• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Truly Experiences Blog

For People Who Collect Memories, Not Things

  • Lifestyle
  • Dining
  • Travel
  • Gifts
  • Wine, Beer & Spirits
  • Things To Do
Blog » Wine, Beer & Spirits » Beer » Beers from Around the World » European Beers » German Beers » What is Kellerbier? The Germanic Tradition Of Brewing Lagers In Caves
craft beer

What is Kellerbier? The Germanic Tradition Of Brewing Lagers In Caves

The history of Kellerbier dates to the Middle Ages, and it is a lager style that remains popular with craft brewers and select breweries today. This Germanic invention is not only deliciously refreshing but has plenty of vitamins too, thanks to the yeast which gives it a cloudy appearance.

If you’ve never tried one, then read on to discover what its appeal is.

Jump To a Section Below

  • What is Kellerbier?
  • What Is The History Of Kellerbier?
  • How Do You Pronounce Kellerbier?
  • How Is Kellerbier Made?
  • How Is Kellerbier Different From Zwikelbier? From Gose?
  • What Does Cellar Beer Taste Like?
  • How Do You Serve Kellerbier?
  • What Are The 5 Best Kellerbiers To Try Right Now?
  • What Is The Most Popular Kellerbier Brand In The World?
  • What Foods Can You Pair With Kellerbier?

What is Kellerbier?

Helles Bier und Kellerbier

Translated to Cellar Beer, Kellerbier is a Germanic lager that stretches back through the ages to a time when beer making needed to be done in the cooler months – or else kept underground to keep the cask brewing temperatures cool.

The resulting beer has an amber to red appearance and is what is known as naturtrüb (naturally cloudy). There is some debate whether Kellerbier is a beer in its own right, or is merely a serving style, but we think it’s best considered as both!

What Is The History Of Kellerbier?

Kellerbier dates back to the Franconian region of Germany and is assumed to have come about during the Middle Ages. Due to the heat of summer being quite repressive and leading to the souring of beer, laws were passed that the last beer-making for the season should be done in spring – thereafter, beers were left to ferment in caves and underground cellars.

Also see  Rauchbier - The Best Smoked Beer You Need To Try

The brewers would then check on their lagering lagern (Germanic for stored) brews, to check in on the slow maturation cycles. It could take up to three months before the lagers were ready – and when deemed ‘done’ by brewmasters, the final Kellerbier would be served straight out of the barrel it was brewed within.

How Do You Pronounce Kellerbier?

Kellerbier is pronounced – KELLer – Beer.

How Is Kellerbier Made?

The style of Kellerbier is the traditional technique of cold-fermenting beer in cellars or caves, from a bottom fermented process. The vented casks are left to cold ferment for months until the second fermentation was ending. Only then is the barrel corked.

As no filtering is done on the beer within, the brewing by-products, yeast and other nutrients are still present. In fact, many believe that if the Kellerbier is left to ferment further, it would become a Helles Lager or even a Märzen beer.

How Is Kellerbier Different From Zwikelbier? From Gose?

While Kellerbier is kept open throughout the brewing process to avoid carbonation, Zwickelbier is a sub-style of Kellerbier that is sealed up before fermentation has begun which allows for some carbonation of the brew. It too is served from the cask once the yeast has finished up and typically has a darker appearance and a more hoppy taste.

It is named for the Zwickel – a German syphon used throughout the brewing process.

When it comes to telling Kellerbier apart from other styles, like Gose, it must be noted that the brewing process and flavours are vastly different. Gose is typically a kettle sour wheat beer. It is a warm fermented beer, while Kellerbier is a cold ferment, and Gose also contains the addition of Lactobacillus bacteria which give it the characteristic lemon-like sourness to it. Kellerbier usually has more of a sweet and malty taste, along with a smooth mouthfeel.

Also see  Altbier: The Top Reasons To Give This Dusseldorf Creation A Try

What Does Cellar Beer Taste Like?

While Kellerbiers differ in tastes and flavours, they’re usually creamy, with a light apple after-taste thanks to the acetaldehyde that occurs due to the yeast fermenting. Diacetyl adds a buttery smoothness to the beer. While in most beers these two characteristics are considered to be a drawback, in Kellerbier, they’ve become a mark of authenticity. Other tastes include sourdough thanks to the malt, while a touch of peppery bitterness is likely to linger thanks to the hops.

How Do You Serve Kellerbier?

When Kellerbier is served, it is traditionally done so out of the cask or barrel that the brew was originally lagered in. If you’re consuming it at home, then an earthenware mug or tankard is appropriate.

What Are The 5 Best Kellerbiers To Try Right Now?

  • Grevensteiner Original Naturtrübes Landbier by Brauerei VELTINS has a 5.2% alcohol volume and scores a 23 on the international bitterness scale. The cloudy dark gold kettlebier offers an earthy taste and malty finish with low bitterness and hints of sweetness.
  • Föhn by Fox Farm Brewery is a top choice for Kellerbier. It offers a 5.6% alcohol rating and offers a low IBU. The golden hued body and herb and pepper aroma combine with a medium body and plenty of flavour.
  • Aktien Zwick’l Kellerbier by Bayreuther Bierbrauerei offers a 5.3% alcohol volume and an 18 IBU rating. It has a dark copper body, with a sweet malty aroma. Medium body and dry finish.
    Mönchsambacher Lager by Brauerei Zehendner GmbH offers a 5.5% alcohol volume. It has a cloudy gold, with a subtle flavour, the creamy breadiness of this Kettlebier combines with wheaty flavours and floral, zesty notes. It finishes with a Saison punchiness.
  • State Pils by Suarez Family Brewery is a 4.7% alcohol volume beer found in New York and available for sale in cans. Straw gold is the main colour, and it has a strong lemon presence, along with sweet dough, herbs, and a spicy hop finish.
Also see  What is Hefeweizen? Discover An Underrated Beer

What Is The Most Popular Kellerbier Brand In The World?

Over at Beer Advocate the current world favourite Kellerbier brand is Mönchsambacher Lager by Brauerei Zehendner GmbH.

What Foods Can You Pair With Kellerbier?

Kellerbier typically pairs well with a variety of dishes, due to the many nuanced flavours and notes the beer presents. Everything from Mexican food to chicken and grilled steak or Bratwurst and mustard suits it. For desserts, gingerbread or spice cookies will be perfectly complemented with a Kellerbier.

While we have yet to find a Kellerbier around our parts, we can’t wait to get our hands on one to discover the many cascading notes that create such a harmonic lager.

Chermaine Chee June 30, 2022

Footer

  • Truly Experiences
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Affiliate Disclosure

We believe in being as transparent as possible when it comes to this site. With this in mind, please be aware that we may receive remuneration for some of the products we review on this site.

Truly Experiences is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk (and other Amazon programs).

We will also list ads from time to time. You should be able to see these as text links or blocks of ads which have a small notation indicating “Ads by Google” or “AdChoices”.

Our mission is to help our visitors, but this is also very clearly a for-profit site and you should realize as much. We include only those products that we believe could benefit you, some of which we may get a commission if you purchase them. However, we also provide links on the site to information resources for which we receive no compensation.

If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact us using the "contact" option on the site menu and we will be happy to answer any questions.

Trademark Dislosure

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

In addition, any other trademarks and logos we mention on this site are also the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2022 Truly Experiences