Cartwheeler: Our Take on a Classic Altbier

At Thornbridge, we’ve always been drawn to beer styles with deep roots and a strong sense of place. One such style is Altbier, a beer with over 200 years of history that originates in Düsseldorf, western Germany. Our take on the style is Cartwheeler, a beer that respects tradition while adding a subtle Thornbridge touch.

Altbier, meaning “old beer,” refers not to age but to brewing heritage. When lager brewing rose to prominence in the 19th century, Düsseldorf brewers held onto their established methods: using top-fermenting ale yeast, then conditioning the beer cold for extended periods. The result is a hybrid style, clean and crisp like a lager, but with the gentle character of an ale.

For Cartwheeler, we followed this traditional approach, fermenting warm before a long lagering phase to allow the flavours to settle and refine. We used a blend of German and English malts for a rich yet restrained malt profile, alongside classic Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops for soft bitterness and delicate herbal notes.

Watch the video below where our Production Manager, Dominic Driscoll, explains the style and dives in to the ingredients used in Cartwheeler.