Cologne (Köln) Breweries
Kölsch and other beers

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Introduction
This a short list of the breweries in and around Cologne and the beers which they brew.

Cologne is not a city not usually associated with beer. Incorrectly, as it turns out, because not only does it have its own style of beer, but it is also the only city in Germany to have a sort of 'apellation controlée'.

The style is called Kölsch after the local dialect word for 'of Cologne'. In 1985 (25.06.1985 to be precise) the German government and 24 breweries from the Cologne region published the 'Kölsch Convention'. It was inspired by the attempts - fiercely resisted in Cologne - of outside brewers to cash in on the popularity of Kölsch. According to the convention, a beer may only be called Kölsch if it meets the following criteria:
  • it is brewed in the Cologne metropolitan area
  • pale in colour
  • top-fermented
  • hop-accented
  • filtered
  • 'vollbier' - 11 - 14% plato

A relative of the altbier brewed in other parts of the rhineland, it is a survivor from the pre-lager brewing tradition of North Germany. This century, under pressure from newer, bottom-fermenting beers, it has undergone a good deal of change. Most notable of these, is the lightening of the colour to pale yellow, giving it the appearance of a pils. You could call it 'the ale that wants to be a lager' and I'm sure that would many, in a blind tasting, would classify it as the latter.

There is little ale character to be found. It has a very soft, rounded character and can be quite sweet. Bavarian helles and Dortmunder export are closer relatives in flavour than the altbier brewed in Düsseldorf. Not beers likely to acquire the devoted and obsessive following that lambik, trappist ale or a particularly flavoursome bitter might, but of interest as an odd, hybrid style.

Around 50% of Kölsch is sold on draught, about double the average for all beer.

Sales of Kölsch (see below) have fallen in recent years, but at a slightly lower rate than sales of all beer.
Kölner Brauerei Verband
The Cologne brewers' organistaion and upholders of the Kölsch-Konvention.


Largest Kölsch brewers - Kölsch production (in hl)
Rank Brewery 2001 2002 2004 2005
1 Köllner Verbund 751,000 691,000 580,000* 540,000*
2 Reißdorf 486,000 541,000 661,000 662,000
3 Cölner Hofbräu Josef Früh 443,000 420,000 419,000 396,000
4 Gaffel 403,000 416,000 467,000 480,000
5 Dom 300,000 300,000 170,000 not known
  Total top 5 2,383,000 2,368,000 2,297,000  
  Other 174,000 126,000 188,187  
  Total 2,557,000 2,494,000 2,485,187 2,405,875
Sources:
Years 2001 and 2002: Brauwelt 43/2003 (p.1300)
Years 2004 and 2005: Brauwelt 22-23/2003 (p.646)



Cologne (Köln) Breweries
Brewery listings


Braustelle
Christianstr. 2,
50825 Köln (Ehrenfeld)
Telefon: 0221-2856932
brauarbeiter@braustelle.com
http://www.braustelle.com/

Founded: 2001
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Helios Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Helios Weizen 5.3%   Unfiltered pale wheat beer.  

Brewpub.


Cölner Hofbräu P. Josef Früh
Am Hof 12,
50667 Köln.
Telefon: 0221-26130
http://www.frueh.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 420,000 (2002)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Früh Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.
Pepper, basil and butter aroma; bitterish taste with butter, pepper and hop aromas; bitter finish with pepper and basil.
An excellent hop aroma - it tastes as if its been dry-hopped. Very lighyt in body, but tasty nonetherless.		 62

Independent brewery.


Privatbrauerei Joh. Cramer & Cie.
Zehnthofstraße 66,
52385 Nideggen-Wollersheim
Fon: 02425-204,
Fax: 02425-7299,
E-Mail: office@cramer-bier.de
http://www.cramer-bier.de/

Founded: 1791
Annual production: 13,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Cramer Malzbier     Malzbier. Claims to be brewed to the Reinheitsgebot, yet this is the list of ingredients: water, Gerstenmalz, sugar, hops, colouring E 150c.  
Cramer Edel-Pils 4.8%   Pils.  
Cramer Obergärig 4.8%   A blond Alt.  

Independent brewery.


Dom-Brauerei GmbH
Alteburger Straße 145 - 155,
50968 Köln.
Tel.: 02 21 / 3 76 08-0
Fax: 02 21 / 3 76 08-11
http://www.dom-koelsch.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 300,000 hl (2002)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Dom Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch. Grist contains a proportion of wheat malt.  
Dom Pils     Pils.  
Rats Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Ganser Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Schreckenskammer Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch. Contract brewed for the Schreckenskammer pub. Casks are filled without added CO2.  

In 1974 the Cologne brewery on Tacitusstr. became 100% top-fermenting. In 1983 brewed over 500,000 hl Kölsch. In 1994 bought Brauerei Robert Metzmacher and their Rats Kölsch. In 1998 bought 80% of Giesler, whose brewery was shut in 2001. In 2001 moved from Tacitusstr. to the old Küppers plant on the Alteburgerstr. Now brewing 300,000 hl, 60% draught.

The former Küppers brewery - when the Küppers moved out it was bought by Dom, who closed their original brewery. Confused?


Erzquell-Brauerei, Bielstein Haas & Co. KG
Bielsteinerstr. 108,
51674 Wiehl-Bielstein.
Telefon: 02262 / 82-0
Telefax: 02262 / 82-106
info@erzquell.de
http://www.zunft-koelsch.de/

Founded: 1900
Annual production: 130,000 hl (2003)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Zunft Kölsch Light 2.4%   Kölsch.  
Zunft Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  

Independent brewery.


Privatbrauerei Gaffel Becker & Co.
Eigelstein 41,
50668 Köln.
Tel. 0221 - 16 00 60
Fax 0221 - 16 00 61 96
vertrieb@gaffel.de
http://www.gaffel.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 360,000 hl (70% draught).

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Gaffel Kölsch Light 2.4% 11.2º Kölsch.  
Gaffel Kölsch 4.8% 11.2º Kölsch.  

Independent brewery.


Ganser Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG
Friedrich-Ebertstr 129,
51308 Leverkusen
Tel.: 0214/ 388 - 0
Fax.: 0214/ 388 - 81

Founded:
Annual production: 200,000 hl

Independent brewery.

The brewery is still independent, but Ganser Kölsch is currently being brewed by Dom.


Brauhaus Zur Garde
Höhenberg 36,
41539 Dormagen.
Tel.: 02133 50861
Fax: 02133 50870

Closed. Owned by Gaffel, but the beers are brewed at the Richmodis brewery in Köln-Porz.



Privatbrauerei Giesler

Brewery bought by Dom in 1999 and closed in 2001.


Hellers Brauhaus
Roonstr. 33
D-50674 Köln
Tel 0221 - 24 25 45
Fax 0221 - 23 92 00
Tel Brauhaus 0221 - 240 18 81
http://www.hellers-brauhaus.de/

Founded: 1991
Annual production: 1,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Hellers Kölsch 4.5% 11.7º Kölsch.  
Hellers Wiess 4.5% 11.7º An unfiltered version of the Kölsch.  
Hellers No. 33 Starkbier   13.5º Dark beer.  
Hellers Eurobock 6.5% 16.7º Bock.  

Brewpub.


Privatbrauerei Hintermeier (Huechelner Urstoff Brauhaus)
Aegidiusstr. 56,
50226 Frechen.
Tel.: 02234 52248
Fax: 02234 52248
http://www.urstoff-schaenke.de/

Founded: 1750
Annual production: 10,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Stecken Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Bartmanns Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Hüchelner Urstoff 4.7%   Unfiltered, amber, top-fermented beer.  

Independent brewery.

Kölner Verbund Brauereien GmbH & Co.KG
Bergisch Gladbacher Str. 116 - 134
51065 Köln
Telefon (0221) 96 299-0
http://www.gilden.de/
http://www.sester.de/
http://www.sion-koelsch.de/
http://www.kueppers-koelsch.de/

Founded:
Annual production: 691,000 (2002)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Gilden Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Kurfürsten Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Kurfürsten Maximilian Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Küppers Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Römer Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Sester Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Sion Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Felskrone Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch. Previously brewed at the Hubertus Brauerei and Römer-Brauerei (both now closed). A cheap brand sold in supermarkets.  

Owned by Brau & Brunnen. The brewery is the former Bergische Löwen-Brauerei.

Owns Gilden, Sester, Sion, Küppers, Kurfürsten.


Brauerei zur Malzmühle
Heumarkt 6,
50667 Köln.
Telefon: 0221-210118
www.muehlenkoelsch.de/

Founded: 1858
Annual production: 50,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Mühlen Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.
Malt, tobacco, basil and wort aroma; bitterish taste with honey, tobacco and resin aromas; bitter finish with tobacco and hop aromas.		 60

Independent brewery.


Brauerei Päffgen GmbH
Friesenstraße 64 - 66
50670 Köln
Tel: 0221 / 135461
Fax : 0221 / 1392005
email:brauereipaeffgen@aol.com
http://www.paeffgen-koelsch.de/

Founded: 1883
Annual production: 6,000 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Päffgen Kölsch 4.8% 11.8º Kölsch.
My personal favourite Kölsch. It has a wonderfully assertive hop character.		 67

Brewpub.


Pfaffen Brauerei Max Päffgen
Klasberg 2,
53797 Lohmar.
Tel. 02205 - 8 53 96
Fax 02205 - 89 97 88
http://www.max-paeffgen.de/

Founded: 2001
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Pfaffen Bier 4.8%   Kölsch.
Pale yellow colour; tobacco, resin and hop aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with tobacco, milk and resin aromas; bitter finish with milk, tobacco and wet cardboard aromas.
Has a good aroma but a disappointing finish. The assertive hoppiness is obviosly meant to mimic Päffgen Kölsch. Pity about the cardboard taste at the end.		 50

A family argument caused Max Päffgen, the grandson of the founder of Brauerei Päffgen, to set up his own brewery just outside Cologne. The beer is available at Brauereiausschanks zum Pfaffen - Max Päffgen, formerly Altstadt-Päffgen)


Peters & Bambeck Privatbrauerei GmbH & Co. KG
Krummstr. 30,
Monheim.
Tel: 02173 - 95550
http://www.peters-koelsch.de/

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Peters Kölsch 4.8% 11.5º Kölsch.  
Giesler Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  

Independent brewery.


Privatbrauerei Heinrich Reissdorf GmbH & Co.
Emil-Hoffmann-Str. 4,
50996 Köln.
Telefon: 02236-96550
http://www.reissdorf.de/

Founded: 1894
Annual production: 541,000 hl (2002)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Reissdorf Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.
Very pale yellow colour; grass, vanilla and tobacco aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with fruit, grass, butter and tobacco aromas; bitterish finish with grass, butter and tobacco aromas.
Quite a soft, delicately hoppy beer. Better than I expected. A bit of hop-extract aroma, but not enough to spoil it. Even has a definite top-fermented touch of fruitiness. (Bottled version tested.)
 55

Independent brewery.


Richmodis-Bräu
Weselerstr. 16,
51109 Köln.
Telefon 0221 - 211320

Founded:
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Richmodis Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Bürger Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Garde Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  

Owned 100% by Gaffel since 1998.

Richmodis moved to a new brewery in Köln Porz in 1993. It's still open and it seems possible production of Gaffel will move here too.


Brauerei Peter Schoppen GmbH
Bedburg

Markets Severins Kölsch (brewed by Sünner)


Gebr. Sünner Gmbh & Co. KG
Kalker Hauptstr. 260,
51103 Köln.
Telefon: 0221-98799-0
http://www.suenner-koelsch.de/

Founded: 1830
Annual production:

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Sünner Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.
Very pale yellow colour; grass, pepper and vegetable aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with butter, tobacco and cardboard aromas; bitter finish with herbal, resin and hop aromas.
A subtle beer not helped by some underlying hop-extract nastiness. (Bottled version tasted)		 42
Severins Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Sünner Hefeweizen     Unfiltered wheat beer.  

Independent brewery. It's been owned by members of the Sünner family since 1830.


Weissbräu zu Köln
Am Weidenbach 24/Pantaleonswall,
50676 Köln (Innenstadt).
Tel.: (0221) 231 823
Fax: (0221) 247 993
E-Mail: info@weiss-braeu.de
http://www.hb-ts.de/page-haus/weissbrau.html

Founded: 1990
Annual production: 1,800 hl (2001)

Beer alc Plato Description score (100)
Kölsch 4.8%   Kölsch.  
Weizen 5.1%   Wheat beer.  
Schwarzbier 5.1%   Dark lager - Schwarzbier.  

Brewpub.


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