DESCRIPTION: Alt refers to an old school, top-fermented style of brewing ale rather than a relatively modern (ok, late 1800s) bottom fermented lager. Altbier is especially associated with the city of Duesseldorf. And of course the surrounding Niederrhein region, where I hail from. Alts are a bit difficult to explain to the uninitiated - kind of like a hoppy Oktoberfest? A very malty pale ale? You'll just have to try a glass of coppery-brown, rich, caramelly, and bitter ale to get the idea (from the NB kit description). This all grain kit is something I always wanted to try as a base for getting close to a true Schuhmacher Alt from downtown D'dorf. My favorite watering hole back in the 80s! So far the Alt beers I had brewed came out rather meh, but those were all extract kits, which always fail if your looking for a beer with a malty, grainy character, the essence of a Duesseldorf Alt. Let's see how this one turns out!
BREW DATE: 08/05/2014
BOTTLING DATE: 09/07/14
GRAIN BILL:
- 4lbs German Munich malt
- 2lbs German dark Munich malt
- 3.5lbs German Pilsner malt
- 0.5lbs Weyermann Caramunich II
MASH-IN:
- 20min Protein rest at 122F
- 30min Beta Sacch' rest at 149F
- 30min Alpha Sacch' rest at 158F
- 10min Mashout at 170F
- Fly/batch sparge w/ 175F water, total of 15l wort, last run had 5brix
- OG 1.040=> 5.2% Alcohol
HOPS SCHEDULE:
- 1oz German Perle 60min
- 1oz German Perle 30min
- 1oz Hersbrucker 10min
YEAST:
- Wyeast German Ale 1007
TASTE NOTES:
Quite nice beer, but not exactly how I remember an Altbier should taste. I would say this one is somewhere between an English brown ale and a German Alt, slightly more hoppy. It is quite malty but not as much as a Frankenheimer for instance. It could also be somewhat darker. I still like it, I don't think it'll last long :-)
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