Kulmbach is home to the Kulmbacher Brauerei AG, one of Germany's larger brewery groups, which includes EKU, Mönchshof and Würzburger Hofbräu. The most internationally known Kulmbach beer is EKU 28, a Doppelbock with 11% ABV and 28 degrees original gravity, once considered the world's strongest beer brewed under the German Reinheitsgebot.
Kulmbach at a Glance
- ~26,000 inhabitants, Kulmbach district, Upper Franconia
- Home of Kulmbacher Brauerei AG (Mönchshof, EKU, Kulmbacher brands)
- Bavarian Brewery Museum Mönchshof — one of Germany's largest
- Kulmbacher Bierwoche: annually late July/early August
- By rail: ~40 min from Bamberg, ~25 min from Bayreuth
History: The World's Strongest Beer
Kulmbach has a brewing history that extends well beyond Upper Franconia. The EKU Kulminator 28 — a Doppelbock with 11% ABV — was long considered the strongest beer brewed under the German Reinheitsgebot — a title since surpassed by others. The EKU (Erste Kulmbacher Union), founded in 1872, developed a tradition of brewing extreme Bockbiers from wooden barrels that pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible. The Kulminator 28 is still brewed today.
Bavarian Brewery Museum Mönchshof
The brewery museum on the historic Mönchshof site is one of the most significant of its kind in Germany. It documents the complete history of beer brewing — from medieval methods through industrialisation — on a monastic site with roots in the 13th century where brewing has continued without interruption.
Mönchshof Museum — Practical
- Address: Hofer Straße 20, 95326 Kulmbach
- Open daily (check website for current hours)
- Entry: approx. 6–8 € adults
- Guided tours recommended for the full history
The Kulmbacher Bierwoche
The Kulmbacher Bierwoche takes place annually in late July/early August for approximately eleven days — multiple beer tents, Kulmbacher brands, strong regional following. One of the largest beer festivals in Bavaria by attendance.