Family brewery in Cologne – FRÜH Kölsch since 1904, top-fermented full beer brewed using the Slow Brewing method
Cölner Hofbräu FRÜH GmbH & Co. KG
Cologne (Am Hof 12-18) · Cologne-Feldkassel · Cologne-SüdstadtNew on Amplifa
The family brewery FRÜH am Dom
Cölner Hofbräu FRÜH GmbH & Co. KG is a Cologne family brewery that has been producing top-fermented full beer of the Kölsch style since 1904. The core product is FRÜH Kölsch with 11.3 % original wort and 4.8 % alcohol, brewed according to the original recipe using the Slow Brewing method. The range also includes the non-alcoholic FRÜH Kölsch (0.0 %), the beer-mixed beverage NaturRadler as well as Sport Fassbrause. Production has taken place since 1987 in the modern brewery in Cologne-Feldkassel with an annual capacity of around 400,000 hectoliters; the parent house FRÜH am Dom serves as a brewhouse and tavern. Distribution is in returnable containers: longneck bottles (0.33 l and 0.5 l), cans (0.5 l), kegs (KEG 15/30/50 l, PartyFässchen 5 l, PerfectDraft 6 l) as well as the Pittermännchen. The company employs around 400 staff, is run in its fifth generation by Alexander Rolff and Philipp C. Müller, and exports to more than 30 countries.
- Site
- Cologne
- Processes
- Brewing of top-fermented beer (Kölsch) using the Slow Brewing method, Filling into bottles (longneck 0.33 l and 0.5 l, returnable), Filling into cans (0.5 l), Filling into kegs/KEG (15 L, 30 L, 50 L), party kegs 5 L, PerfectDraft 6 L, Pittermännchen, Production of beer-mixed beverages (NaturRadler, Fassbrause) and non-alcoholic Kölsch (0.0 %), Gastronomy/brewhouses, Hotel (Eden Hotel FRÜH am Dom), Distribution to gastronomy & retail
- Materials
- Kölsch (full beer, top-fermented, original wort 11.3 % by weight, alcohol 4.8 %), Kölsch non-alcoholic 0.0 %, Beer-mixed beverage NaturRadler (45 % FRÜH Kölsch with lemon refreshment drink), Sport Fassbrause, FRÜH Kölsch, FRÜH Kölsch non-alcoholic 0.0 %, FRÜH NaturRadler, FRÜH Sport Fassbrause
- Certificates
- Certifications (documented)
- Founded
- 1904
- Employees
- 400
- Industries
- Brewing, Gastronomy, Hotels, Beverage retail
- 01
Brewing (brewhouse, top-fermented Kölsch)
- 02
Fermentation & maturation (Slow Brewing)
- 03
Filling of bottles/cans/kegs
- 04
Distribution to gastronomy & retail
- 05
Serving in our own brewhouses
Beer variety & brewing method
FRÜH Kölsch
Top-fermented full beer Kölsch, original wort 11.3 % by weight, alcohol 4.8 %, brewed using the Slow Brewing method.
FRÜH Kölsch non-alcoholic 0.0 %
The brewery's first non-alcoholic Kölsch variant, on the market since 2007.
FRÜH NaturRadler
Beer-mixed beverage made of 45 % FRÜH Kölsch with lemon refreshment drink, unfiltered and without artificial additives.
FRÜH Sport Fassbrause
Non-alcoholic Fassbrause (keg soda) as a complement to the range.
Brewery & brewhouses
Cologne-Feldkassel
DEProduction brewery (since 1987)
- Materials
- Kölsch, non-alcoholic Kölsch, NaturRadler, Fassbrause
- Brewing facility with brew kettles
- Filling of bottles/cans/kegs
Cologne, Am Hof 12-18
DEParent house: brewhouse FRÜH am Dom, administration, brewhouse cellar
- Materials
- Draught beers
- Historic house brewery (until 1987)
- Brewhouse cellar in historic vaults
Cologne-Südstadt
DEBrewhouse FRÜH 'Em Veedel' (since 1979)
- Materials
- Draught beers
Products & containers
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewing of top-fermented beer (Kölsch) using the Slow Brewing methodOther | – | – | – | – | – |
| Filling into bottles (longneck 0.33 l and 0.5 l, returnable)Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Filling into cans (0.5 l)Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Filling into kegs/KEG (15 L, 30 L, 50 L), party kegs 5 L, PerfectDraft 6 L, PittermännchenOther | – | – | – | – | – |
| Production of beer-mixed beverages (NaturRadler, Fassbrause) and non-alcoholic Kölsch (0.0 %)Other | – | – | – | – | – |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewery (brewing facility with brew kettles) | – | – | – | ab 1987 | Cologne-Feldkassel |
| Historic house brewery (brewhouse FRÜH am Dom) | – | – | – | 1904 (bis | Am Hof 12-18, 50667 Cologne |
Additional services
Quality assurance
The brewery attaches importance to quality standards and brewing tradition; FRÜH Kölsch is brewed according to the original 1904 recipe using the gentle Slow Brewing method. Details on testing procedures and quality seals are provided by the company on its website under quality assurance and quality seals.
| Evidence | Cologne-Feldkassel |
|---|---|
| Certifications (documented) |
Our history
- 1895
Peter Josef Früh founds the Aposteln-Bräu at Apostelnstraße 19 in Cologne
- 1904
Opening of the Cölner Hofbräu FRÜH am Dom (Am Hof 12) – founding year of the brand
- 1930
Death of Gertrud Früh; Engelbert Rochels continues to run the brewhouse
- 1944
The brewhouse at the cathedral is almost completely destroyed by fire during the war; the brewery survives
- 1961
Hermann Müller Senior and Eduard Rolff take over the management
- 1969
FRÜH Kölsch available in bottles for the first time
- 1976
Annual output exceeds 100,000 hl for the first time
- 1979
FRÜH in a can; opening of brewhouse FRÜH 'Em Veedel' in the Südstadt
- 1985
New brewery on the northern outskirts of the city; launch of the 5-l party keg
- 1987
Production relocated to Cologne-Feldkassel
- 1992
Launch of the iconic red FRÜH advertising motifs
- 1998
Opening of the brewhouse cellar in the historic vaults of the parent house
- 2000
Fifth generation: Alexander Rolff and Philipp C. Müller take over the leadership
- 2004
100 years of FRÜH am Dom
- 2007
FRÜH Kölsch non-alcoholic 0.0 % comes onto the market
- 2019
Cooperation with Haus Kölscher Brautradition GmbH (Radeberger Group): filling of bottled beers from 2020 in Feldkassel
- 2021
Draught beers of the brands Sion, Gilden, Peters, Dom, Sester and Küppers are brewed in Feldkassel
- 2026
Output of almost 400,000 hl/year, exports to over 30 countries, approx. 400 employees