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HOPIQ SCORE

The Best Kellerbiers

50beers · Ranked by style authenticity & award recognition

Kellerbier — literally "cellar beer" — is lager at its most uncompromising: unfiltered, naturally carbonated, often hazy from residual yeast, and cold-conditioned until ready. The style predates modern filtration; what you taste is what the brewer put in the tank. The hopIQ Score evaluates Kellerbier on restrained carbonation, gentle hop character, natural yeast haze, and a clean malt finish — criteria that reward traditional production over shortcuts.

The ranking spans the DACH region, as the style remains a Central European speciality. Stiegl-Paracelsus Bio-Zwickl from Salzburg leads, followed by Köstritzer Kellerbier from Thuringia and Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu Spezial from Baden-Württemberg. Hofstettner Kübelbier from Austria places fifth. For Germany-only Kellerbiers, see the dedicated German Kellerbier ranking.

#2
Köstritzer Kellerbier
Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei · Germany
Kellerbier
cleancrisprefreshing
167 matches
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#1
Top Ranked
Stiegl-Paracelsus Bio-Zwickl
Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg · Austria
Kellerbier
maltysmoothclean
49 matches
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#3
Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu Spezial
Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu · Germany
Kellerbier
crisprefreshingclean
117 matches
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#1
Stiegl-Paracelsus Bio-Zwickl
Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg · Austria
Kellerbiermaltysmoothclean
49 matches
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#2
Köstritzer Kellerbier
Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrisprefreshing
167 matches
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#3
Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu Spezial
Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu · Germany
Kellerbiercrisprefreshingclean
117 matches
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#4
Steinbach Bräu Kellerbier
Steinbach Bräu · Germany
Kellerbiercleandrycrisp
32 matches
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#5
Hofstettner Kübelbier
Brauerei Hofstetten · Austria
Kellerbiercleancrisplight
73 matches
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#6
Kronen Kellerbier
Kronen Brauerei Dortmund · Germany
Kellerbiermaltyyeastyclean
65 matches
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#7
Schönramer Hell
Schönramer Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbiercleanmaltycrisp
40 matches
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#8
Puntigamer Zwickl
Brauerei Puntigam · Austria
Kellerbierfull-bodiedmaltyclean
97 matches
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#9
Zwettler Zwickl
Brauerei Zwettl · Austria
Kellerbiermaltywheatbready
138 matches
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#10
St. Galler Klosterbräu
Brauerei Schützengarten AG · Switzerland
Kellerbierrichmaltyhoppy
46 matches
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#11
Frühlingsgold Kellerbier
Brauerei Ott · Germany
Kellerbiercrisprefreshingclean
31 matches
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#12
Kaiserdom Kellerbier
Kaiserdom Specialitäten Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrisprefreshing
208 matches
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#13
Obertrumer Märzen Bio-Zwickl
Trumer Privatbrauerei · Austria
Kellerbierfull-bodiedmaltycaramel
57 matches
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#14
St. Georgen Keller
St. Georgen Bräu · Germany
Kellerbiercleandrycrisp
22 matches
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#15
Fässla Zwergla
Brauerei Fässla · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrisprefreshing
238 matches
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#16
Weihenstephaner 1516 Kellerbier
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan · Germany
Kellerbierearthybittermalty
107 matches
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#17
Bischofshof Regensburger Zwickl
Brauerei Bischofshof · Germany
Kellerbiermaltyyeastyclean
208 matches
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#18
Freistädter Bio-Zwickl
Braucommune Freistadt · Austria
Kellerbieryeastycleansweet
90 matches
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#19
Zehendner Kellerbier
Brauerei Zehendner · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrispmineral
40 matches
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#20
Schremser Bio Zwickl
Schremser Brauerei · Austria
Kellerbierfull-bodiedmaltyearthy
76 matches
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#21
Greifenklau Kellerbier
Brauerei Greifenklau · Germany
Kellerbierrefreshingmaltyclean
62 matches
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#22
Hütt Landbier
Brauerei Hütt · Germany
Kellerbierrefreshingmaltyclean
111 matches
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#23
Gilde Naturtrübes
Gilde Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbiercrispmaltyclean
20 matches
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#24
Krombacher Brautradition Kellerbier
Krombacher Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbiermaltyyeastyclean
161 matches
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#25
Weiherer Keller
Brauerei-Gasthof Kundmüller (Weiherer) · Germany
Kellerbiermaltysmoothearthy
32 matches
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#26
Paulaner Zwickl
Paulaner Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbiercleanmaltydry
12 matches
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#27
Huppendorfer Kellerbier
Brauerei Grasser · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrisprefreshing
280 matches
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#28
Störtebeker Keller-Bier 1402
Störtebeker Braumanufaktur · Germany
Kellerbiermaltycleancrisp
110 matches
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#29
Schönbuch Zwickel
Brauerei Schönbuch · Germany
Kellerbiercleanmaltydry
22 matches
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#30
Bitburger Kellerbier
Bitburger Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbieryeastycleancrisp
109 matches
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#31
Waldhaus Ohne Filter
Waldhaus Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbiermineralcrispclean
35 matches
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#32
Lager Zwickl
Ottakringer Brauerei · Austria
Kellerbiercleanmaltydry
151 matches
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#33
Kraus Landbier
Brauerei Kraus · Germany
Kellerbiercleanmaltydry
94 matches
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#34
Ottakringer Zwickl Bio-Hell
Ottakringer Brauerei · Austria
Kellerbiercleanmaltycrisp
126 matches
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#35
Gösser Zwickl
Brauerei Göss · Austria
Kellerbierfull-bodiedmaltyfloral
65 matches
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#36
Matuška Desítka
Pivovar Matuška · Czech Republic
Kellerbiercleanrefreshingdry
28 matches
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#37
Griess Keller-Bier
Brauerei Griess · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrisprefreshing
130 matches
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#38
Brauerei Roppelt Kellerbier
Brauerei Roppelt · Germany
Kellerbiermaltysmoothsweet
12 matches
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#39
Freiburger Bierle
Brauerei Ganter · Germany
Kellerbiercrispmaltyclean
166 matches
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#40
Ganter Urtrunk
Brauerei Ganter · Germany
Kellerbiercrispmaltyclean
120 matches
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#41
Fliegender Bayerischer Kellerbier
Brauerei Hummel · Germany
Kellerbiercrispmaltyclean
149 matches
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#42
Lindenbräu Gräfenberg Keller
Brauerei Friedmann · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrispdry
152 matches
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#43
Feldschlösschen Braufrisch
Feldschlösschen · Switzerland
Kellerbiermaltyyeastyfull-bodied
101 matches
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#44
Feldschlößchen Zwickelbier
Feldschlößchen Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbiercleanmaltydry
87 matches
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#45
Friedenfelser Zwickel
Brauerei Friedenfels · Germany
Kellerbiercrispmaltyclean
58 matches
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#46
Knoblach Zwickel
Brauerei Knoblach · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrisprefreshing
36 matches
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#47
Zirndorfer Landbier
Zirndorfer Brauerei · Germany
Kellerbiercleanrefreshingdry
22 matches
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#48
Rostocker Zwickel Naturtrüb
Hanseatische Brauerei Rostock · Germany
Kellerbiercrispmaltyclean
102 matches
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#49
Schneider Weisse Tap 9 Mein Zwickel
G. Schneider & Sohn · Germany
Kellerbierwheatbreadyclean
21 matches
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#50
Gaffel Wiess
Privatbrauerei Gaffel · Germany
Kellerbiercleancrispdry
2 matches
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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a Kellerbier and a Zwickl?

The terms overlap — breweries use them interchangeably in some regions. Kellerbier refers to the unfiltered, cellar-conditioned lager style; Zwickl (from the German word for a small conditioning-tank tap) implies the beer is drawn directly from the lagering vessel with minimal processing. In practice, a beer labelled Zwickl is almost always a Kellerbier. The hopIQ filter covers both — beers with "Kellerbier" in their style name include examples branded as Zwickl.

How is a genuine Kellerbier different from a commercially "unfiltered" lager?

Modern unfiltered lagers sometimes skip only filtration while keeping standard forced carbonation and shelf-stable processing. Authentic Kellerbier is also naturally carbonated, served at cool cellar temperature, and has a shorter shelf life. The traditional approach produces a softer texture and freshness that standard-process lagers cannot replicate — criteria competition judges familiar with the style weight heavily.

Is Kellerbier only brewed in Germany?

The style is German and Austrian in origin and the ranking reflects that — all top entries come from Germany or Austria. A small number of craft breweries outside Central Europe have produced Kellerbier-labelled beers, but they are not yet represented in this ranking's award data.

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