Everyone knows that the Czech Republic is one of the world’s superpowers as far as brewing beer is concerned. Not only in the volume produced, but also in the quality, which has practically become a factor defining the culture of the whole nation. It has an important role on weekdays and is an obligatory accompaniment to feasts. The question of beer has had an influence on each and every group of society for many centuries. What is the secret of Czech beer? Let’s go on a journey to find the answer. Accompanied by a professional guide, let’s visit Prague and the most important Czech breweries (Pilzen, České Budějovice, Krušovice, Velké Popovice etc.) and acquaint ourselves with the expertise of hop growers, brewers and beer coolers of old times. Let’s experience the atmosphere of breweries, inhale the scent of copper kettles.
Budvar
The Budějovice Budvar brewery can be visited by preliminary arrangement every day between 9:00 a.m. and 16:30 p.m. The guided tour takes some 80 minutes and it is available in Czech, German, English or French. The brewery and museum visit can be combined with beer tasting. The famous Budějovice Budvar and several beer specialities of the brewery can be tested in the Budvar inn, right next to the brewery.
Nymburk
Nymburk has almost certainly been involved in brewing beer right from the time it was founded. The order about the establishment of the present famous brewery was dated on April 29, 1895 and in the first year 21 075 hectolitres of beer were produced and with this a new era started in the town. The atmosphere of the brewery between the two world wars was described in a totally unique style by the famous Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal in his book Cutting it Short and it was turned into a famous film by Jiří Menzel.
Pivovarský dům
A characteristic brewery established more recently in Prague is located at the intersection of Ječná Street and Lípová Street. Beside the traditional light and dark lagers, several other beer specialities are brewed on the spot for example wheat beer, different fruit-based beers (sour cherry, banana) or beer flavoured with vanilla and coffee. In addition, this is the only brewery where a beer speciality resembling champagne called Samp is available.
The brewery with its copper kettles is also open to visitors and a tour guide offers a small presentation in any of the major languages.
The kitchen of the restaurant offers mostly traditional Czech foods and several courses of international cuisine. Open: 11:00 a.m. until 23:30 p.m.
Staropramen
The most up to date brewing technology is what we will find if we arrange an appointment at Staropramen. The visit together with beer tasting takes about an hour. Local guides give lectures in English, German, French or Czech about the lager cellars, the fermentation plant and the historical part of the brewery.
U Fleků
U Fleků, established in 1499, is the brewery that has been operating for the longest time in Prague. It is near Charles Square in the New Town, in a silent side street named Křemencova. The brewery boasts a brewing hall built at the turn of the century, and oak fermenting tubs in which ten thousand hectolitres of its famous dark beer is brewed annually. Most of the beer made here is consumed locally and is not available anywhere else. Tours are available for groups of at least ten visitors. The brewing process can be seen on workdays between 10:00 a.m. and 16:00 p.m. (combined with beer tasting). Beside the brewing process the museum of U Fleků is worth seeing.
Velké Popovice
The brewery established in the 15th century is situated near the capital of the Czech Republic.
A visit to Velké Popovice shows us the development of the region and the activity of the Ringhoffer-family. An obligatory part of the tour is the beer tasting that takes place in the Restaurant U Velkopopovickeho Kozla.
Pilsner and the Benchmark for All Beers
Pilsner is the best-known and most imitated of all lagers. It was named after the Czech town Plzen (in German Pilsen), in which “the benchmark for all beers” has been brewed since 1842. Its characteristic fresh, slightly bitter flavour and long-lasting head of foam is due to its rich hop content. Germans admit that this type of beer was first brewed in Pilsen of Bohemia, but they say that the Bavarian brewers working here and in other breweries of Bohemia had a crucial role in the making of this benchmark beer, their experience has made Pilsner Urquell an “étalon”. Plzensky Prazdroj, known around the world as Pilsner Urquell, means something like: “Pilsner from the (ancient) original source”, in order to distinguish it from al other “Pilsners”. It is quite interesting that Germans, who were accustomed to lighter and softer beers, did not like the strong hop taste of Pilsner Urquell at first. Pils became a fashionable beer in Berlin only in 1872 and soon became the favourite beer of Germans and all Europeans.
Staropramen