Traditional Cologne brewery Malzmühle closes after 167 years!

Traditional Cologne brewery Malzmühle closes after 167 years!

Kölner Heumarkt, 50667 Köln, Deutschland - The traditional Brewery to Malzmühle in Cologne has stopped operating after 167 years. The closure marks the end of a long brewing tradition and represents a severe loss for Cologne beer culture. The brewery, known for its popular Mühlen Kölsch, was an integral part of the social landscape and a popular meeting place for guests of all kinds, including prominent personalities.

The brewery was founded in 1858 by Hubert Koch on the Cologne Heumarkt, and the story goes back to the 16th century when the original malt mill was built as a water mill. She was owned by the city of Cologne until 1813 before it was finally torn down. The bridal operation developed over the years, even survived the destruction of the Second World War and was run by the Schwartz family in the following decades. Despite the efforts to resume production after the war, the brewery has been facing increasing economic challenges for several years.

economic challenges and sales crisis

The reasons for the closure are diverse. In addition to increasing operating costs, especially for energy and raw materials, the industry suffers from a declining heel. As Boeckler , the German beer market has been shaped by a continued decline in beer consumption for several years. Consumption decreases by 1-2 percent annually, whereby neither new products nor export measures could compensate for this trend. Overcapacity in the industry also contributes to the difficulties, while young specialists are becoming increasingly less common in the brewing industry.

Despite the extensive efforts to increase efficiency and the development of new markets, the profitability of the brewery to the malt mill could not be secured. The last available figures show that the emission at the Heumarkt location was 51,000 hectoliters in 2021. In 2008 it was 37,500 hectoliters, which underlines the downward trend.

A piece of Cologne story is lost

With the closure of the brewery, Cologne not only loses a traditional company, but also a place that was known for the typical Cologne brewery atmosphere and hospitality. The future of the location on Heumarkt remains uncertain. It says in the stars whether the historical building is being supplied with a new use or whether parts of the brewery, such as the brewery or the connected hotel, remain.