Prestigious beers
The success of Czech beer can be traced back to the development of pilsner beers in the 19th century, and their marketing in bottles in the USA by the giant brewer Eberhard Anhauser. At the time, and still today, the most prestigious Czech beer is Pilsner Urquell, brewed in the town of Plzeň and sold all over the world. Produced since the 18th century, it's a variety of lager, always imitated, never equalled, the best of which is said to be served in the Prague brewery U Zlatého Tygra, the favorite haunt of Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal. Gambrinus comes from the same brewery, and its less bitter taste seems to have made it the most served (and therefore drunk) beer in the country.
Another well-known beer, Budweiser Budvar, brewed in České Budějovice in the south of the country, is also very popular with Westerners. Not to be confused with its insipid American namesake. In fact, in the USA, the real Budweiser Budvar is drunk under the name Czechvar. Locally, each region seems to have its own preferences, and we're witnessing real local and regional identities, such as Bernard from Humpolec, Zubr from Přerov, Regent from Třeboň, Starobrno from Brno and so on. Prague, of course, also produces its own brand, Staropramen, and even has its own "neighborhood" beers: Pražan in Holešovice, Braník (a milder version of Staropramen), Krušovice (on the outskirts of Prague), Velké Popovice, local Prague beers that have become popular throughout the country.
Experience beer in Prague
It couldn't be easier to taste beer in Prague, where mugs are served everywhere, filled before you even need to ask, and cost around €2 depending on the brand and where you order it. But before you drink, perhaps you'd like to learn a little more about the science of brewing. If the great breweries of Plzeň or České Budějovice are a little far from Prague, be sure to visit the great Staropramen brewery in the Smíchov district, where you can follow up with a tasting at the highly recommended restaurant. If you prefer to be spoilt for choice, there's also a very "interactive" beer museum on Smetana Quay. This is actually a pub where you can taste some 30 Czech beers on draught, all from craft microbreweries, carefully selected by the pub's creators, who wanted to showcase the work of totally unknown brewers whose products are impossible to find in Prague. But some Prague breweries, like the legendary U Fleků, only serve their own beer, a thick brown that Czechs drink by the meter. In Prague, you can also visit the Novoměstský Pivovar and Pivovarský Dům establishments, which also offer their own production accompanied by typical dishes. Many other bars and restaurants in the Czech capital also brew their own beer, sold only within their own four walls.
Taste a beer, but which one?
With almost 400 labels to choose from, some of which are produced only locally, ordering a beer in the Czech Republic isn't just a matter of preferring blondes, browns or reds. As in Belgium, there's a wide variety of tastes and colors, from filtered to unfiltered beers, from different types of fermentation to the barley and hops selected to produce it... Tasting beer in the Czech Republic is like taking an oenological tour of France, and it's not for nothing that Czech beers, including and especially those produced by the great historic breweries, are still ranked among the best in the world.
First and foremost, the Czech Republic is the cradle of pilsner beer, the recipe for which was established in Plzeň and where Pilsner Urquell is still produced, a bitter blond beer with a strength of around 5 degrees that is best drunk chilled. Today, this type of beer is the best-selling in the world. As with wine, beer can be tasted by appreciating its color, the color and density of its head, its nose and the aromas of malt and hops, and finally its taste.
The two most famous international brands are Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar. But once you're in Prague, you'll find plenty of other brands. Prague's Staropramen, of course, produces lager and amber beers that lack bitterness, making them ideal for those who don't like beer. Krušovice, produced since the 16th century in the village of the same name, is famous for having been the beer chosen by Emperor Rudolf II, hence its nickname of "imperial beer". Bernard, an unpasteurized beer much appreciated by connoisseurs, is available on draught in many Prague bars. Made in Humpolec, south of Brno, the brewery, which went bankrupt at the time of independence, was bought out in 1991 to become the first "private" Czech beer brand. In the reference guide to Czech beer published by journalist Evan Rail, Bernard is the only beer to achieve a rating of 4.5/5, along with Pilsner Urquell.
What if you don't like beer?
While the Czechs have a very respectable average consumption of 158 liters per capita per year, France is a long way behind, with an annual consumption of just 30 liters. But you don't have to be a hop enthusiast to be interested in beer: Prague offers plenty of opportunities to learn a little more and, why not, end up being seduced by a bitter blonde or a light red. At the Beer Museum, you can learn all about the history of the "liquid bread" in Bohemia, from the appearance of the first breweries in the Middle Ages. Brewing methods through the centuries, beer traditions, a sensory tour and, of course, tasting! And if you're not a beer fan, perhaps you're more interested in health and well-being. In that case, why not try one of the trendy beer spas? Invigorating and vitalizing, it is said to have beneficial effects on skin regeneration, relieve muscular tension and stimulate the metabolism. Prague already boasts several establishments of this type, mostly launched by major beer brands, but even more confidential brands are starting to get in on the act. A very pleasant way to discover a country's riches!
