Which Cologne resident doesn't know it? The famous Weinhaus Vogel am Eigelstein is an institution among Cologne's inns. We met with owner Angelika Dederichs and took a closer look at the popular inn with the raven in its logo.
The history of the house
As with many other inns, the history of Weinhaus Vogel cannot be traced back to its precise beginnings. One tradition spoke of 1898, but one day Angelika came across beer mats that mentioned the date 1874. A certain Conrad Vogel is also mentioned on the beer mat, as is the extremely special Hopfenblut, the house's traditional beer, which is served here alongside the best wines, Gaffel Kölsch and Würzburger.
The name Conrad Vogel is also found in connection with another brewery that has not existed for quite some time: "Em Birbäumche" in which the so-called Ursula-Bräu was produced. The Vogel wine house was run by son Josef Vogel as the "Zur Sonne" brewery before it was passed on to the next in the family line, Konrad Vogel. In the chaos of the Second World War, the brewery and distillery were threatened with looting. Konrad faced the danger and defended his house with a weapon in his hand.
Würzburg beer in Cologne?
How does a Würzburg beer end up on tap in Cologne? The Weinhaus Vogel has been serving Würzburger Hofbräu for over 100 years. At that time, Kölsch was still in its infancy, bottom-fermented beers were more popular than top-fermented ones. Thanks to new cooling techniques, breweries have had better options for brewing bottom-fermented beers for a few years now - and in a shorter time, too. The "Zur Sonne" brewery decided to serve Würzburger Hofbräu at that time.
Another product that is also typical for Weinhaus Vogel is of course the house's own Hopfenblut, a beer specialty that is truly special. We'll be happy to tell you more about this on our tours, for example on our special tour "Krätzjer op Tour" on October 26, 2024 with Cologne legend Hans Breuer! Click here for more information.
A paradise for wine lovers
But of course the Weinhaus Vogel's name is not a coincidence. There are 34 wines on offer here by the glass, so there is sure to be something for everyone! And even though many of them come from important wine-growing regions such as the Palatinate and Baden, there are also some international specialties that will make any wine connoisseur's heart beat faster! So if you want to practice enjoying wine for the next wine week, you've come to the right place. Because let's be honest, we Cologners always make the same mistake here: we drink the wine just as quickly as the Kölsch and regret it the next day! Maybe you could try the house wine at Vogel?
A real Cologne girl
How did Angelika actually come to Weinhaus Vogel? It was very simple back then, but today it's on the verge of extinction: the typical newspaper advert! In her search for new challenges, "dat echt Sülzer Mädcher" came across her new love in the form of this rustic inn - and her calling. Angelika has been there ever since, running the house, taking time for her guests and making sure that everyone feels comfortable. Just like a proper innkeeper does.
If you're now visiting Weinhaus Vogel again because of this blog post, then try to become aware of the history of the house, imagine how Würzburg beer came to be here, how the previous owner protected his house from looting and how beer, schnapps and wine were held in high esteem here over all this time. And then raise a toast to us, we're with you in our thoughts! And hopefully you'll join us on one of our tours , we're looking forward to taking you on a journey through the history of Cologne brewing!
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