Cologne rod
The Kölner Stange or Kölschstange is a cylindrical beer glass . It has a high (approx. 150 mm) and slim (approx. 50 mm diameter ) shape and is the classic glass for serving Kölsch . Basically the Kölner Stange has a capacity of 0.2 l. The shape and the small capacity of this glass shape are due to the fact that the beer foam of the Kölsch is not very stable and that it inherently has a relatively low CO 2 content. Koelsch would quickly become stale in large, wider glasses. The small diameter and the associated reduced air contact reduce the loss of CO 2 . This keeps the beer fresh a little longer.
Kölsch or top-fermented beer according to the Cologne brewing style is traditionally drunk from the Cologne bar. In the Kölsch Convention , the Kölsch brewers undertake to “do their best to ensure that Kölsch is only served in the Kölner Stange”. The Köbes serves the Kölsch sticks in a special device, the wreath.
A special variant of the Kölner Stange is the so-called pestle . The pestle is shorter than the classic Cologne stick and holds a little more than half a normal Kölsch glass. For reasons of calibration law , the 0.1 l mark is given. The pestle has the same price as a normal glass. You order it when you want to drink less in a round or do something good for the host. Even the landlord, if he is involved in a round, only drinks a pint.
There are also variants with a larger volume of 0.3 l or 0.4 l in similar proportions. These are often found in beer gardens and at heavily attended events when the operating effort or the waiting time for 0.2 l glasses would be unreasonably high. However, larger glasses can affect the taste, as they usually stand longer until they are empty and the last sip was exposed to the room air for a longer time and becomes slightly stale.
The small size of the Kölner Stange simplifies the practice of giving rounds , which is often found in the Rhineland , in which those present in turn order beer for the entire group at their own expense. Even in larger groups, everyone can spend a round once.
The special shape of the Kölner Pole also initiated an unusual form of advertising : at times the yellow painted handrails in trams were decorated with glued-on foam crowns to make Kölsch glasses.
The so-called Kölsch glass holder was invented in order to enable those celebrating - for example while swaying at the Cologne Carnival - to wear the Cologne pole around their neck and thus have their hands free . It is traditionally a hand-polished brass tube - in color compatible with the golden yellow of the Kölsch - in which the glass can be placed, and a chain or ribbon to wear it around the neck. The pipe is sometimes decorated with the Cologne city arms or other emblems associated with the city of Cologne. There are also crocheted variants in circulation.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kölsch at the Kölner Brauereiverband ( Memento of the original from June 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Kölsch Convention, Section 3, Clause 6
