Die Hausbrauerei Päffgen

August 6, 2008
This place is insanely busy - know that! However, the kolsch runs from the casks freely, and the servers do a respectable job of keeping the glasses full. I LOVED the kolsch! Decor is classic German, lots of dark wood. A must see in Cologne.

January 23, 2008 [ Updated August 18, 2008 ]
The first Brewpub I visited in Cologne when I was the last summer. I was the at noon so it was very quiet and there were very few people around. Like in most places in Germany, even then there was some smoking, but the place was so large and there so little people it didn’t really bother me. I really liked the look of the interior - it looked like a very authentic German beer-hall. The Kölsch is really decent, but doesn’t really compare to the greatest ones. Good experience overall.

January 18, 2008
My second favorite stop in Koln, a nice little Kolsch outlet of some pretty fresh and tasty beer. Again, this place wasn’t hoppin and wild on a Sunday morning, and it doesn’t have the allure that the big historical Cathedral and Zion landmarks, but if you want a peaceful and easy going run of fresh beer, stop here. Didn’t have any food, but the service was friendly (a notch below Pfaffen, though). Likewise, the selection wasn’t large, but when in Cologne, run the Kolsch beers, as they can be better no where else in the world, a completely different experience here. This and Pfaffen are Koln must stops in my mind.

September 25, 2007
Like all the other Kolsch pubs we visited, the barrel awaits you right next to the front door. The place was packed, but we did manage to squeeze in the big area at the end of one of the communal tables in the center. Nice glasswork on the windows, big coat hangers everywhere and just an general feeling of history and community. Our Köbes was very friendly and helped us out with ordering. Good food, huge plates. What I really was here for was obviously the Kolsch, and boy did it not dissapoint. It was definately richer, fuller, maltier and overall more balanced and "complete" that the others. I ended up my evening with many notches on my coaster. I did get to check out the staff changing a keg, they use a crane fixed to the ceiling to get the keg up, I guess they were tired of seing the Köbes throwing their backs out. One of them asked about my Trois-Pistoles T-shirt and what it meant, and ended up talking Beer with the guy for a while. Definately a must visit place in Köln, and not just for the Beer. I already had a pretty favorable view of Kolsch, but this experience really pushed it over the top.

June 9, 2007
A very malty Kölsch is served here in one of the most authentic-looking Köln pubs. Well worked old wooden furniture. Loud and appreciative patrons. The numerous waiters get the job done in a quick and smiling manner. Thumbs up, if not quite my favourtie in town.

June 8, 2006
For my taste, the best Kölsch in Cologne. Great down-to-earth atmosphere, tons of old, worn wood and heavily encouraged drinking. High stools and a high ceiling. My waiter had some rather interesting comments, which at other times I’d consider rude, but in this situation were quite funny. I need to visit here again!

May 26, 2006
I wasn’t able to get a seat in this place as it was very crowded at around 18:30 on a Thursday evening. I could tell that the guy I ordered from was really pissed about the fact that I only wanted the one glass...seems like that’s really frowned upon in German beer halls :) Very loud and echoey and there seemed to be a few friendly Germans in the bunch that tried talking to me. THE beer was great but the selection obviously lacks as that was the only one.

November 3, 2005
One of the great pubs of the world, I rate it as highly as that. Just around the corner from our hotel, we visited it more than once and I loved it. Each of the rooms has a different ambiance, but try and place yourself just after the serving area, the beer will flow. No need for music here, that chat is loud, jocular and raucous. The waiters are the best in town, particularly the one now known to us as Millwall (you know who you are!!). The food is of Germanic proportions and surprisingly tasty. Choose a big table and you will be joined, which is what this place is about, it is friendly and down to earth, it will remain in my memory with great fondness. I will be back.

March 23, 2005
....simply the best beer in Cologne !

April 14, 2004
The typical Köln brewpub with typical German food. A friendly waitress brought us the food and the beer. Can be crowded and noisy. My Köln favorite.