Went out drinking with my friends a couple nights ago and we decided to go to a place called On Tap, which was formally called Hops. We ordered their Alt and were blown away. Tasted like the house brewed stuff in Dusseldorf. It has been three years since I was in Dusseldorf last and I couldn't decide if it was closer in style to Zum Urige or to Schumacher, though I am leaning toward Schumacher. From the description it sounded like they brewed it with the right ingredients, using Munich malt and Spalt hops. A very good beer, with the correct bitterness, soft palate, etc. Their Kolsch was also very good. I am not as familiar with the style as my friend who has spent some time in Cologne, but he was pretty happy with it, saying it was true to style. Not sure if there are many Alt and Kolsch fans out there, but I was pretty happy to fidn a brewery that was doing something other than the usual golden-amber-IPA-stout routine.
--Dan E