Kulmbach Beer Week

75 Years of Kulmbach Beer Week

Kulmbach is considered the "secret capital of German beer" — home to the Kulmbacher Brewery Group, which, with its four brands (Kulmbacher, Mönchshof, EKU, Kapuziner), is one of Germany's most traditional breweries. The Kulmbach Beer Week is the annual grand celebration of this brewing tradition. The 75th edition takes place in 2026 — a юбилей festival with its own poster design competition and special programming.

Bierstadl on EKU-Platz

The venue is the large, wood-paneled Bierstadl on EKU-Platz (the former brewery parking lot of the EKU brewery). Inside, guests sit at long tables with benches, and waitresses in traditional costume serve the Maß (liter mugs). The Stadl can accommodate thousands of guests; on weekends, table reservations are recommended, although most tables are available without reservations.

Four Breweries, Four Festival Beers

What's special about the Kulmbach Beer Week: four different festival beers from the region are served simultaneously. Kulmbacher is the classic brand of the brewery group; Mönchshof stands for smooth Helles and Pils, EKU for stronger beers like the Kulminator, and Kapuziner for wheat beer. Each brand serves a specially brewed version for the beer week.

Program: Brass, Show Bands, Frühschoppen

Every evening, show bands, brass combos, and entertainment orchestras play in the Bierstadl. The selection ranges from Franconian classics (Wolfgang Lambert, Heiterkeit) to commercial party cover bands. Several Frühschoppen (morning pint gatherings) per week, followed by lunch with hearty Franconian cuisine — Schäuferla (pork shoulder), half a chicken, Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), and Weißwurst-Frühschoppen are fixed program items.

Brewer's Baptism and Long-Term Tradition

A new tradition introduced in 2025 is the Brauertaufe (Brewer's Baptism) — a ceremonial induction of new brewers into the Kulmbach fraternity, which takes place directly in the Bierstadl. The close bond between the city of Kulmbach and the brewery has also been contractually extended in 2025 with a lease and cooperation agreement until 2036.

Kulmbach as a Beer City

Kulmbach is located in the Upper Franconian hill country between Bayreuth and Hof. In addition to the Beer Week, the Bavarian Brewery Museum, the Bakery Museum, and the Plassenburg (fortress) shape the city's identity. Every year, the Beer Week forms the culmination of the Upper Franconian festival season and attracts beer lovers, Volksfest enthusiasts, and tourists from all over Southern Germany to Kulmbach.