Abstract: An alcoholic malt beverage base is produced by preparing wort having a solids content of about 18.degree. to 24.degree. plato from an all malt mash, adding fermentable sugar to the wort, boiling to resultant sugar-containing wort, adding water to the boiled wort to adjust the solids content, adding yeast to the boiled wort after cooling and fermenting for a certain time and at a certain temperature, adding additional yeast, continuing fermentation at a higher temperature to a desired end point, cooling the fermented wort and separating solids therefrom. The beverage base has an alcohol content of about 5.5% to 9% and has a clean pleasant taste without off-aromas.