AleGerman Wheat and Rye Beer

Roggenbier (German Rye Beer)

A dunkelweizen made with rye rather than wheat, but with a greater body and light finishing hops. American-style rye beers, or traditional beer styles with enough rye added to give a noticeable rye character should be entered in the specialty beer category instead. Rye is a huskless grain and is difficult to mash, often resulting in a gummy mash texture that is prone to sticking. Rye has been characterized as having the most assertive flavor of all cereal grains. It is inappropriate to add caraway seeds to a roggenbier (as some American brewers do); the rye character is traditionally from the rye grain only.

Alcohol
4.5 - 6% ABV
3.6 - 4.7% ABW
IBU
10 - 20
International Bitterness Units
Color
14 - 19 SRM
28 - 37 EBC
Gravity
OG: 1.046 - 1.056
FG: 1.01 - 1.014

Appearance & Mouthfeel

Color
Light coppery-orange to very dark reddish or coppery-brown color. Large creamy off-white to tan head, quite dense and persistent (often thick and rocky). Cloudy, hazy appearance.
Clarity
Light coppery-orange to very dark reddish or coppery-brown color. Large creamy off-white to tan head, quite dense and persistent (often thick and rocky). Cloudy, hazy appearance.
Body
Medium to medium-full body. High carbonation. Light tartness optional.

Aroma & Flavor

Malt
Light to moderate spicy rye aroma intermingled with light to moderate weizen yeast aromatics (spicy clove and fruity esters, either banana or citrus). Light noble hops are acceptable. Can have a somewhat acidic aroma from rye and yeast. No diacetyl. Grainy, moderately-low to moderately-strong spicy rye flavor, often having a hearty flavor reminiscent of rye or pumpernickel bread. Medium to medium-low bitterness allows an initial malt sweetness (sometimes with a bit of caramel) to be tasted before yeast and rye character takes over. Low to moderate weizen yeast character (banana, clove, and sometimes citrus), although the balance can vary. Medium-dry, grainy finish with a tangy, lightly bitter (from rye) aftertaste. Low to moderate noble hop flavor acceptable, and can persist into aftertaste. No diacetyl.

Technical Specs (Plato)

Original Gravity11.4 - 13.8 °P
Final Gravity2.6 - 3.6 °P