Brewery tour

In Cologne, there are places with their own rules, where ancient traditions have always been maintained. Here, craftsmen and academics, tourists, regulars, carnival revelers, and retirees come together—often by chance at the same table. And here, there's someone in charge, even if you come as a guest. It's harsh and warm here, loud and lively, sociable and hearty, tolerant and sometimes ironic: right in the thick of life. The brewery culture is not without reason one of Cologne's most famous characteristics, as it reflects Cologne's identity and history, city life, and everyday culture in a small (tavern) space.

A brewery tour makes you part of this brewery tradition for a short time, taking you to large and small breweries, allowing you to taste differences, experience commonalities and history, learn to respect the brewery rules, and even find out: Why is there actually a confessional in the brewery?

A small journey through the centuries: Cologne's breweries

The Cologne brewery tradition has been around for several centuries: the oldest continuously documented brewery in Cologne is the Brauhaus Sion in the Cologne Old Town, first mentioned in documents in the year 1318. Other houses with century-old traditions include the Brauhaus Schreckenskammer, Em Kölsche Boor, Brauerei zur Malzmühle at Heumarkt, and Brauhaus Päffgen in the Friesenviertel. Depending on your brewery tour, you will surely visit one or the other of these well-known breweries.

Kölsch identity with hearty companions: on your brewery tour

In the brewery, there's naturally Kölsch beer – and although it runs under the same name, it comes in different flavors depending on the brewery. On your brewery tour, you'll find out why this is so. Why Kölsch can taste rounder or sharper, more bitter or milder.

For a good base or a fitting end to your brewery tour, many typically hearty dishes are offered in one of Cologne's breweries: whether a "Halver Hahn", "Himmel un Ääad", "Rievkooche", bratwurst, pork chop & co. So, feel free to drop in.

How breweries have saved many...

As easy as access to one of the many breweries is, it's just as sensible to prepare a bit for what goes on inside. Especially the figure of the Köbes, with his often assertive and harsh manner, can be unfamiliar to non-Cologne natives. So it's worth mentioning beforehand: He never means any harm, rather he can save you from many a thing, should you care to believe old anecdotes, as they go like this…

One evening in the Cologne Old Town, sometime in the 19th century, a stranger dressed in black entered the brewery. He stayed silent, alone, ordered nothing; the Köbes watched him, finally placing a Kölsch in front of him without a word. But the man didn't touch the glass and responded briefly to the Köbes' question "Aren't you drinking?" with: "I'll get someone soon." The Köbes then took the full Kölsch, drank it in one go, and replied dryly, "Then do it tomorrow. Today it's full." Freely translated: "Today nothing's happening here."

The Köbes then took the stranger by the arm, firmly led him to the door, and set him on the threshold. At that same moment, the stranger disappeared. Later, they said that no one died in the brewery that night, even though some guests were seriously ill. Since then, the saying goes: As long as Kölsch flows in the brewery, death takes a break.

Whether true or not, we can learn two things from the story: 1. The Köbes stands above all, even above death, and 2. The brewery is a refuge of life. If that's not a good reason for a brewery tour...

Attention: Only in German

You can find all the information about our English-language tour here: Cologne brewery tour.