We visited the beautiful city of Köln and found eight breweries who produce Kölsch beer. It was an eye-opening experience; the beer was excellent everywhere and it was impossible to pick which one was best. Upon returning home, we learned that there are 24 breweries in Köln. It appears that our quest for Kölsch beer has only just begun.
Früh Brauhaus near the Dom cathedral has a large, multilevel restaurant with lots of outside seating.
Tasting notes:
Golden colored German ale. Bright, crisp and refreshing. Medium-bodied, with a hint of hop bitterness. Hugely drinkable.
Rating: 4.50
Gaffel am Dom has a massive restaurant next to the Dom cathedral. We sat in the big room at long, shared tables.
Tasting notes:
Straw golden appearance. Light- to medium-bodied beer. Slight hop bitterness which lingers into aftertaste. Clean and crisp. Sweetness from malt subdued.
Rating: 4.50
Pfaffen Brauerei has a lively taproom and restaurant. The space is inviting, loaded with stained glass windows and ornate wooden carvings on the walls.
Tasting notes:
Golden appearance. Medium-bodied and easy to drink. Hop bitterness somewhat hidden, but lingers subtly. Malty sweetness is the top characteristic.
Rating: 4.00
Brauhaus Sion has a large restaurant and a bustling atmosphere.
Tasting notes:
Golden, straw color. Medium-bodied beer, crisp flavor. Malty sweetness prominent characteristic. Hop bitterness in fine balance. Highly drinkable.
Rating: 4.75
We wound up at Privat-Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf following a long walk through the city and were revitalized with some great beer,
Tasting notes:
Golden appearance. Malt sweetness dominates flavor profile. Crisp and refreshing, so easy to drink. Hint of hop bitterness levels everything nicely.
Rating: 5.00
Peters Brauhaus has a bar area with standing tables for beer only.
Tasting notes:
Straw, golden appearance. Somewhat lighter bodied than other examples of Kölsch beer. Malty sweetness is the primary focus. Low level of hop bitterness.
Rating: 4.25
Brauerei zur Malzmühle is an energetic restaurant, featuring two dining areas. We luckily squeezed in to a small table to sample the beer.
Tasting notes:
Golden color. Medium-bodied beer. Malt bill appears substantial. Hop bitterness evident in first sip and lingers throughout.
Rating: 4.50
We ate dinner at Brauhaus Sünner im Walfisch and decided to hang out there because their beer was so good.
Tasting notes:
Straw, golden color. Wonderful malt sweetness dominates. Hint of hop bitterness balances things out. Massively drinkable beer. Slightly dry aftertaste.
Rating: 5.00