Antur New Altbier is a 440ml Welsh take on a German classic, brewed by Antur Brew Co in Crickhowell, Powys, on the northern edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. Altbier is a traditional German style most associated with Düsseldorf, brewed as an ale but cold conditioned in the manner of a lager, which gives it a cleaner, smoother character than many other top-fermented beers while retaining the deeper malt complexity ales are known for. At 4.7% ABV, Antur's version sits at a comfortable, sessionable strength that stays true to the balance expected of the style. Antur Brew Co was founded by Lance van Dijk, who brought experience from several established ale and lager specialist breweries before opening Antur during the pandemic, with the brewery's doors officially opening in 2022. The name Antur is Welsh for adventure, reflecting both the brewery's setting within a National Park and the exploratory approach it has taken to its beer range, moving beyond straightforward pale ales and lagers into less common European styles such as Altbier. The brewery has built a strong early reputation, and New Altbier has been recognised with a 3 star Great Taste Award, a notable achievement for a beer produced by a relatively young Welsh brewery. New Altbier pours a deep amber to red colour, built using only UK grains and hops. On the palate it shows a complex depth of sweeter, biscuity malt character typical of the Altbier style, balanced by a crisp, medium hop bitterness on the finish that keeps the beer from tipping into heaviness. The cold conditioning process gives the beer a clean, rounded drinkability more often associated with lagers, while the malt-forward profile and amber colour keep it firmly rooted in its ale origins, making it a genuinely distinctive beer within the wider Welsh craft beer scene. Serve Antur New Altbier chilled but not ice cold, in a tall glass or the traditional narrow Altbier glass if available, to allow its malt aromas to come through properly. Its balance of malt sweetness and hop bitterness makes it a strong match for roasted and grilled meats, German-style sausages, pretzels, and mature cheeses, and it also works well alongside hearty stews and pies given its depth of flavour relative to its moderate strength. For drinkers looking to try something beyond the more familiar pale ale and IPA styles that dominate the craft beer market, Antur New Altbier offers a well-executed, award-winning example of a lesser-seen German style, brewed with UK ingredients by a small, adventurous Welsh brewery in the heart of the Brecon Beacons.
