England fans in Cologne,enjoying beer from 'stange' glasses
Credit: Paul Grover for The Telegraph
England fans have been met with half measures in Cologne,served with tiny glasses known as the “champagne flutes of the beer world”.
Supporters visiting the west German city have been surprised when rounds of traditional 200ml glasses,one third of the size of a pint,were plonked down on their tables.
In Cologne,bars serve a traditional beer called kolsch,which can only be produced in the 2,000-year-old city and its surrounding area,enjoying a similar protected status to that of champagne in France.
Kolsch is only served in thin cylindrical glasses known as a stange,or “poles”,because the beer would go stale in a bigger glass. It is often served on a circular tray known as a kranz which holds between eight to ten glasses.
Around 50,000 fans are descending on Cologne ahead of England’s final Group C match which is against Slovenia on Tuesday.
While some bars nearer the fan zone have been serving others types of beer in cups closer to a pint for the football,most pubs in Cologne have stuck with tradition,including the city’s famous beer halls.
Kolsch beer,in stange glasses on a kranz tray
Credit: Bjoern Wylezich/iStockphoto
Some fans have complained at finishing their drink in a few sips and as the number of supporters around the city builds there are expected to be queues at the bar or longer waits for table service.
Fans will also be paying more,with some bars charging €3.50 (£2.12) for 200ml,the equivalent of nearly €10 (£8.46) per pint. In some traditional brewhouses,the kolsches are counted by staff with tally marks on a beermat.
Among those enjoying the beer with friends yesterday – but underwhelmed by the size of the measures – were Daniel Burton,23,who works in marketing and Liam Terrington,a user experience designer,from London.
“It’s alright but it’s gone in three sips – you could even shot it,” Mr Burton said as he finished up his latest round before a waitress asked if the group would like another.
“It is a shock,we are ordering more rounds quicker,” Mr Terrington added. “It tastes good but a normal serving would be nice. It could be a long time if we have to order at the bar.”
Paul Brown,a supporter and video blogger,enjoying a kolsch in Cologne
Credit: Paul Brown/X
Other English fans sipping in the town’s historic Alter Market included Pierre Hazel,52,a marketing director,from Brighton and his two sons Alex,21,a student,and Felix,19,who is on a gap year.
“It’s great here,the people are really friendly,it’s really nice,the beer’s quite small but that’s OK,” Mr Hazel said. “We really like it,actually.”
He added: “It’s a lovely beer. It’s actually quite nice drinking it slower,particularly when the sun shines. If you’ve got a big litre in this heat by the time you get halfway through it’s all warm – but this is fresh and cold.”
Mr Hazel said the small glasses had slowed down the drinking “a little bit” and he might seek out a larger beer later.
For those unhappy with the measures,there is some hope. While there is no negotiation on the size of the glass,fans can order a 10 litre barrel costing €100 (£85) for the table.
