Kölsch is the German beer traditionally brewed in Cologne.
It is a pale, top-fermented beer with a bright color and relatively delicate bitterness. Kölsch is usually served in narrow cylindrical glasses called Stangen, which help preserve its carbonation and keep servings small and fresh.
The name is geographically protected under European Union rules, so breweries outside the Cologne region cannot freely market an equivalent beer as Kölsch. The style developed from Cologne’s local brewing traditions and became standardized during the twentieth century.
Kölsch is sometimes confused with German lager styles because it is pale and crisp. However, it is brewed with top-fermenting yeast, while most lagers use bottom-fermenting yeast. Altbier, another German top-fermented beer, is associated primarily with Düsseldorf rather than Cologne.