Cologne is a bit late to the craft beer movement that’s gripped cities like Hamburg and Berlin in recent years. Maybe it’s the ubiquitous presence of the local Kölsch of which the locals are fiercely protective (even though it is not a heritage beer but was created after 1945 as a marketing vehicle for local breweries) that has prevented people developing a taste for other beers, who knows. 

But thankfully, places like the Craft Beer Corner Coeln are now making new brews from Germany and all around the globe available to the interested public (and me). The ccc is Cologne’s first proper taphouse with 15 different craft beers on tap, and their beer menu changes daily. They also offer tastings, meet-the-brewer-events and also have tap-takeovers where select small breweries take over all 15 taps with their delicious beverages. It might get crowded on the weekends, but if you want to explore the world of craft beers – which is very often not about hipsterism but about cherishing slow food characteristics, locally-sourced ingredients and just enjoying a good beer – you should visit the craft beer corner and have a chat with the lads.