Kölsch, Pils, Weizen – everyone knows the names. But can you taste the difference?

We won't start at a brewery, but at a neutral location in the Old Town. Three glasses, no labels, blindfold on. First you taste, then you guess – and then you'll find out what makes Kölsch special and why only beer brewed here can be called that.

Then it's time to head out into the alleyways. In every brewery house, a Kölsch awaits you – served unprompted in a tall glass, because that's how things are done here. Along the way, you'll learn the unwritten rules of the brewpub and pass by places that most people walk past: the Kallendresser, the Platzjabbek and the Willy Ostermann Fountain, where the focus is on Carnival and Cologne songs.

The tour is led by a Cologne city guide who has conducted over 300 brewery tours. I decide which brewpubs we'll visit depending on the group and how busy they are – so you won't end up sitting in a crowded tourist spot.

I look forward to seeing you!

• Maria