When Hubert Koch founded his brewery at Heumarkt in 1858, he probably didn’t know that it would one day become one of Cologne’s most famous beer houses.<\/p>\n\n
Back then, “K\u00f6lsch” as we know it today wasn’t brewed here yet. The typical light K\u00f6lsch style only developed decades later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Top-fermented beer was brewed \u2013 including malt beer, which was very popular in the 19th century. <\/p>\n\n
By the way, the name “Malzm\u00fchle” goes back to a historic mill at Heumarkt that was already grinding grain in the 16th century. So the location was associated with malt long before the brewery existed. <\/p>\n\n
In 1912, the Schwartz family took over the brewery \u2013 and ran it for generations.<\/p>\n\n
World War II destroyed large parts of the building. But like so many things in Cologne, the Malzm\u00fchle was rebuilt. <\/p>\n\n
In the post-war period, M\u00fchlen K\u00f6lsch<\/strong> became a local staple. The Malzm\u00fchle wasn’t an industrial corporation, but a real Cologne family business \u2013 and that’s exactly what defined its character. <\/p>\n\n Brewing continued at Heumarkt, in the heart of Cologne’s Old Town, until 2022.<\/p>\n\n Then came some surprising news:<\/p>\n\n Brauerei zur Malzm\u00fchle took over the S\u00fcnner brewery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n And that is historically remarkable.<\/p>\n\n S\u00fcnner, founded in 1830, is considered the oldest brewery still producing in Cologne. This meant the second-oldest brewery took over the oldest \u2013 a symbolic moment for Cologne’s brewing world. And that’s exactly what Brauerei zur Malzm\u00fchle renamed the newly acquired S\u00fcnner brewery: Brauwelt K\u00f6ln <\/p>\n\n There, M\u00fchlen K\u00f6lsch and S\u00fcnner K\u00f6lsch, among others, were then brewed side by side. With S\u00fcnner, they didn’t just take over Cologne’s oldest brewery, but also the city’s only distillery capable of handling every production step from mash to bottling in-house. <\/p>\n\n For guests in the beer house, nothing changed: the K\u00f6lsch tasted the same as always. But economically, it was a significant step to secure two traditional brands for the long term. <\/p>\n\n In June 2025, the next bombshell followed: Brauerei zur Malzm\u00fchle<\/strong> announced that its traditional brand M\u00fchlen K\u00f6lsch will be brewed and distributed by the Gaffel private brewery in the future<\/strong>. The trademark rights were also transferred to Gaffel. <\/p>\n\n Brauwelt K\u00f6ln continues to produce S\u00fcnner K\u00f6lsch and Koch\u2019sches Malzbier, among others \u2013 but M\u00fchlen K\u00f6lsch is now made at Gaffel in Gremberghoven.<\/p>\n\n For the guest at the table, it remains very simple: The Malzm\u00fchle was always more than just a beer house. It was \u2013 and is \u2013 a stage. <\/p>\n\n When former US President Bill Clinton visited Cologne, a story circulated in the city that he originally wanted to stop by the legendary “Lommi.” But after Hans Lommerzheim was allegedly unwilling to clear out his pub for the President, the path finally led to the Brauerei zur Malzm\u00fchle. <\/p>\n\n Whether it’s a legend or not \u2013 the image is delightful: an American President, surrounded by security personnel, sitting at a table with a slender K\u00f6lsch glass. And someone probably had to explain to him that in Cologne, you don’t actively order more \u2013 as long as the coaster isn’t on top of the glass, a refill comes automatically. <\/p>\n\n The singer Pink<\/strong> has also been a guest at the Malzm\u00fchle.<\/p>\n\n World star meets beer house. No VIP area, no red carpet \u2013 just wooden chairs, a K\u00f6bes, and K\u00f6lsch every few seconds. The K\u00f6bes allegedly only recognized her after other guests pointed out who he was actually serving. <\/p>\n\n
\n\n2022: Malzm\u00fchle takes over S\u00fcnner<\/h2>\n\n
\n\nDistribution via Gaffel \u2013 a new chapter for M\u00fchlen K\u00f6lsch<\/h2>\n\n
\n\nProminent guests: When world politics meets K\u00f6lsch<\/h2>\n\n
Bill Clinton<\/h3>\n\n
\n\nPink<\/h3>\n\n