Overall Impression
An unfiltered, unpasteurized, fully-attenuated German lager traditionally served from lagering vessels. May be a little richer, more robust, and rustic than the base styles. A fresh beer without fermentation defects associated with young, green (unfinished) beer.
Aroma
Reflects base style. May have an added bready, yeasty character from the yeast. Clean. Pale versions can have a more robust hop character. Dark versions can have a richer malt profile.
Appearance
Reflects base style. Can be somewhat hazy or cloudy, but never murky. Likely a little darker in appearance than the base style.
Flavor
Reflects base style. May have an added bready, yeasty character from the yeast. Pale versions can have a more robust hop character. Dark versions can have a richer malt profile, but should never be roasty. May be slightly more bitter than the base style, and be a little heavier in the finish. Fully fermented with a clean fermentation profile; should not have eggy, buttery, apple-like, or similar flaws.
Mouthfeel
Reflects base style. May have a bit more body and a creamier texture than the base style. Carbonation typical of the base style, but may be lower.
Comments
A traditional serving style more than a beer style, yet these beers do have sensory differences from the base beers. Judge these somewhat like Specialty-Type Beers; consider the range of kellerbiers based on Helles to Märzen to Dunkel to be a continuous spectrum, so allow the brewer to pick the closest one without being too picky about strict adherence to the base style. The name literally means cellar beer, and is a natural, gentle handling of fresh-tasting German lagerbier for seasonal, on-premise service. Like British Bitters, best enjoyed locally as the bottled examples may lack the characteristic freshness.
Characteristic Ingredients
Same as base styles. Traditionally naturally carbonated. Dry-hopping is not a traditional German brewing method, but some modern pale examples use this technique – which is allowable in this style as long as it is balanced. Traditionally lagered and unfiltered, these beers were never meant to be packaged for external sale.
Style Comparison
Richer or more robust than the base style, possibly with a bit more body and mouthfeel. Can be slightly cloudier than base beer.
Commercial Examples
- Märzen – Faust Kräusen Naturtrüb
- Mahrs Bräu aU Ungespundet Kellerbier; Dunkel – Engel Kellerbier Dunkel
- Paulaner Ur-Dunkel Naturtrüb; Helles – ABK Kellerbier Naturtrüb
- Löwenbräu 1747 Original; Pils – Giesinger Feines Pilschen
- Ketterer Zwickel-Pils