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Directory›Hausbrauerei Eschenbräu

Alter Schwede

Hausbrauerei Eschenbräu
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🌍 Germany · India Pale Lager · One of 14 India Pale Lagers in hopIQ

Alter Schwede is Eschenbräu's winter strong beer, tapped every year around the start of Advent since at least 2014, most recently on 28 November 2025; the 2026 tapping is set for 27 November. The brewery calls it strong, bitter and sneaky and files it as a bottom-fermented IPA: a dominant bitterness from Polaris hops over a full malt body from about 16 °P original gravity. A long mashing schedule leaves little residual sugar, so the beer finishes dry and the hop bitterness lingers. The seasonal flyer calls it a surprisingly slim Bock.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A frame with real heft — the palate has plenty to hold onto through the finish.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another India Pale Lager.
Hop character
hoppy
piney
Malt character
malty
caramel
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Alter Schwede

◎ Appearance

Pale golden-yellow with excellent clarity and bright, lively carbonation. The head forms quickly and clings persistently to the glass, leaving fine lacing with each sip. Despite its strength at 6.5% ABV, the beer presents a deceptively light and inviting visual profile.

pale goldencrystal clearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

Polaris hops dominate the nose with herbal, slightly floral notes and a mineral edge characteristic of noble-type varieties. Beneath lies a clean, grainy malt foundation from the substantial 16 °P original gravity, with no yeast esters or phenolics. The bitterness announces itself early, telegraphing the beer's aggressive hop character.

herbal hopsmineral tonegrainy malt base

◐ Taste

The palate opens with immediate, assertive bitterness from Polaris that dominates the mid-palate. A full, bread-forward malt body provides ballast and slight sweetness on entry, but the extended mash schedule leaves the beer bone-dry underneath the hop bite. Bitterness persists cleanly through to the finish with no harsh edges or astringency.

pronounced bitternessfull bodieddry finish

◑ Finish

The hop bitterness lingers long and dry, fading gradually rather than abruptly. A light grainy dryness and mineral character remain in the aftertaste, with no sweetness or cloying sensation despite the beer's strength.

long dry finishlingering bitterness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Alter Schwede

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass
Recommended for this style

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Alter Schwede

About India Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a India Pale Lager?

India Pale Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar India Pale Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, bitter, hoppy character as Alter Schwede will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other India Pale Lagers in hopIQ

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