Kulminator

A relic of a place, cramped, cluttered and comfortable. The only pretence comes from some of the annoying customers. Looking for an old vintage or defunct brewery? This is the place. Also the only place I have seen in Belgium with a water station. Cash only, so bring plenty.

A gem. Insane vintage list. Like no other place. Serviced by two elderly people who are quite slow but lovingly serve your beers.

Definitely NOT permanently closed since I am here drinking a beer with the two owners. Please fix this so others do not miss out on this wonderful place!

(Updated Sept 2016) Far out - just catching up on my notes and realised how lucky I am to have spent an evening at Kulminator in late Sept. Smaller and more cramped than I remember from my first visit - a few tables and chairs had been sacrificed for a somewhat shambolic home office set-up...weird. Very peaceful and tranquil for a Tuesday. Like 10yrs ago pricing remains inappropriately insanely low. How about Chimay Blue from the 90s for 10 euro and many other Trappists with 8 to 10 years can be had for 5 or 6 euro. I do wonder to what extent the depth of the cellar has diminished over time as Kulminator’s profile has exploded. Certainly the sours list is not what I remember.

Retails its place at the top of the pile (with others) with a thoroughly globally unique obsession with providing deep verticals of historically important beers. Can the wine world provide a similar example?

(Original Review 2006) Clearly has strong claims as the greatest beer bar on earth. What an amazing place! Much smaller and casual than what I expected and service was very good for a quite Thrusday night. Needless to say the beer list and vintage list are awesome. 12 beers on tap. An inspirational bar for the aspiring bar owner (I was on a ’research’ trip), my only issue being that the beers were too cheap. An excellent reason to come to Antwerp and sincerely a privilage to drink here.

I love this place, is like mums house. The cellar is amazing full of diamonds.

Muy buen bar es lo que es, solo para tomar buenas cervezas , el lugar parece el living de la abuela, es unos de los pocos bares que encontraras cervezas de guarda con muchos años , ir temprano por hay poco lugar y nada

Old pub, with old owners for years. This is their home, and you are a luky guest who can drink their incredible bottled beer

Weirded place i’ve seen in a long time! Stuff everywhere, beer-merch everywhere, dolls and stacks of paper. The selection on tap is small but well chosen. The bottle list is out of this world with old vintages of a shitton of more and less rare beers. Very cozy, small, prices are great, nice old people. And the woman sure knows how to pour a beer, haha!

Incredible selection and a warm inviting place that almost feels as if you were in a log cabin listening to your grandfather tell tales by the fire at Christmas. Can’t wait to go back. Had a Stille Nacht 1987 vintage - stellar.