Beer is the world’s oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage. Czech beer, has the first place for the world’s per-capita beer consumption: more than 281 pints annually for every man, woman and child in the country.
The Czech Republic is the home of the first Pilsner, the first Budweiser. A brewery is known to have existed in 1118 , the city Brno had a right to brew beer from the 12th century, and the two cities most associated with Czech beer, Plzeň and Česke Budějovice certainly had breweries in the 13th century. Evan Rail offers his tips on the best of Czech beer culture.
Taproom with six brews from Budweiser Budvar, Pilsner Urquell and Kutna Hora, a regional producer.
Beer baths: Spa towns of Karlovy Vary (formerly Carlsbad) and Marianske lazne (aka Marienbad) can get you the beer bath: a therapeutic dip in a special bathing brew supervised by a licensed balneologist. The Chodovar family hotel holds the promise of a dip and a beery lunch at the brewery restaurant, the perfect recipe for the perfect laid-back day!
The oldest bridge in the country is Pisek’s Stone Bridge, dating from around 1300. The nearby Platan brewery is a South Bohemian favorite, offering one of the best strong specials, Prachenska Perla, with 6% alcohol and a syrupy, maple-like finish.
Best of the beer festivals: The Krkonosske pivni slavnosti, a festival of independent brewers from the Krkonose mountain region, that takes place every year on the second weekend in August.
The Malý Rohozec brewery, about an hour from Prague, which holds its beer festival on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice.
Brewery hotels: Czech lands are home to 16 brewpubs with guest rooms on the premises. The hilltop citadel town of Stramberk and Troobacz are home to the same.
Pilsner: Pilsner Urquell has staked its claim as the world’s first Pilsner, and it remains one of the country’s favourite producers. Here Pilsner Urquell is available on draught. You can try it at a tank pub like Malostranska Pivnice.
The brewery, hotel and bakery in Stramberk, home to the amazing Troobacz dark lager and special baked waffles known as “Stramberk Ears”.
Budweiser beer: Budweis in German - is celebrated as the home of the original Budweiser beer, though there are in fact two original breweries there (Budweiser Budvar and Budweiser Burgerbrau), both of which are involved in legal battles with Anheuser-Busch over the rights to the name.
Stiff Brews: Do you want more of an alcoholic content in your beer? Then this sure is the place to hit. The champion here is U Medvidku’s X-33, a remarkably complex lager of 12.6% alcohol, produced in numbered bottles and cellared for the best part of a year.
‘First Beer Tramway’ of the Chez republic is the beer group Sdruzeni Pratel Piva. To get to it you will have to take 11 tram from metro station I.P. Pavlova it to the end station at Sporilov (approximately 17 minutes).
Beer bottles at beer shop: Pivni Galerie, or “Beer Gallery”, hidden in a quiet residential neighborhood just out of the center is the place to get to . Owners Petr Vanek and Olga Vankova will have all in stock and knowledge about Czech.
Glassworks brewery: Located in the ski-jumping, North Bohemian town of Harrachov, it is definitely worth a visit. Tours of the glassworks are available, and you can watch glass-blowers work up a thirst from the brewpub’s mezzanine.
Prague is also home to some lovely architecture, The Charles Bridge, built in 1357, remains one of the city’s premier attractions.
Beer Gardens! Park-bench seating, and half-litres of Gambrinus beer from a kiosk cost the equivalent of 70 pence. To experience the same stroll along Letna, Prague.
The St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, as well as the city’s many statues, spires and rooftops, is clearly visible from the Letna beer garden.
Image credits: Evan Rail
