Die Koelner Bierhalle 20s / 30s / 40s / Average Joes / Beer Lovers / Breakfast / Budget-friendly / Casual / Dinner / German Beer / German Food / Good for Groups / Groups / Happy Hour / Hipster / Lunch / Moderate / Street Parking / Young Professionals / Beer Hall / Restaurant

Having lived in Germany for a year I can gladly report that Die Koelner is the real deal. The expansive tables mean that you often end up sitting with all kinds of people. But this is all part of the experience. You talk, eat and drink all night and leave feeling like your time there was too short. This is a true heaven for beer drinkers. It is so well stocked with different brews that you will struggle to even make a dent in their huge selection. But it's always worth a try. I recommend the Julius Echter Hefe-Wiessbier and Hacklberg Humorator for taste and variety. There's also a large quantity of wine and spirits for non-beer drinkers. Some may find the aesthetic of the hall unattractive. It does have the appearance of a grain barn and can be quite rackety. But if the crowd is big enough and the conversation good enough there are few other places you would want to drink.

While Williamsburg has Radegast, a lovely and romantic German bierhalle with all the trappings, Park Slope has had to settle for the occasional semi-Germanic beer spot along Fifth Avenue. Thankfully, Di Koelner has arrived, ready to shtick it to ze man with its excellent selection of German beers, sausages, and other Deutschland fare that'll have you denying Huge Boss' involvement in certain political movements for ages. The huge communal tables throughout this large black-walled hall are perfect for lining up with a group of thirsty friends, while even the small bar near the back brings in a solid combination of rowdy drunks and laid-back beer scholars. With tons of atmosphere and loads of character, Die Koelner is a wonderful addition to an already burgeoning neighborhood full of bars.