Prost Brewing Company - Altbier

Altbier, meaning “old beer,” is a German ale style predating the invention of lager beers. A traditional beer from Düsseldorf, altbier is known for being balanced and smooth, with a bold, bready maltiness with moderate bitterness. Like Prost’s weissbier, their alt is very true to style. Pouring a deep brownish-amber color with creamy foam, this beer offers up obvious aromas of breadcrust, plus light caramel, earthy and grassy hop overtones, and a certain mild fruit leather impression we often notice with Munich malts. Though they’re technically ales, altbiers are cold conditioned like lagers. Along with the choice of yeast strain, the cold conditioning keeps fruity esters to a minimum, allowing the clean, toasty malt flavor to take center stage. Look for the moderate hop bitterness to help keep this brew dry from start to finish. Sausages (including spicy and smoked varieties) and grilled or roasted meats make natural pairings, but its clean, bready maltiness makes it work with a number of other possibilities including grilled salmon, or a multitude of different cheeses, particularly earthy versions, paired with crusty bread. Prost!

When thinking about German culture, it’s hard not to immediately think of beer – a beverage so loved in Bavaria that it has its own massive festival. Such is the significance of beer to Germany, and also of Germany to the world of beer. In fact, many American brewers were originally inspired to their craft after living or traveling there, though, perhaps ironically, there are not a huge number of American breweries which specialize in German beer styles.

Prost Brewing Company is different. Founded in 2012 in the Lower Highlands area of Denver, Prost (which means the equivalent of “cheers” in German) set out from day one to focus on German beer styles and perfect them in a way not often seen in the American craft beer world. At the heart of the brewery is a 50+ year-old copper brewing system which the team salvaged from the defunct Brauerei Hümmer in the Bavarian village of Breitengüßbach and had shipped all the way to the Mile-High City. Into this system go only German malts and hops, and out of it comes extraordinarily true-to-style German brews.

For more information about the brewery, their impressive Bavarian-themed beer garden, or brewery tours, call 303-729-1175 or visit prostbrewing.com.