Brewing city

Cologne

Home of Kölsch, a warm-fermented but cold-conditioned pale beer protected by a formal producer agreement.

Why it matters to beer

Kölsch is defined by the Kölsch Konvention, an agreement among Cologne brewers with legal effect: only beer brewed within the city area to the agreed specification may use the name. It is one of very few beer styles with genuine geographic protection.

Styles from here

Kölsch
Cologne’s pale hybrid beer: ale-fermented then lagered, giving lager clarity and crispness with a whisper of fruit.

Beers brewed here

Früh Kölsch
A Cologne Kölsch from one of the largest producers, served traditionally in a small straight glass.
Gaffel Kölsch
A Cologne Kölsch — pale, delicate, faintly fruity — served traditionally in small 200 ml Stange glasses so it is always fresh.
Reissdorf Kölsch
The best-selling Kölsch, and the house most often used as the reference point for what the style should taste like.

Breweries

Cölner Hofbräu Früh · Gaffel · Privatbrauerei Heinrich Reissdorf

Elsewhere in the country

Bavaria · Munich · Franconia · Düsseldorf · Berlin · Dortmund · Hallertau

Last reviewed 2026-08-15.