The craft beer scene in Cologne is growing, but local beer Kölsch is still king around these parts. This post from guest blogger and local brew expert Denise will give you some pointers on where to seek out the best IPAs and how to go about enjoying Kölsch like a local.
Although Germany is renowned for its traditional brewing methods, more and more craft beer breweries and bars are springing up across the country – and Cologne is no exception. Here’s Denise’s pick of the best breweries, bars and bottle shops.
Enjoying a city break in Cologne? Check out this guide to the city’s best brunch spots.
Top 5 craft beer bars in Cologne
Although not in the city centre, Cologne’s smallest brewery is well worth a visit (and an excellent excuse to check out the hipster neighbourhood of Ehrenfeld at the same time). Founded in 2001, Braustelle is a traditional German brewpub with a cosy atmosphere, frequented by locals and offering five tried-and-tested beers from tap accompanied by hearty, German food.
Braustelle classics are Helios (their unfiltered version of a Kölsch), Helios-Weizen, Ehrenfelder Alt (their take on the Altbier brewed in nearby Düsseldorf) and Pink Panther (my personal favourite: a light, fruity ale brewed with hibiscus which will make anyone claiming “I don’t like fruit beer!” immediately change their mind – try it and thank me later). The remaining taps are occupied by rotating speciality beers and anything not currently on tap should be available bottled.
For where to eat in Ehrenfeld, check out my Cologne food guide.
Brand new and not far from the city centre, Birreria aims to combine the best of Cologne with the best of Italy: traditionally-brewed beer with authentic Italian pizza. A winning combination and one that Birreria does exceedingly well, offering five beers brewed in a large and impressive brewery alongside a variety of pizza which has the stamp of approval from Italians living in Cologne.
The five beers brewed in-house (branded under DUEX beer) are: Kölsch, Pils, Weizen, Red Ale and Dolde – an IPA brewed with American hops and my personal favourite. Also on offer is an extensive bottle list of over 40 beers from breweries in Germany and beyond, helpfully paired with different food types for the ultimate craft-beer-and-dining experience.
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Another newcomer to the craft beer scene in Cologne, Johann Schafer offers a modern take on a traditional brewpub in the Südstadt: another neighbourhood of Cologne worth checking out. The interior consists of a number of smaller, tastefully decorated rooms with a cosy and casual atmosphere. Primarily a restaurant, Johann Schäfer offers a modern take on German classics and prides itself for using local, seasonal and ethical produce which can be adapted on request.
There’s something for everyone here and the same goes for the drinks’ menu, which includes a variety of lemonades, coffee and wine, making Johann Schäfer a great place to go with non-beer-drinkers. Alongside the more standard Gaffel Kölsch they offer two beers brewed in-house: Südstadt Pils and Chlodwig Weizen – the former is available bottled and can be found in a number of restaurants and kiosks throughout Cologne.
For top restaurant tips for the Südstadt, click here.
Cologne’s first taproom and first bar dedicated to craft beer (I celebrated when it opened!), CraftBeer Corner Coeln (or CCC) offers 15 beers on tap and a prime location in Cologne’s Altstadt, making it popular among tourists and locals alike. The bar area is stylishly decorated and there’s more space upstairs, including a small but colourful roof terrace in the summer months – boasting a much-coveted “Domblick” (view of the Cologne Cathedral).
The taplist is extensive and diverse, offering beers brewed in Germany and around the world. Tap #1 is always Veedels Wiess – an unfiltered Kölsch brewed exclusively for CCC by Freigeist Bierkultur. The other taps rotate frequently and can include anything from sour beers to hoppy pale ales, stouts and everything in between; check out the current tap list on Untappd. Every two weeks or so a tap takeover is usually hosted, where (as the name suggests) a visiting brewery offers their beer across several taps – a great opportunity to sample fresh beers from different breweries.
The rooftop at Craft Beer Corner Coeln
A newcomer to the craft beer scene and the first Delirium Café in Germany, Delirium Café Cologne offers an impressive 31 beers on tap right in the heart of Cologne’s Altstadt – a brave move considering the number of more traditional bars and breweries in the area! There’s plenty of space inside and the décor is extremely cool and cosy, featuring sofas, armchairs and a podium with large cushions.
Although several taps are occupied by Delirium beers (brewed by Huyghe Brewery in Belgium), Delirium have succeeded in partnering with both smaller, local breweries (such as Braustelle) and larger, international brewing companies for the remaining taps, with the likes of BrewDog, Stone and Mikkeller making frequent appearances. A great place with great beers, Delirium Café is easily paired with a visit to the Craftbeer Corner (the two are literally 3 minutes’ walk apart).
The Altstadt is a great starting off point for this essential Instagram tour of Cologne.
Kölsch: Cologne’s local beer
Kölsch is the tipple of choice in Köln. It’s a light beer served in tall, thin 0.2 millilitre glasses to ensure freshness. It can be found almost anywhere in Cologne and is brewed primarily at a number of traditional breweries in the centre of Cologne: Früh, Reissdorf, Gaffel and Mühlen to name a few. Legally, Kölsch can only be named as such if it is brewed within 30 miles of Cologne, which is why craft beer fans might have seen “Kölsch-style”, “Köln-style” or simply “kolsch” beers around the world.
Fun fact: When drinking Kölsch in a traditional brewery, patrons must put their coaster on top of their glass when they’ve had enough – otherwise the glass will be automatically replaced with a fresh one.
Buying bottled craft beer in Cologne: bottle shops
Hopfenrausch
Pulle & Stulle is located in Nippes, a neighbourhood north of Cologne popular among families. Despite being outside the city centre, this bottle shop is well worth a visit for its carefully curated selection of around 150 beers from all over the world – many of which can’t be found elsewhere in Cologne. With a range of different styles and breweries, there’s something for everyone here. Other artisanal goods are also on sale (handmade sweets and bacon jam) and although small, the interior is stylish and the beers beautifully presented.
Owned by the sister of the Braustelle’s owner, Hopfenrausch is well worth a visit if you’re in Ehrenfeld and can easily be paired with a visit to the Braustelle. Located down one of Ehrenfeld’s many interesting side streets, the shop is spacious, beers well-presented and interesting craft beer memorabilia is displayed. Although Hopfenrausch specialises in sour beers and Belgium breweries (boasting the largest collection of Lambic beers in Cologne!), there are also many national and international offerings. Beers from German breweries such as Ale-Mania in Bonn, Brauprojekt 777 near Duisburg, orca brau near Nuremberg and Heidenpeters in Berlin are frequently found here.
BIER MACHT SCHÖN and Bierlager
Both of these craft beer shops are located in the south of Cologne: BIER MACHT SCHÖN (which literally translates to “BEER MAKES BEAUTIFUL”) in Sülz and Bierlager in Südstadt. Admittedly, I’ve never been to BIER MACHT SCHÖN (I tried once but it’s sadly closed on Mondays), but I loved the look of their interior design and since I have a gift voucher, I plan to return soon. I haven’t been to Bierlager in a long time since I’ve tried most of the beers there, but it’s a good place to start for craft beer in Germany and beyond. Bierlager also have a small shop at the recently opened Markthalle in the Belgium Quarter (which is great, by the way), where they offer one rotating beer from tap.
It’s worth noting that the vast majority of these bottle shops, bars and breweries offer beer tasting and other special events – simply check the linked websites or Facebook pages for more information!
For more great craft beer recommendations, follow Denise on Untappd here.
