Sünner Kölsch and Mühlen Kölsch: The two oldest Kölsch breweries are united
Cologne, Deutzer Freiheit, 1830: A single bridge crosses the Rhine at this point. Nearby are a river swimming pool anchored in the water and a small tollbooth for the bridge. This is where Franz Hess originally established the house brewery of the Sünner brothers, one of the oldest active breweries in Cologne.
The Malzmühle was built in 1858 near the Filzengraben, where the city’s coopers had built their beautiful guild house in the 16th century. Its full name was Bier- und Malzextract-Dampfbrauerei Hubert Koch, Cöln. In the patrician house that was built in 1744, the brewery’s patented Koch’sches malt beer was brewed until 2022. Today you can find Cologne’s two oldest breweries, Sünner and Malzmühle, united under one roof in a brewery complex called the Brauwelt at a historic location in the city’s Kalk district.
Experiencing, tasting and reviving traditions
In addition to the 360-degree culinary panorama consisting of the cosy historic ice cellar and the adjacent beer garden, at the Brauwelt you can experience the time-honoured tradition and craftsmanship of beer brewing and the distillation of spirits with all five of your senses — on guided tours, at tastings and individual tours, as you bottle your own spirits, shop at the factory outlet or, of course, sample the wares.
A traditional brewing process with the brewery’s own well water
Today Cologne’s two oldest breweries — Sünner Kölsch and Mühlen Kölsch — still ply their trade in the traditional way, by means of an open fermentation process in the cellar. The excellent water they need for this process is drawn from the company’s own underground well. What’s your opinion — can you taste it in the beer?
Food and drink: The menu
In the summer, the brewery pub and the beer garden offer Kölsch cuisine and a whole range of brewery-pub specialities, including a selection of vegetarian and even vegan alternatives. You can wash it down with a Mühlen Kölsch, choose from the wide range of Sünner’s self-distilled own-brand spirits, or have a glass of Kölsch water.
The distillery — with its own wheat-based spirits
In all, 11 beers and 16 spirits and liqueurs are directly distilled at the Brauwelt in Cologne’s Kalk district. This historic industrial location is also the home of Cologne’s oldest distillery, which is still as active as ever.
Spirits have been distilled from wheat grown in the region at the Sünner Distillery since 1830. Its oldest product is Korn No. 1, which is aged in barrels. Meticulous craftsmanship is used to manufacture gin, vodka, limoncello and an herb-flavoured liqueur.
For time travellers and technology fans: Visits, guided tours, tastings and more
There are various guided tours that make the Brauwelt an interactive experience. For example, you can go on a journey through 200 years of brewing tradition by joining the historical tour. Or you can have the production processes of beer and alcoholic drinks explained to you more precisely during the technical tour. In the comedy tour, the mood is more casual and humorous. Beer tastings, gin tastings and tastings of classic Kölsch beverages are also held regularly.
Seminars for fans: Brewing and distilling
Are you interested in brewing your own beer? Or distilling your own spirits? Do you want to find out everything the Köbes knows? Under the keyword Academy you can even find seminars at the Brauwelt that last for several hours and provide a high-quality transfer of knowledge. If you’re interested in brewing and distilling, the Brauwelt is the right place for you.
A note on history: Authentic industrial-era architecture, preserved in its original function
An impressive façade, yellow bricks, stepped gables, a coat of arms, arched windows, an ice cellar: The Brauwelt building is the oldest industrial complex in Cologne that has been preserved in its original function, and it is a listed historical building. Visitors who come here can’t help being enchanted by its old-school charm. That’s because in spite of the damage caused during the Second World War, the buildings have been repaired and refurbished in accordance with the regulations for historical monuments. That said, cheers!
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