Kulmbach is home to Kulmbacher Brauerei AG, whose brands include Kulmbacher, Mönchshof, EKU, Kapuziner, Keiler and Würzburger Hofbräu. Its best-known strong beer is EKU 28, a bottom-fermented Doppelbock with 11.0% ABV and currently 24.8 °P original gravity. The other key stop for visitors is the Bavarian Brewery Museum at Kulmbacher Mönchshof.

Kulmbach at a Glance

  • Approx. 26,600 inhabitants, Kulmbach district, Upper Franconia
  • Home of Kulmbacher Brauerei AG
  • Well-known brands: Kulmbacher, Mönchshof, EKU, Kapuziner, Keiler, Würzburger Hofbräu
  • Bavarian Brewery Museum at Kulmbacher Mönchshof: large beer museum on historic grounds
  • Kulmbacher Bierwoche: annually in late July / early August at EKU-Platz
  • Rail access available, check current journey times before travelling

Kulmbach and Its Brewing Legacy

Kulmbach has a long brewing tradition. Today's Kulmbacher Brauerei AG traces its history back to a brewing community founded in 1846. In the 19th century, Kulmbach was a true brewing town, and beer still shapes the town's identity today.

Unlike Bamberg or Fränkische Schweiz, Kulmbach is not primarily about many small brewery pubs side by side. It is more about brewing history, major regional beer brands, industrial beer heritage and the Mönchshof site with its museum, brewhouse and exhibitions.

EKU 28: Kulmbach's Famous Doppelbock

The best-known strong beer from Kulmbach is EKU 28. According to the current EKU product page, it is a bottom-fermented, unfiltered Doppelbock with light natural cloudiness, 11.0% ABV, 24.8 °P original gravity and 26 IBU. It is cold-fermented and matured for a long period.

Important: the name EKU 28 sounds like 28 degrees original gravity, but the current official product information lists 24.8 °P. Older descriptions and retailer texts sometimes still mention 28 °P or former strongest-beer claims. Those historical record claims could not be verified cleanly from official sources, so they should not be stated as confirmed fact.

Bavarian Brewery Museum at Mönchshof

The Bavarian Brewery Museum is located at Kulmbacher Mönchshof, Hofer Straße 20. The site stands on medieval monastic ground and is closely tied to the town's brewing history. The museum presents the history and technology of brewing across around 3,000 square metres, from early beer evidence to modern brewing technology.

For beer travellers, the museum is the main reason to plan Kulmbach deliberately. If you want to understand how traditional brewing culture developed into a modern brewery town, this is the best starting point.

Bavarian Brewery Museum: Practical

  • Address: Hofer Straße 20, 95326 Kulmbach
  • Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00 according to the Museen in Bayern listing
  • Public holidays: listed as closed in the Museen in Bayern entry
  • Entry: check the official website before visiting
  • Note: guided tours and prices can vary by offer

The Kulmbacher Bierwoche

The Kulmbacher Bierwoche is the town's major beer festival. The 75th Kulmbacher Bierwoche starts on Saturday, 25 July 2026, and ends on Sunday, 2 August 2026. It takes place at EKU-Platz, with the Bierstadl, outdoor areas, a music programme and Kulmbacher festival beer.

This is not a small village cellar festival, but a large town festival with a strong local character. If you want to experience Kulmbach as a beer town, the Bierwoche is the concentrated version. Book accommodation early, especially for the opening weekend.

Kulmbacher Brauerei AG

Kulmbacher Brauerei AG now brings several formerly independent brands under one roof. Mönchshof joined the former Reichelbräu AG in 1984, EKU joined the group in 1996, and Würzburger Hofbräu together with Keiler were integrated in 2006. As a result, Kulmbach today is less a city of many small breweries and more the centre of a large regional brewery group.

For visitors, this means: in Kulmbach you mainly drink beer from the Kulmbacher group. If you are looking for tiny village breweries, continue towards Fränkische Schweiz, Bamberg or the Frankenwald. If you want brewing history, a museum and major Upper Franconian beer brands, Kulmbach is the right stop.

Hotels Kulmbach* → Hotels Bayreuth* →

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