If you see similar, know you are in the right placeā¦
If you happen to spend a day in Cologne and are intoĀ beer, please do not missĀ the āKƶlschā cultural experience. There is a pleasure I get just becauseĀ it comes in a 0.2 Lt. glass, also the waiter āKƶbesā Ā runs aroundĀ with a tray full of fresh beer and replaces your empty glass instantaneously, he stopsĀ whenĀ you place the coaster on top of your glass whichĀ means āenoughā. So IĀ order once and it keeps comingā¦
Enoughā¦Retiring glass.
TheĀ Kƶlsch is only considered so if itās brewed within a 50 km circleĀ around Cologne, itās protected and distinct and the brewers have a convention in terms of specifications and quality of production. Ā Breweries not conforming toĀ this convention are not even considered even if located in the heart of the city.
Refilling at Gildenās
My personal favorite is āFrĆ¼hā, itās got a sentimental value as itĀ was the first ābrauhausā Iāve ever been to, I had breakfast there couplingĀ my beer with an awesome Blutwurst. Ā Other personal favourites are Gaffel, Sion and bitburger, there are other great names like MĆ¼hlen Kƶlsch, Reissdorf and Peterās. Ā Breweries also serve great food ā try the 1200 gm pork knuckle or the infamous himmel und aad, yes thatās just a fried blutwurst ā and are located centrally around the old market area and main train station.
TheĀ FrĆ¼h
Himmel und Aad or Heaven and Earth
Mettbrotchen or raw pork
The pork knuckleā¦
The ābrauhaĆ¼seā in the city centre are no longer brewing orĀ making beer, they are just serving and helping customers to pad their stomaches with layers of fats to keep going all night.Ā Yet the buildings are old and beautiful specially from the inside, FrĆ¼h for example has medievalĀ decorations and tainted glass with paintings.Ā Their atmosphere reflects the cityĀ culture, that is something you donāt learn by reading, rather experience.
In the medieval cellar of Pfaffen bauhausā¦
Other then drinking beer, photography and writing, I am also a collector so Iāve beenĀ collecting coasters and bottle capsā¦Each coaster tells you a story, and the amount is infinite. For example the tale of a famous actor or singer, drawings of the old brewing process and Ā they used the RheinĀ in shipping the productā¦
Gaffel coasterā¦
There are brewery tours that you can book ahead online, usually lasts between 2 and 3 hours touring the city centre breweries, it also includes some storytelling then the guide would leave you at the last brewery to enjoy your meal in your last tasting round.
Die Kƶlsch! If you happen to spend a day in Cologne and are intoĀ beer, please do not missĀ the "Kƶlsch" cultural experience.
