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.
Currently leading the ranking: Ketterer Zwickel-Pils (Privatbrauerei Ketterer), Aktien Zwick'l Kellerbier (Bayreuther Bierbrauerei) and Kellerbier Naturtrüb (Aktienbrauerei Kaufbeuren).
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score judges every beer against its style first: it rewards medals from competitions that judge within style categories and deducts points where a beer measurably deviates from its style reference. Community ratings add to that. Non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 346 beers from 262 breweries.
Top 5 of 50
ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
golden 5
An unfiltered Kellerbier that captures the Pilsner tradition in its most elegant form. The palate opens soft and refined, with a lively spritz that cuts through cleanly, then moves into a fine interplay of subtle malt sweetness and hoppy…An unfiltered Kellerbier that captures the Pilsner tradition in its most elegant form. The palate opens soft and refined, with a lively spritz that cuts through cleanly, then moves into a fine interplay of subtle malt sweetness and hoppy bitterness in the finish. This is a beer built for balance rather than drama—the kind that invites a second glass on a warm afternoon, served crisp at seven to eight degrees. Its sprightly character and understated charm make it the sort of honest lager that rewards attention without demanding it.
Aktien Zwick'l Kellerbier#136 worldwide
ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
golden 8
Bayreuther's Zwick'l is what Kellerbier should be — unfiltered, naturally hazy, and tasting like it was poured straight from the cellar tank. Soft malt sweetness and a whisper of noble hop spice dance across a crisp, almost mineral finish;…Bayreuther's Zwick'l is what Kellerbier should be — unfiltered, naturally hazy, and tasting like it was poured straight from the cellar tank. Soft malt sweetness and a whisper of noble hop spice dance across a crisp, almost mineral finish; the low carbonation makes it feel earthy and alive at once. This is Franconian tradition in a glass, no theater.
Kellerbier Naturtrüb#144 worldwide
ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
golden 8
Based on the oldest recipe known to the house, which goes back to 1308, and drawn unfiltered from the lagering tank. It pours pale gold and naturally hazy on 11.7 degrees Plato. The yeast left in suspension gives a soft, bready note with a…Based on the oldest recipe known to the house, which goes back to 1308, and drawn unfiltered from the lagering tank. It pours pale gold and naturally hazy on 11.7 degrees Plato. The yeast left in suspension gives a soft, bready note with a hint of fresh dough, and Hallertauer Herkules, Tradition and Spalter Select add a floral, herbal hop aroma with mild spice. Full-bodied and rounded, it ends on a gentle bitterness of 20 IBU.
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Kloster Zwickel#165 worldwide
ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
golden 8
An unfiltered, naturally cloudy Zwickel bottled straight from the brewhouse cellar to the brewmaster's original recipe: a blend of 85 percent bottom-fermented and 15 percent top-fermented Kellerbier, with wheat alongside barley in the…An unfiltered, naturally cloudy Zwickel bottled straight from the brewhouse cellar to the brewmaster's original recipe: a blend of 85 percent bottom-fermented and 15 percent top-fermented Kellerbier, with wheat alongside barley in the grist. The idea came from visitors to the brewery museum, who kept asking for something fresh drawn directly from the fermenting tanks. Subtle yeast and spicy hop notes sit over a sweetish malty core, and a clearly noticeable bitterness closes it.
5
Karlsberg Kellerbier#240 worldwide
ABV
5.0%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
golden 8
An unfiltered, naturally cloudy lager that goes into the bottle straight from the cellar tanks. Pale yellow and hazy in the glass, it balances yeasty notes against a dry bitterness, with a malty core underneath. Original gravity is 11.7 °P…An unfiltered, naturally cloudy lager that goes into the bottle straight from the cellar tanks. Pale yellow and hazy in the glass, it balances yeasty notes against a dry bitterness, with a malty core underneath. Original gravity is 11.7 °P and bitterness 25 units, which puts it close to the house Pilsener in hopping but with the yeast left in.
Ranks 6–10
6
Hirsch Zwuckl#250 worldwide
Hirsch's Zwuckl is a Kellerbier in its truest form — unfiltered, naturally cloudy, caught in that sweet spot between lager cleanness and yeast texture. Earthy hops, mineral backbone, a faint herbal bitterness, and that distinctive soft…Hirsch's Zwuckl is a Kellerbier in its truest form — unfiltered, naturally cloudy, caught in that sweet spot between lager cleanness and yeast texture. Earthy hops, mineral backbone, a faint herbal bitterness, and that distinctive soft yeasty character that defines the style. Drink it fresh and cold; it's the sound of Bavaria's cellar traditions in a glass.
7
Engel Kellerbier Dunkel#258 worldwide
Malty, with roasted notes, yeast aromas and sweet caramel tones, creamy and soft on the tongue. Fresh yeast meets Hohenloher special malts, and the beer is served freshly drawn from the tank (gezwickelt). European Beer Star Silver in 2010…Malty, with roasted notes, yeast aromas and sweet caramel tones, creamy and soft on the tongue. Fresh yeast meets Hohenloher special malts, and the beer is served freshly drawn from the tank (gezwickelt). European Beer Star Silver in 2010 and Gold in 2022 for German-Style Kellerbier Dunkel. 12 % original gravity, 5.3 % ABV.
8
Ottakringer Bio-Zwickl Dunkel#262 worldwide
Chocolate leads, with a hint of cocoa and a hint of coffee behind it and a malty backbone. Four carefully selected special malts give this dark Zwickl its aroma, and it is poured unfiltered, in the manner of a dark Zwickl. 4.9% ABV, 12.1°…Chocolate leads, with a hint of cocoa and a hint of coffee behind it and a malty backbone. Four carefully selected special malts give this dark Zwickl its aroma, and it is poured unfiltered, in the manner of a dark Zwickl. 4.9% ABV, 12.1° Plato and 30 IBU, brewed by Ottakringer in Vienna from water, barley malt, hops and yeast.
9
Egger Keller#399 worldwide
Unfiltered and naturally cloudy, with a strong character and very drinkable: the Keller is the brewery's unfiltered Spezial. The haze carries the strong note rather than clouding it. In 2022 the brewery's Kellerbier won gold at the…Unfiltered and naturally cloudy, with a strong character and very drinkable: the Keller is the brewery's unfiltered Spezial. The haze carries the strong note rather than clouding it. In 2022 the brewery's Kellerbier won gold at the European Beer Star. Brewed in Egg with decoction mashing and spring water from the Winterstaude, never flash-pasteurised.
10
Kaiserdom Kellerbier#475 worldwide
The Kellerbier is Kaiserdom's unfiltered Franconian cellar lager for export markets, brewed to 11.4 percent original gravity. It pours a hazy light orange with a fluffy, firm white head. The nose is restrained, showing malt and freshly…The Kellerbier is Kaiserdom's unfiltered Franconian cellar lager for export markets, brewed to 11.4 percent original gravity. It pours a hazy light orange with a fluffy, firm white head. The nose is restrained, showing malt and freshly toasted white bread. On the palate the suspended yeast gives a soft, rounded impression and an elegant malt sweetness with hints of bread crust, balanced by a discreet hop bitterness and a light herbal spice in the finish.
The taste landscape
Of the 50 top beers, 39 lean malt-forward and 9 lean hop-forward.