ |archive-date=3 November 2012 }}</ref>
Trinken wir Burgunder nur, das ist sonnenklar<br/>
* Füchschen
Spätestens um Mitternacht ist die Sehnsucht groß<br/>
* Kürzer
Nach dem Glas vom Altbierfass und der ganze Verein singt dann los:<br/>
* Schumacher
* Schlüssel
* Uerige
* Alter Bahnhof (Gulasch Alt)
* Brauhaus Joh Albrecht (Johann Albrecht Alt)


Füchschen, Uerige, Schlüssel and Kürzer are all brewed and sold in the ] (Old Town). Schumacher is between the Altstadt and the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), although it also has a pub in the Altstadt, Im Goldenen Kessel, across the street from Schlüssel.


Each brewpub produces a seasonal "Sticke" variant in small quantities, though the names vary: Schlüssel spells it "Stike", without the "c", while Schumacher calls its special beer "Latzenbier", meaning "slat beer", possibly because the kegs from which it was poured had been stored on raised shelves.<ref name="Dornbusch">Horst Dornbusch, ''Altbier''. Boulder, CO: Brewers Publications</ref> Füchschen's seasonal is its Weihnachtsbier (Christmas beer), available in bottles starting mid-November, and served in the brewpub on Christmas Eve.<ref name="Fuchschen Weihnachtsbier"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127112721/http://www.fuechschen.de/htmlGB/start-frames-61.html |date=27 January 2008 }}; retrieved 26 April 2007</ref>
Translation:


=== Producers outside Düsseldorf ===
Everybody loves his home country<br/>
Altbier brewed outside Düsseldorf includes that produced by the Diebels brewery in ], the Gleumes brewery in ], the ] in ], the ] brewery in ] (that owns the brand "Frankenheim Alt", originally brewed in Düsseldorf), and the Fiege brewery in ].
That's why we obviously love the beach along the Rhine<br/>
Where the old castle tower is standing that is where we are at home<br/>
As we cannot be without beer we quickly shout out:<br/>


Altbier is somewhat similar to ]'s native beer style '']'', being warm-fermented at a lower temperature than British ales, and Altbier proper is also brewed as "Ehrenfelder Alt", in Cologne's smallest brewery "Braustelle".<ref name="Braustelle">{{cite web | url=http://www.braustelle.com/brauereibiere.html| title=Brauerei/Biere – Helios| publisher=Braustelle| access-date=1 June 2014| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822043346/http://braustelle.com/brauereibiere.html| archive-date=22 August 2014}}</ref>
<br/>
Well, are we in the Woods? Where is our Altbier?<br/>
We in Düsseldorf have the longest bar in the world, yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah<br/>
Well, are we in the Woods? Where is our Altbier?<br/>
Where is the hero that orders a round with his money?<br/>


] brewery in ] produces an Altbier which is quite different to the Düsseldorf style, being pale and slightly tart.
Let's go for a guys tour along the beautiful Ahr<br/>
Let's drink burgundy only, well that's obvious<br/>
But once midnight comes around what we want is clear<br/>
After a glas of beer from the Altbier barrel the whole group starts to sing:<br/>


===Producers outside Germany===
Altbier has been produced in the city of ] in the Netherlands since at least 1753. Venlo is on the border to Germany approximately 50&nbsp;km (30 miles) from Düsseldorf. The beer was produced up until the Second World War, but then had a hiatus until its revival in 1983. It is produced by the Lindeboom brewery, who bought the recipe in 2001.


Altbier is brewed in small quantities in Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia by Tooheys in Sydney New South Wales, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Norway, Brazil and Australia.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lervig.no/product-portfolio/lervig-local/alt-inn-lervig-local/| title=Lervik Alt Inn – Alt Bier| publisher=Lervig| access-date=18 October 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018124204/https://lervig.no/product-portfolio/lervig-local/alt-inn-lervig-local/| archive-date=18 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reijin.biz/?pid=77342030 |title=Azumino Roman Beer Rindou |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111175542/https://www.reijin.biz/?pid=77342030 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
<!--Note about the translation: This is pretty rough, mainly due to the fact that a lot of this has some cultural reference and would need some "heavy explaining" in order to make it really work. I tried to stay close to the words but feel free to "clean it up".-->

Versions of altbier are ], though not always to traditional recipes.<ref>{{cite news | title=Wild Horse Ale – Bottled, Not Broken| url=http://www.craftbeer.com/news/beer-release/wild-horse-ale-bottled-not-broken| access-date=21 July 2013| newspaper=Craft Beer| date=7 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://untappd.com/b/martin-house-brewing-company-turtle-power/741207| title=Untappd| first=The Untappd| last=Team| website=Untappd}}</ref>


== See also == == See also ==
{{Commons category}}
{{commons|Beers_from_Germany|German beers}}
*] * ]
* ]


== External links == == References ==
{{Reflist}}
'''Traditional ''Altbier'' breweries:'''
*
*
*
*
*
*
*


{{Beer Styles}}
⚫ ]
{{Authority control}}
]
]


] {{DEFAULTSORT:Altbier}}
]
]
⚫ ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 00:16, 7 January 2025

Style of beer

A Diebels Alt

Altbier (German: [ˈaltˌbiːɐ̯] , German for old beer) is a style of beer brewed in the Rhineland, especially around the city of Düsseldorf, Germany. It is a copper coloured beer whose name comes from it being top-fermented, an older method than the bottom fermentation of lagers.

Characteristics

Altbier is usually a dark, copper colour. It is fermented at a moderate temperature using a top-fermenting yeast—which gives its flavour some fruitiness. Because Altbier is then matured at a cooler temperature, its flavour is more akin to lager beer styles than is the norm for top-fermented beers (such as British pale ale).

Altbier in Germany

Schumacher Alt

The first producer to use the name Altbier—to contrast its top-fermenting beer with the bottom-fermenting kinds—was the Schumacher brewery of Düsseldorf, that opened in 1838. Mass-market brewers of Altbier include Diebels and the Radeberger Gruppe under the brands Schlösser Alt and Hansa Alt. These are complemented by small breweries in Düsseldorf and other nearby cities.

Some Altbier breweries have a tradition of producing a stronger version, called sticke alt, coming from a local dialect word meaning "secret". Originally made as a special reserve beer intended for the brewers' own consumption, today it is generally a seasonal or special occasion brew.

There exists a regional rivalry between the drinkers of Altbier in the Düsseldorf area and the drinkers of Kölsch beer in the Cologne (Köln) area.

Production

A beer variety associated with the Lower Rhine region, Altbier is especially found in Düsseldorf, Krefeld, and Mönchengladbach.

Producers in Düsseldorf

There are seven bars in Düsseldorf which brew Altbier on the premises:

  • Füchschen
  • Kürzer
  • Schumacher
  • Schlüssel
  • Uerige
  • Alter Bahnhof (Gulasch Alt)
  • Brauhaus Joh Albrecht (Johann Albrecht Alt)

Füchschen, Uerige, Schlüssel and Kürzer are all brewed and sold in the Altstadt (Old Town). Schumacher is between the Altstadt and the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), although it also has a pub in the Altstadt, Im Goldenen Kessel, across the street from Schlüssel.

Each brewpub produces a seasonal "Sticke" variant in small quantities, though the names vary: Schlüssel spells it "Stike", without the "c", while Schumacher calls its special beer "Latzenbier", meaning "slat beer", possibly because the kegs from which it was poured had been stored on raised shelves. Füchschen's seasonal is its Weihnachtsbier (Christmas beer), available in bottles starting mid-November, and served in the brewpub on Christmas Eve.

Producers outside Düsseldorf

Altbier brewed outside Düsseldorf includes that produced by the Diebels brewery in Issum, the Gleumes brewery in Krefeld, the Bolten brewery in Korschenbroich, the Warsteiner brewery in Warstein (that owns the brand "Frankenheim Alt", originally brewed in Düsseldorf), and the Fiege brewery in Bochum.

Altbier is somewhat similar to Cologne's native beer style Kölsch, being warm-fermented at a lower temperature than British ales, and Altbier proper is also brewed as "Ehrenfelder Alt", in Cologne's smallest brewery "Braustelle".

Pinkus Müller brewery in Münster produces an Altbier which is quite different to the Düsseldorf style, being pale and slightly tart.

Producers outside Germany

Altbier has been produced in the city of Venlo in the Netherlands since at least 1753. Venlo is on the border to Germany approximately 50 km (30 miles) from Düsseldorf. The beer was produced up until the Second World War, but then had a hiatus until its revival in 1983. It is produced by the Lindeboom brewery, who bought the recipe in 2001.

Altbier is brewed in small quantities in Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia by Tooheys in Sydney New South Wales, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Norway, Brazil and Australia.

Versions of altbier are brewed in the United States, though not always to traditional recipes.

See also

References

  1. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Copper-bottom ales halt lager tide in Germany". Beerhunter.com. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  2. "Düsseldorf Pub Guide: the best beer bars, pubs and brewpubs". Europeanbeerguide.net. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  3. "Düsseldorf Breweries". Europeanbeerguide.net. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  4. "Kölsch Alt Rivalry". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  5. Langenfelder sagt (14 January 2011). "Brauerei Kürzer (Altstadt) | My DuesselDorf – Typisch Düsseldorf!". My-duesseldorf.info. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  6. Horst Dornbusch, Altbier. Boulder, CO: Brewers Publications
  7. Fuchschen web page on Weihnachtsbier Archived 27 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 26 April 2007
  8. "Brauerei/Biere – Helios". Braustelle. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  9. "Lervik Alt Inn – Alt Bier". Lervig. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  10. "Azumino Roman Beer Rindou". Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. "Wild Horse Ale – Bottled, Not Broken". Craft Beer. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  12. Team, The Untappd. "Untappd". Untappd.
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