Kölsch brewery and brewpub at Heumarkt: handcrafted Mühlen Kölsch, spirits and its own gastronomy since 1858

Brauerei zur Malzmühle Schwartz GmbH & Co. KG

Cologne (Heumarkt) · Cologne (Kalk) · Cologne (Eigelstein) · Cologne (Belgisches Viertel) · PulheimNew on Amplifa

1858Founded as the Bier- und Malz-Extract-Dampfbrauerei Hubert

51,000 hlAnnual output at the Heumarkt site (2021)

5Locations in Cologne and Pulheim

Family-owned since 1912Led by the Schwartz family, now in its 5th generation

About the Brauerei zur Malzmühle

Brauerei zur Malzmühle Schwartz GmbH & Co. KG operates at Heumarkt 6 in Cologne's old town one of the city's most traditional Kölsch breweries. Since 1858, the top-fermented Mühlen Kölsch has been produced there according to an old family recipe; since the takeover of the Brauerei Gebr. Sünner in 2022, beer production has taken place at the Cologne-Kalk site, where well water from the company's own well is also used. The portfolio also includes Koch's Malzbier, the alcohol-free Mühlen Freibier, premium lemonades under the Kölsches Wasser brand, and handcrafted spirits such as Sünner Gin produced in the company's own distillery (Sünner Spirits). Products are made from wheat and barley malt, hops, and well water; filling takes place in kegs (own keg filling line since 2012) and bottles (bottling in Krefeld). The fifth-generation family business combines beer production with gastronomy, hospitality (Hotel zur Malzmühle, 37 rooms), and distribution via retail and online shop; in 2021, output at the Heumarkt site was 51,000 hl.

Site: Köln
Processes: Brewery (Kölsch beer brewing, top-fermented, handcrafted Mühlen Kölsch), Distillation / distillery (own handcrafted spirits, Cologne's oldest distillery), Keg filling (keg filling line since 2012, new kegs), Bottle filling (bottled beer in various sizes, bottling carried out in Krefeld), Production of premium lemonades/soft drinks (Kölsches Wasser, made from well water, sweetened with, Gastronomy/hospitality, Events and celebrations (ANNO 1858, groups of up to 60 people), Hotel (37 rooms)
Materials: Malt (from wheat and barley, milled), Wheat (from Farmer Kleinschmidt, Cologne-Poll, for spirits), Barley, Hops, Well water (company's own well, Cologne-Kalk), Agave syrup (sweetener for lemonades), Wheat and barley malt (milled), Wheat (Farmer Kleinschmidt, Cologne-Poll)
Founded: 1858
Industries: Brewery/beverage production, Gastronomy, Hospitality, Spirits/beverage wholesale, Brewery/gastronomy

01
Milling wheat and barley malt
02
Brewing (top-fermented Kölsch)
03
Keg filling (own line)
04
Bottle filling (Krefeld)
05
Distribution via gastronomy, retail and online shop

Raw Materials & Brewing Process

MALZ

Wheat and barley malt (milled)

Basic raw material for the top-fermented Mühlen Kölsch; namesake of the brewery.

HOPF

Hops

Provider of bitterness and aroma for beers such as Mühlen Kölsch and Koch's Malzbier.

WASS

Well water (company's own well, Cologne-Kalk)

Basis for the beers as well as the premium lemonades and soft drinks Kölsches Wasser.

WEIZ

Wheat (Farmer Kleinschmidt, Cologne-Poll)

Regional raw material source for the handcrafted spirits distilled in the company's own distillery.

AGAV

Agave syrup

Natural sweetener for the homemade premium lemonades.

DEST

Distillation / artisanal distilling process

Process for producing house-nature spirits such as Sünner Gin and Mühlen Kräuter.

Locations

Cologne (Heumarkt 6)

Brewpub, Hotel zur Malzmühle, MühlenBar, ANNO 1858

Materials: Malt, hops, well water

Keg filling line (2012)
Brewing plant for Mühlen Kölsch

Cologne (Kalk)

Brewery/BrauWELT Cologne – production (Sünner site)

Materials: Well water from the company's own well

Beer production site of the Brauerei Gebr. Sünner

Cologne (Eigelstein)

Brauhaus Kölsche Boor

Cologne (Belgisches Viertel)

Brauhaus Pütz

Pulheim

Brauhaus Malzmühle in the Historic Town Hall (since 2013)

Products

**Kölsches Wasser [kola] – premium cola made from well water**Beverage production · Brewery/beverage wholesale

**Bottled beers (Mühlen Kölsch among others)**Bottle filling · Gastronomy/retail

**House-nature spirits (Sünner Gin among others)**Distillation · Beverage wholesale

Inside the production

Exterior view of the brewpub at Heumarkt at night

Visit by US President Bill Clinton (1999)

Industries

Brewery/beverage productionGastronomyHospitalitySpirits/beverage wholesaleBrewery/gastronomy

Processes & technical limits

Processes	Tolerance	Max. part	Weight	Lot size	Materials
Brewery (Kölsch beer brewing, top-fermented, handcrafted Mühlen Kölsch)Food/beverage production	–	–	–	51,000 hl annual output (2021, site	Malt, Wheat, Barley, Hops, Water
Distillation / distillery (own handcrafted spirits, Cologne's oldest distillery)Food/beverage production	–	–	–	–	Wheat (from Farmer Kleinschmidt, Cologne-Poll), Water from the company's own well in Cologne-Kalk
Keg filling (keg filling line since 2012, new kegs)Food/beverage production	–	–	–	–	Beer
Bottle filling (bottled beer in various sizes, bottling carried out in Krefeld)Food/beverage production	–	–	–	–	Beer
Production of premium lemonades/soft drinks (Kölsches Wasser, made from well water, sweetened withFood/beverage production	–	–	–	–	Well water, Agave syrup

3 Anlagen & Maschinen

Machine	Manufacturer / model	Quantity	Working area	Year built	Site
Keg filling line	–	1	–	2012	Brauerei zur Malzmühle, Heumarkt 6, 50667 Köln
Steam brewery (historic Bier- und Malz-Extract-Dampfbrauerei Hubert Koch, 1858)	–	–	–	1858	Heumarkt 6, 50667 Köln
Brewery production site (Brauerei Gebr. Sünner, production relocated in 2022)	Brauerei Gebr. Sünner	1	–	–	Cologne-Kalk

Additional services

Gastronomy/hospitalityEvents and celebrations (ANNO 1858, groups of up to 60 people)Hotel (37 rooms)Own distillation of spiritsBottle fillingOnline shop/distribution (brauwelt-koeln.de)

History

1572
Municipal council mill erected at Heumarkt/Filzengraben; supplied the breweries with malt until 1813
1813
End of the municipal council mill (demolished 1853)
1858
Founding of the 'Bier- und Malz-Extract-Dampfbrauerei Hubert Koch' at Heumarkt 6 by Hubert Koch
1901
Jakob Koch takes over the brewery
1912
Gottfried Joseph Schwartz takes over the brewery and names it 'Brauerei zur Malzmühle'
1932
Hubert Josef Schwartz takes over management (until 1944)
1945
Almost complete destruction by bombing; Sybille Schwartz leads the reconstruction
1948
Resumption of brewing operations
1960
Anneliese Schwartz takes over management
1999
Visit by US President Bill Clinton on the occasion of the G8 summit (17 June)
2010
Start of renovation and expansion; the brewpub grows step by step from 200 to 500 seats; new MühlenBar
2011
Company becomes Brauerei zur Malzmühle Schwartz GmbH & Co. KG
2012
New keg filling line
2013
Opening of Brauhaus Malzmühle in the Historic Town Hall in Pulheim
2015
Opening of the Hotel zur Malzmühle (37 rooms)
2016
#echtlecker campaign; market share of the Kölsch market just under 3%
2020
Takeover of the traditional brewpub Em Kölsche Boor (March, draught operation from May)
2021
Output at the Heumarkt site 51,000 hl
2022
Takeover of the Brauerei Gebr. Sünner in Cologne-Kalk, relocation of production there
2025
Sale of the Kölsch brand Mühlen Kölsch to the Privatbrauerei Gaffel; the Sünner brewery and its products remain with the company