Altbier
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Altbier (often abbreviated to Alt) is the name given to a form of pale ale that originated in Düsseldorf and the Rhineland region in Germany.
The name Altbier, which literally means old beer, is believed to refer to the pre-lager brewing method of using a warm top-fermenting yeast and darker malts. Over time the Alt yeast adjusted to lower temperatures, and the Alt brewers would store or lager the beer after fermentation, leading to a cleaner, crisper beer than is the norm for an ale.
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[edit] History
The Bavarian Reinheitsgebot of 1516, was drawn up to ensure the production of decent-quality beer; however, this decree did not effect brewers of the Rhineland. As such, the brewing traditions in this region developed slightly differently. For example, brewing during the summer was illegal in Bavaria, but the cooler climate of the Rhineland allowed Alt brewers to brew all year long and to experiment with storing fermented beer in cool caves and cellars.
[edit] Regional Alts
Up to the 1950s, Alt was also called Düssel (from Düsseldorf), but since the term is not a Protected Designation of Origin, Altbier may also be produced outside of the Düsseldorf region. Venlo, a city in the Netherlands on the German border near Düsseldorf, produces the first Dutch Altbier. [1] Similar varieties, also called altbiers, are associated with some other cities in Germany, particularly Hannover. Altbier is also brewed in small quantities in Austria, Switzerland and the United States.
Düsseldorf and Cologne are long-time rivals, though today it mostly comes down to whose beer is better, Düsseldorf's Altbier or Cologne's Kölsch, another top-fermented beer.
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.
[edit] Altbier Song (Das Altbier Lied)
There is a song about Altbier, sung in Düsseldorf, especially during Karneval. The lyrics are as follows:
Jeder Mensch der liebt nun mal stolz sein Heimatland
Darum lieben wir, ganz klar, unseren Rheinschen Strand
Wo der Alte Schlossturm steht da sind wir zu Haus´
Weil es ohne Bier nicht geht rufen wir ganz schnell heraus:
[Chorus]
Ja, sind wir im Wald hier? Wo bleibt unser Altbier?
Wir haben in Düsseldorf die längste Theke der Welt, jajajaja
Ja, sind wir im Wald hier? Wo bleibt unser Altbier?
Wo ist denn der Held der mit seinem Geld die Runde bestellt?
Machen wir 'ne Herrentour an die schöne Ahr
Trinken wir Burgunder nur, das ist sonnenklar
Spätestens um Mitternacht ist die Sehnsucht groß
Nach dem Glas vom Altbierfass und der ganze Verein singt dann los:
[Chorus]
Translation:
Everybody loves his home country
That's why we obviously love the beach along the Rhine
Where the old castle tower is standing that is where we are at home
As we cannot be without beer we quickly shout out:
[Chorus]
Well, are we in the Woods? Where is our Altbier?
We in Düsseldorf have the longest bar in the world, yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah
Well, are we in the Woods? Where is our Altbier?
Where is the hero that orders a round with his money?
Let's go for a guys tour along the beautiful Ahr
Let's drink burgundy only, well that's obvious
But once midnight comes around our desire will be huge
for a glass of beer from the Altbier barrel and the whole group starts to sing:
[Chorus]
[edit] See also
