Brauerei Heller GmbH

foamee

Maryland

4.24/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Heller's Brauhaus is a brewpub in a residential neighborhood of Cologne. It is similar to an American bar in that just inside the door is a long bar surrounded by stools with some tables on the perimeter. A dining area is in the rear as well as another back room. A doorway in the bar area leads to the adjacent store front which is also a dining area and leads to a large enclosed Bier Garten...or "Wintergarten." The brewing operation is even further back. They have three of their own beers on draft, a Kölsch, an unfiltered Kölsch (thus, not a Kölsch...possibly a Keller Bier ) and a Hefe Weizen. They also serve two of their bottled beers, a Pilsner, and a seasonal. The menu is typical of the area and appropriately priced.

11-23-2011 02:42:31 | More by foamee

dasenebler

Maine

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Hellers Brauhaus is located in the Belgian Quarter of Cologne. It may be a bit tricky to find, as Cologne can be disorienting, but it's not hidden or anything. Just ask someone on the street. If they're young, chances are they'll speak good English.

Hellers has brewed beer since only 1991, so it's a mere infant compared to the other Kölsch breweries such as Früh, Reissdorf and Mühlen. Yet, they offer something fresh and new compared to the old-timers: they brew using organically sourced hops and malt, and make beer other than Kölsch. Hellers brews a Weizen and a few seasonal Bocks in addition to their solid Kölsch.

The interior of the Brauhaus is kind of interesting. There's a typical bar and a lot of tables, but what sets Hellers apart is the "Wintergarten," a large indoor room with lots of plants and long benches that make it seem like an authentic Biergarten, even when it's below freezing outside. They have a full menu, but I didn't try the food. The service was excellent, as in most Cologne beer halls: the waiters know you're there to drink, and those .2L baby beers don't last too long when you're thirsty.

I highly recommend Hellers if you are looking to get away from the stuffier, more traditional beer halls in the city. The Hellers crowd is younger and hipper, too.

01-26-2011 15:19:43 | More by dasenebler