best altbier?

[Buckeye Brewer]

I'm trying to "expand my beer horizons" by trying all different styles of beer. I'm wondering what a good altbier is? I'm gonna head out to the beer store later, and want to know if there are any brews in particular that are good. Thanks

[steveh]

The latest one I've tried is Pinkus' Munster Alt. It seems closer to a Kolsch in style, but it's imported from Germany, so it's difficult to question it.

August Schell makes their Schmaltz's Alt, but the last time I tried a six-pack (some time ago) I think it had been on the shelf for years! Pretty bad.

Diebels from Germany is good, if you can find it, as is Tucher - but that may not be available anymore.

S.

[threecb]

Originally posted by steveh
August Schell makes their Schmaltz's Alt, but the last time I tried a six-pack (some time ago) I think it had been on the shelf for years! Pretty bad.
S.

A whole new meaning to "Old Beer", huh?

I was recently trying to find Schmaltz for a friend who used to enjoy it and I thought they stopped brewing it...I could be wrong. It was never easy to find on the East Coast.

[newportstorm]

Here's some info that might be of interest to you:

"B. United International has some exciting things coming in early 2004. Also, for the first time ever outside its Duesseldorf brewpub area, the world classic Duesseldorfer Alt Uerige & Uerige Sticke will be exported to the USA. The first to arrive in February will be the Uerige Sticke available in 11.2 oz bottles (24/case) and 30 liter kegs. Uerige will be available in April. Pricing is around $85 per case for bottles and $185 per keg. All of these will be very limited in supply. If you are interested in any of these please order them early."

We have had a few good Altbiers in New England over the years:

*The Tap Brewpub Altbier - only available on draft or growler - sorry.
*Dornbusch Alt - recipe of Horst Dornbusch. Used to be brewed by Mercury Brewing (brewers of Ipswich). Sadly, production has ceased :(
*McNeill's Alle Tage Altbier - available in bombers in VT, MA and upstate NY, I believe. Worth trading for, imho.

Prost!

[steveh]

Originally posted by threecb
A whole new meaning to "Old Beer", huh?

Sehr alt Altbier!

I was recently trying to find Schmaltz for a friend who used to enjoy it and I thought they stopped brewing it...I could be wrong. It was never easy to find on the East Coast.

I don't see it under their beer list at their site. Of course, the featured "now in season" beer on the homepage is the Oktoberfest. Hmm.

S.

[quantum24]

i second mcneills altbier, it is very good, and would add heavyweights stickenjab altbier

[chazwicke]

Congrats on hitting 100! How is McNiell's brewpub in Brattleboro? I was there over a decade ago. Or at least a long time ago. It was an interesting place. The consistancy of the beers has been questioned recently by a friend of mine. What is going on up there? Are the beers still good?

[quantum24]

hey whatda ya know, i didnt realize that was my 100th. ive never been to mcneills brewpub, but have tried most of their beers (i used to live in vt and could get most in bombers). the inconsistency story is very true. they brew a great imperial stout, one of the best ive had, but the carbonation is always a problem. some bottles are perfect and yet others are flat. this is true for many of their beers, im not sure why they cant get it right. (the one thing i have noticed is that they always fill their bottles very close to the top, in some less than 1/2 inch, this could be part of the problem, maybe) the bright side is that at 2.99 a bomber, you can get good beer pretty darn cheap. i would recommend giving them a shot, i still buy a bounch of bombers when i go to vt.

[fretlessman71]

Still trying to get ahold of you quantum... pm me!

[Caffinehog]

If you're a buckeye brewer, try the buckeye brewing company, also known as the Brewkeeper.

25200 Miles Road

Bedford Heights, OH 44146

216-292-BREW

They have their own, delicious altbier on tap! For now, anyways....

[ontap78]

I'm sorry to say that Schell's has quit making their Schmaltz's alt about 9 months ago.I was hope they would release it as a Christmas beer (that was the rumor in our town of rumors) But they didn't.Maybe they will eventually. It was too good of a beer to completely abandon. Ever had it with a dark chocolate dessert? Awesome!

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Congrats on hitting 100! How is McNiell's brewpub in Brattleboro? I was there over a decade ago. Or at least a long time ago. It was an interesting place. The consistancy of the beers has been questioned recently by a friend of mine. What is going on up there? Are the beers still good?

I went to McNeill's last June while camping nearby. The brewpub itself has a grungy, divey charm to it. Their draft beer quality and prices can't be beat, but I did encounter a few duds in the case of bombers I took home. 3 of the 12 had carbonation/quality issues - $2.50 each was a sweet price though. I wouldn't think the high neck fills would be a problem - may evacuate O2. And a lot, if not all of his brews are bottle conditioned so I am at a loss to explain the quality of some bottles. Regardless, Ray McNeill does make some kick-ass beers - Impy Stout, Alle Tage Altbier, Firehouse Amber, ESB, Pullman Porter, Oatmeal Stout, etc. etc.

Rumor has it that a new brewery is in the works. Great news for McNeill's fans.

Cheers!

[newportstorm]

After looking in my fridge last night, I came across another beer brewed in the Altbier realm - Otter Creek Copper Ale. Not sure about distribution, but it's pretty tasty on tap.

Cheers!

[threecb]

Originally posted by newportstorm
After looking in my fridge last night, I came across another beer brewed in the Altbier realm - Otter Creek Copper Ale. Not sure about distribution, but it's pretty tasty on tap.

Cheers!

I forgot the OC Copper Ale was an Alt! That is a decent one...

And the Heavyweight Sticknjab is a great one, too. Anyone who knows of Tom Baker knows that all the Heavyweight beers are solid, serious beers.

[BluesHarp]

Ratebeer says (in order):

1 Arbor Brewing Olde #22 German Alt Arbor Brewing Company Pub & Eatery

2 Schlussel Alt Zum Schlussel

3 Bornholmerbryg Mørk Guld Svaneke Bryghus

4 Blimp City Akron/Macon German Style Alt Bier Blimp City Brewery

5 Im Füchschen Altbier Im Füchschen

6 Widmer Brothers Winternacht Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

7 Long Trail Double Bag Long Trail Brewery

8 McNeills Alle Tage Altbier McNeills Brewery

9 Uerige Alt Zum Uerige

10 Heavyweight Stickenjab Alt Bier Heavyweight Brewing Company

11 Alaskan Amber Alaskan Brewing Co

12 Tyranena Headless Man Amber Alt Tyranena Brewing Company, LLC

13 Schell Schmaltzs Alt August Schell Brewing Company

14 Full Sail Comet Ale Full Sail Brewing Company

15 New Glarus Native Ale New Glarus Brewing Company

16 Southampton Secret Ale Southampton Publick House

17 BluCreek AltBier Pioneer/Wisconsin Brewing Co.

18 St. Stans Dark Stanislaus Brewing Company (aka St. Stans)

19 Long Trail Ale Long Trail Brewery

20 Frankenheim Alt Privatbrauerei Frankenheim

21 Schlafly Altbier Saint Louis Brewery

22 Widmer Brothers Springfest Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

23 Diebels Diebels (Interbrew)

24 Bluegrass Altbier Bluegrass Brewing Company

25 Otter Creek Copper Ale Otter Creek Brewing

[fidcastro]

Originally posted by newportstorm
Here's some info that might be of interest to you:

"B. United International has some exciting things coming in early 2004. Also, for the first time ever outside its Duesseldorf brewpub area, the world classic Duesseldorfer Alt Uerige & Uerige Sticke will be exported to the USA. The first to arrive in February will be the Uerige Sticke available in 11.2 oz bottles (24/case) and 30 liter kegs. Uerige will be available in April. Pricing is around $85 per case for bottles and $185 per keg. All of these will be very limited in supply. If you are interested in any of these please order them early."


You have just made me a very happy man. I think I'll have a beer to celebrate.

Uerige was one of my favorite beers from my Belgium/Netherlands/Germany trip last year. Their brew-pub was a really cool place to hang out, and the beer was excellent. I'm gonna have to call my beer guy and try to get a keg...

Thinking of a keg of Uerige has me drooling in my Sierra Nevada Celebration.

[steveh]

Originally posted by BluesHarp


15 New Glarus Native Ale New Glarus Brewing Company

Didn't realize that was considered an Alt. Hmm.

S.

[Tweek]

one of the best beers I have ever had was the butten alt and supencuch in San francisco. I have never seen it anywhere else. Man it is tasty!