A Stir in Cologne's Beer Landscape: Gaffel Takes Over Mühlen Kölsch
Drumroll at Cologne Market: Craft Brewery Takes Over Classic Beer Brand
Dramatic shifts are brewing in Cologne's beer market, as Malzmühle Brewery prepares to hand over its iconic "Mühlen Kölsch" brand to market powerhouse, Gaffel.
By Jonas Reihl
Cologne - A seismic shift is on the horizon in Cologne's beer market: Malzmühle Brewery is rumored to be transferring its "Mühlen Kölsch" brand to reigning titan, Gaffel, beginning September 1.
Key Points:
- Gaffel's Acquisition of "Mühlen Kölsch" Brand
- Expansion Opportunities for Gaffel
- Employment Implications for Malzmühle Workers
- Continued Operations for Sünner Brewery
- The Evolving Cologne Beer Scene
What's Afoot?
In an unprecedented move, Gaffel Brewery will officially assume control of the "Mühlen Kölsch" brand from Malzmühle Brewery on September 1, 2025. This shift will see around 50,000 hectoliters of beer produced annually at Gaffel's facility in Cologne-Porz[1][2]. Gaffel's managing partner, Heinrich Philipp Becker, sees this acquisition as an opportune moment to make strides in formats like the 0.33-liter and 0.5-liter bottles, largely due to the Mühlen Kölsch brand's strong potential in these areas[1].
What to Expect
Job Market
This transition means an end to in-house brewing of Mühlen Kölsch at Malzmühle, affecting roughly 20 jobs out of the company's 250 positions. Notably, bottling for this brand had previously been outsourced[1].
Market Consolidation
With Gaffel and Cölner Hofbräu Früh now boasting roughly 320,000 hectoliters of proprietary Kölsch beer, this acquisition represents the ongoing consolidation in the Kölsch beer market[1].
The Future of Sünner Brewery
Following Malzmühle's acquisition of Sünner in 2021 and the subsequent renaming to Sünner Brauwelt Köln, this facility has been the production hub for Mühlen Kölsch since 2022[1]. Looking ahead, Malzmühle's business strategy will prioritize hospitality over brewing, prompting Sünner's focus to remain on gastronomy, not the production of the iconic "Mühlen Kölsch" brand.
This acquisition is a game-changer in the Kölsch market, with Gaffel bolstering its portfolio and Malzmühle modifying its focus to service-oriented sectors.
Would Kölsch fans need to bid farewell to their beloved beer? Not quite – the Sünner Brewery from Kalk, with its longstanding connection to Malzmühle, is poised to persist in operations.
Featured image: Henning Kaiser/dpa
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- The acquisition of Malzmühle Brewery's "Mühlen Kölsch" brand by Gaffel Brewery signifies a significant move in the finance sector, as the deal promises to bolster Gaffel's presence in the beer industry.
- The business strategy of Malzmühle, following the acquisition, will see a shift towards hospitality, while Sünner Brewery, with its historical link to Malzmühle, will continue operations, ensuring the production of the iconic "Mühlen Kölsch" brand persists.
