Beer master in Prague. Czech beer

When asked what associations the Czech Republic evokes in them, many tourists will answer: Prague, hockey, Karlovy Vary, Jagr, Skoda, castles, Schweik, and, of course, beer. Beer, of course, is the first association that comes to mind for many. And no wonder, because more than 500 brands of excellent beer are produced in the Czech Republic, which most tourists from Russia must try during their holidays. I think it's time to talk about Czech beer.

The Czech Republic is the leader in beer consumption per person. Just imagine: the average Czech drinks 132 liters of beer in year. Russia is on the 26th place according to this indicator. And the question of whether what most Russians drink can be called beer remains debatable. The popularity of beer in the Czech Republic is explained by its beneficial properties and the good compatibility of this foamy drink with traditional Czech dishes. In the Czech Republic, you have a great opportunity to drink excellent quality beer for little money.

History of Czech brewing

Czech beer and the brewing industry have a long history and long tradition. The first documentary mention of a Czech brewery refers to the brewery at the Břevnov Monastery (Břevnovský klášter) in 993.

In ancient times, beer was brewed in a primitive way in almost every home. However, they did not drink it, but prepared various dishes with it: soups, cereals, sauces.

The middle of the 19th century is considered to be the golden age of Czech brewing. The main technological changes in the brewing process at this time: the transition to bottom fermentation, the closure of small breweries, the emergence of new breweries, the appearance of the sugar meter, mechanical cooling, widespread beer advertising. It was at this time that the industrial production of malt and beer was launched. Much attention was paid to the training of future brewers and the quality of beer.

What is Czech beer?

According to Czech law, beer is: a foamy drink obtained by fermenting a must obtained from malt, water and hops. There should be no other ingredients in the composition of Czech beer, only malt, hops, water and brewer's yeast for bottom fermentation.

Czech beer (České pivo) is a protected geographical mark. The purpose of this protection is to preserve the reputation and quality of beer produced in the Czech Republic. The right to be called Czech beer is given to a drink that has passed the audit and quality control of raw materials, brewing, and the final product by a special state inspection. In addition to a certain quality and place of production, Czech beer must have the following properties: rich taste, slight bitterness, minimal presence of foreign odors and tastes. On the beer map of the Czech Republic, you can see that beer is brewed in all corners of the country.

The most famous Czech beer brands

Budějovický Budvar (Budweiser)- beer from the city of Ceske Budějovice, which is supplied to more than 60 countries. 1.6 million hectoliters (hl) are produced per year.

Černá Hora (Black Mountain)- beer is produced at one of the oldest breweries in the city of České Budějovice.

Gambrinus (Gambrinus)- Gambrinus beer is one of the most popular on the Czech market, produced in the beer capital of the Czech Republic in the city of Pilsen.

Krušovice- the famous brand of beer, which began to be produced in 1581 in the village of Krusovice.

Master (Master)- fortified beer under the Master brand has become popular in the Czech Republic, it is produced at a factory in the village of Velke Popovice.

Pilsner Urquell (Pilsner Urquell)- light bottom-fermented beer, produced since 1842 in the city of Pilsen. Pilsner Urquell's main brewing features are the Saaz hop variety, which grows only in Bohemia, thanks to which this beer has a characteristic bitter aftertaste.

Radegast (Radegast)- this beer began to be produced in 1970 in the Moravian city of Frydek-Mistek. Beer Radegast is named after the West Slavic god.

Starobrno (Starobrno)- the brewery is located in the city of Brno and produces 914 thousand hectoliters of beer per year. The brewery has been operating since 1325!

Staropramen (Staropramen) is the most popular Czech brand of beer, which has been produced in Prague at the Smichov brewery since the 19th century.

Velkopopovický Kozel (Velkopopovický Kozel)- most Russians like to drink this brand of beer. Beer in the village of Velké Popovice began to be produced in 1874, the symbol of the brewery is a goat.

Classification of beer by density

In Russia, beer labels and menus in restaurants usually indicate the percentage of alcohol in beer. In the Czech Republic, the percentage of wort is indicated (the density of the beer depends on this). And don't be surprised when you see numbers 10° and 12° on beer labels.

10° (Desitka) means that the beer must contain at least 10% wort. Such beer contains 3 - 4.3% alcohol, and the traditional fermentation cycle is about 25-35 days.

12° (Dvanactka) means that the beer contains up to 12% wort. Such beer contains more alcohol, about 4.5 - 5%, the fermentation cycle lasts about 90 days.

Classification of beer by color

Svetlé (light)- beer brewed from light malt;
Polotmavé (semi-dark)- beer brewed from roasted and caramelized malts, which are mixed with light malts;
Tmavé (dark or black) is beer brewed from roasted malt;
Řezane (sliced)- This is light and dark beer poured into one glass in the same proportion. In most restaurants, they will simply mix light and dark beer for you, but virtuosos pour it in such a way that a clear boundary between the layers is visible.

Classification of beer by type of fermentation

Often beer is classified according to the type of fermentation (fermentation). Beer is divided into top-fermented and bottom-fermented beers.

top fermentation occurs at a relatively high temperature of 15-25 °C. Prior to the introduction of bottom fermentation, almost all beer was produced in this way. The most famous beers produced in this way are ale, porter, stout, and wheat beer.

bottom fermentation occurs at low temperatures of 4-9 °C. This method uses the yeast Saccharomyces uvarum or Saccharomyces carlsbergensis.

I will not go into details and talk about all types of fermentation, but I will tell you about the most popular type of fermentation, which is used in the production of Czech beer.

Pils- light beer, filled with a rich taste, with a clearly visible soft and slight bitterness. This type of beer is not entirely Czech, it originated in Central Europe in the middle of the 19th century, and this production technology was brought to the Czech Republic by German brewers in 1842. Within a short time, all breweries in the Czech Republic and Moravia switched to this production technology. This type of fermentation is used in beer production around the world, but the Czech Pilsner Urquell is a role model.

The division of Czech beer into groups

In addition to division by color, Czech beer can be divided into 11 groups, which differ in the way the wort is prepared and the alcohol content.

Stolni (table) is a beer made predominantly from barley malt, with an initial wort gravity of up to 6.99°.
Výčepní (scratch out)- beer made mainly from barley malt, with a density of 7 - 10 °.
Lezak (bed)- beer made mainly from barley malt, with a density of 11 - 12 °.
Special (special)- beer made primarily from barley malt, with a gravity of 13° or more.
Porter (porters)- dark beer, made mainly from barley malt, with a density of 18 ° and above.
Pivo se sníženým obsahem alkoholu (low alcohol beer)- beer with an alcohol content of 0.5 - 1.2%.
Nealkoholické pivo (non-alcoholic beer)- beer with an alcohol content of not more than 0.5%.
Pšenicné (wheat)- beer brewed from wheat malt, the share of which is not less than 1/3.
Kvasnicové (yeast)- beer, in which active yeast or wort is added after boiling. These beers contain more vitamin B.
Ochucené (flavoured)- beer to which flavors are added (fruit concentrates, herbs, flavors, honey or alcoholic beverages). I have seen mint, hemp, grapefruit, orange, blackcurrant flavored beers. The alcohol content in such beer is from 1.5 to 15%.
Z jiných obilovin (from other grains)- beer brewed from extracts of cereals other than barley and wheat, the share of which is at least 1/3.

In addition to the types of beer described above, there is beer with a high content of wort, fortified beer, beer with various flavors. More 120 Czech breweries produce 550 beer brands that will please the most demanding customer.

Czech beer has a long history and rich traditions - it is known that already in 993, the Benedictine monks of the Brzenov Monastery brewed this drink. It was in the Czech Republic, in the city of Pilsen, in 1842 that they first mastered the technology of bottom fermentation and brewed light beer of the pilsner category. By the middle of the 19th century, it was possible to buy industrially produced Czech beer in almost all cities of the country.

Czech beer styles

The most common style of Czech beer is a pale lager with a clear golden color, light flavor and high headiness. This category includes all well-known brands of Czech beer: Staropramen, Krusovice, Prazacka, Budveiser Budvar, Bakalar, etc.

The strength of Czech beer ranges from 3-9%, and the color may vary:

Top-fermented beer (ale) is a small part of the total volume. This type, for example, includes the Trappist ale Chimay and the Bohemian ale Bernard.

Czech brewing centers

Svetle- light, pale yellow beer;
Polotmave- amber, rich yellow color;
Tmave- medium dark, deep brown;
Černe- the darkest, blackest beer.

Assortment of Czech beers

Today Czech beer is widely represented in Russia. In the WineStyle store you can buy popular brands of Czech beer on favorable terms.

České Budějovice. The history of brewing in this city dates back to the 13th century. The modern factory began its existence in 1795. Today, the famous Budweiser Budvar beer, which is a product with a protected geographical indication, is produced here.
Pilsen. Birthplace of the first pilsner (1842). Today, the Plzeňský Prazdroj factory produces beer brands such as Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, Primus.
Prague. The history of brewing in the Czech capital is inextricably linked with the monasteries, within whose walls the monks brewed beer more than 1000 years ago. Today, Staropramen is the dominant brand in Stlitsa, although there are many small breweries attached to the bars. The oldest of them, U Fleků, has been in operation since 1499.
Brno and South Moravia. Monks began to brew Moravian beer around the 11th century. Today, Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, produces such well-known beer brands as Starobrno and Černá Hora.

It is impossible to unequivocally call some kind of Czech beer the best and recommend it to everyone. Czech beer is an age-old tradition, the heritage of the nation, national pride and just a popular product.

Czech beer is part of the original. The profession of a brewer (sweetie) is considered among the Czechs one of the most prestigious and respected. The history of Czech beer dates back over a thousand years - the drink was first mentioned in historical chronicles at the end of the 11th century.

Almost every small town and every village in the Czech Republic brews its own beer. There are many varieties of the drink; some of them are unique - they are passed down from century to century and link different generations.

Pilsner Urquell - beer for all time

Pilsner Urquell is perhaps the most famous Czech beer brewed on. It is known in many countries on all continents. Pilsner Urquel is an international name, but in the Czech Republic this brand is called Plzeňský Prazdroj. The drink was first brewed by Josef Groll, a brewer who came to the city from Bavaria at the invitation of Czech colleagues in 1842.

An authentic pilsner is never confused with other beers. This is a bottom-fermented pale lager. The drink is characterized by a bright golden color, a classic aroma of malt and herbs, pronounced honey notes and a slightly bitter aftertaste. The unique properties of pilsner are explained by the special quality of raw materials: only the purest soft natural water is used in the preparation, the best barley from Moravia and Bohemian Saaz malt are used. Beer is produced using triple digestion technology.

Pilsensky Prazdroj also brews rare varieties: unfiltered pilsner, beer "Master" (semi-dark and dark), wheat with the addition of Phoenix orange. Website: pilsner-urquell.cz

Velkopopovicky Kozel

Velkopopovický Kozel – a beer with a rich history

Velkopopovický Kozel is a world famous brand, loved by many connoisseurs. It is produced according to traditional recipes at (Velkopopovický pivovar). The company operates in the village of Velké Popovice in the Central Bohemian region, which is located near Prague. In this famous village, they even celebrate the "Day of the Goat" every year. Celebrants are not forbidden to get drunk to the state of the "prototype" of their favorite beer.

The Velkopopovický Kozel range includes four varieties: light, dark, medium, light premium. Dark Kozel is perhaps one of the best dark beers, which has a pronounced taste of chocolate and fruit aroma. Light beer has a pronounced taste of hops, the drink has a beautiful golden color, liquid foam. All varieties have a characteristic bitter aftertaste. Website: www.kozel.cz

Staropramen

Staropramen - brewed directly in Prague, in the Smichov region

Staropramen in the Czech Republic is deservedly considered the third most popular. Produced at (Pivovar Staropramen) in Prague. More than ten types of Staropramen beer are produced, and each is interesting in its own way to lovers. Dark varieties have a subtle aroma of roasted malt; lighter ones have a sweetish malt flavor. Many Praguers drink Staropramen daily. The non-alcoholic Staropramen Nealko is considered the best Czech beer in its category. Website: pivovary-staropramen.cz

Budweiser Budvar

Budějovický Budvar - famous beer from České Budějovice

Budejovitsky Budvar (Budějovický Budvar) or Budweiser Budvar (Budweiser Budvar) should not be confused with the American beer Budweiser - they are completely different brands. The city has been brewing its own beer with a pronounced bittersweet taste since 1895. A legal dispute over the right to use the word Budweiser in the name of the drink lasted for several decades. However, the Czech brand remained out of competition.

Budějovický Budvar is brewed with the best Žatek head hops and Moravian malt. In production, artesian water is used from wells of three hundred meters deep. Budweiser beer has a specific smell and taste, golden color; characterized by high antioxidant capacity and low carbohydrate content.

The brewer brews the following types of beer: premium light lager, premium dark lager, Palebeer light lager, special strong (bottled only), aged mug (draft only), Pardal light beer. Website: www.budvar.cz

Krusovice

The key to the excellent taste of Krušovice beer is soft water, which is delivered from wells located in the Křivoklát forests. The drink is brewed at the Royal, founded in the town of Krusovice in 1583. Today, Heineken Ceska repeublika produces several brands of beer. The most popular variety is Krušovice Černé, a dark lager with a caramel flavor and noticeable bitterness.

The factory also brews: light, dark, light light, light special Mušketýr, wheat Krušovice Pšeničné, semi-dark Malvaz. Website: www.krusovice.cz

Bernard

Bernard is also an old brand. This unpasteurized beer has been produced since 1597 in the town of Humpolec. Bernard beer is produced in two variations: semi-dark with a balanced taste and a noticeable aftertaste and light - sweetish, with an accentuated hop aroma. Website: bernard.cz

Velvet and Kelt - hits from Staropramen

Brands Velvet (Velvet) and Kelt (Kelt) releases Pivovar Staropramen. This beer is famous not only for its taste, but also for its bottling features. The drink is poured into glasses of 400 ml with an "avalanche" effect. Foam first rushes down. The liquid is poured from the top and then flows to the bottom of the glass. The glass seems to be almost completely filled with foam, but when the bubbles settle, it remains full of beer.

Velvet - golden brown, with a clear bitterness and thick foam. Kelt is dark, almost black, with a bitter coffee flavor and a strong aroma of roasted barley.

All these brands are made in many countries - not only in the Czech Republic. However, the name "Czech beer" can only legally be used in relation to a drink produced on Czech territory.

There are many pubs in the Czech Republic; The tradition of visiting them is literally passed down from generation to generation. Czechs prefer freshly produced draft beer to bottled beer. For residents of the country and for guests of the Czech Republic, special ones are issued.

Beer for spa treatments and treatments

Not only classic pubs and restaurants are popular in the country. The 21st century has brought new trends. Beer in the Czech Republic is now widely used in cosmetology. The beer spa-center successfully operates in the town of Khodova-Plana; in the Liberec district, a beer spa was also opened at the Harrachov Glassworks. People from all over the world come to try the effect of (Pivní lázně) and massage with hops. They say that such procedures give unprecedented sensations, rejuvenate, relieve skin diseases. Clients are offered to complete their wellness and cosmetic sessions with a mug of fresh beer.

Some varieties of the drink are used in the complex therapy of various diseases. Pilsner Urquel has a low acidity. This beer is recommended for people suffering from gastrointestinal ulcers and kidney pathologies. It is believed that this variety acts on the body in a similar way to mineral water. The distillery produces Baltazar dark beer, which is characterized by a low carbohydrate content. It is recommended for diabetics.

Studies have not proven whether these varieties produce any beneficial effect. Perhaps this is just a marketing ploy. However, it has long been known that the placebo effect plays a significant role in the healing of all diseases. The main thing is to sincerely believe in the healing power of the drink.

Classification of beer into groups by type of malt

Beer is made from hops, yeast, various types of grain (barley, corn, wheat, rice). All types of drink are divided by type of malt into four groups:

Light (světlá) - the most common beer, made from pale malt.
Dark (tmavá) is an exquisite beer for true connoisseurs. Made with dark malt.
Semi-dark (polotmavá) - golden brown beer. Produced on the basis of dark, light, caramel malt, taken in different proportions.
Sliced (řezaná) beer is made from two (or more) dark and light beers.

In the Czech Republic, varieties of low density are in demand. The most popular beer is considered to have an initial wort density of 10–12%. The percentage of alcohol in light varieties, as a rule, is not more than 3.5% obj; in sunbeds, "twelve" - from 3.7 to 4.2% obj.

Classification into subgroups

The groups are divided into eleven subgroups, depending on the recipes for the preparation of the wort, the percentage of alcohol, the methods of final preparation:

Table beer (Stolni) - beer mainly from barley malt, with the density of the original wort up to 6%.
Výčepní is a beer made from barley malt with a gravity of about 7-10%.
Lezhaki (Ležák) - beer with a density of 11-12%, mainly on barley malt.
Special varieties (Speciální) - density from 13%, mainly on barley malt.
Porters (Porter) - dark varieties with a density of 18%, mainly on barley malt.
Wheat (Pšeničné) – beer brewed with at least one third of wheat malt.
Reduced alcohol beer (se sníženým obsahem alkoholu) – alcohol content not exceeding 1.2% by volume.
Non-alcoholic beer (nealkoholická) - the alcohol content is not higher than 0.5% by volume.
Yeast fermented beer (Kvasnicové) - a variety where additional wort is added to the finished beer. May be filtered or unfiltered.
Flavored (Ochucené) - beer with flavors (fruit concentrates, herbs or herbal extracts, natural flavors, honey or alcoholic beverages), alcohol content from 1.2 to 15% of the total alcohol volume.
Beer from other grains (Z jiných obilovin) – brewed from an extract containing at least one third of grains other than barley and wheat.

You can appreciate the whole variety of Czech beer not only in the capital. In the Czech Republic, there is the famous "beer triangle": Czech Budejovice - the brewery "Budejovitsky Budvar"; Trebon - Brewery "Regent"; the city of Protivin - the plant "Protivin Plane".

How to drink beer

The Czechs have their own traditions of drinking intoxicating drink. They believe that the taste of beer is not revealed immediately, but only on the third mug. It is recommended to drink beer in three sips, with the first sip drinking about half a glass, then the second - half of the remaining half, and already the third - all the drink remaining in the glass. Not all glasses are suitable, but only glass or porcelain. It is considered unethical to pour beer from vessel to vessel, as well as to add a fresh drink to an unfinished portion.

How do I save on hotels?

Everything is very simple - look not only on booking.com. I prefer the RoomGuru search engine. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and 70 other booking sites.

Beer for the Czech Republic is a part of national history and one of the symbols of the state. Therefore, the phrase "Czech beer" is a brand, the rights to which are protected by the law of the country. To obtain the status of a producer of real Czech beer, the brewery must be located in the Czech Republic, and the drink must pass inspections for compliance with production traditions and technology requirements. During the audit, the product is carefully examined for taste, color, density and smell.

History of Czech beer

Several thousand years ago, the Celts, who lived on the territory of modern Europe, already knew how to brew a drink that was similar in recipe to beer. But it cannot be considered a predecessor of traditional Czech beer. According to official data, for the first time the name "beer" was mentioned in 1088, when King Vratislav II ordered to send some bags of hops to the monks to the monastery to make an intoxicating drink. Despite the fact that the monks in the Břevno Monastery have learned how to make beer since 993, King Vratislav II is still considered the father of Czech brewing.

The first official breweries began to appear in 1118. After the World Wars, a deep economic crisis broke out in Europe. Therefore, many factories that were engaged in the production of beer were closed. Then the Czech Republic for a long time was under the influence of the so-called socialist camp. This fact greatly hampered the development of the brewing industry in the country. However, Czech brewers scrupulously kept centuries-old unique recipes for brewing beer and were able to bring them to our days.

Manufacturing features

The requirements for making real Czech beer are strict. During production, the purest water is used, extracted from deep artesian wells.

In the manufacture of light beer, raw malt is used. For dark varieties - malt that has been roasted. It is noteworthy that during the brewing of beer, only female inflorescences of cereals are added. This is due to the content of tannins in them, as well as special aromatic components, thanks to which the drink acquires characteristic taste qualities.

Varieties and styles of Czech beer

The vast majority of beer produced in the Czech Republic belongs to light varieties. The color palette of the drink primarily depends on the type of malt. The hue can vary from golden light to dark brown.

The main types of Czech beer:

Light. The most popular variety, made from pale malt.
Dark. It is considered a drink with a refined refined taste. For its manufacture, roasted malt is used.
Semi-dark. From different types of malt.
Cut. It is made thanks to the skillful combination of two different types of beer - light and dark.

The strength index varies within eight degrees.

Beer also differs in the composition of raw materials. It happens:

barley;
yeast;
wheat;
non-alcoholic;
flavored.

What to serve with Czech beer

In the Czech Republic, beer is served with a cheese plate or cold cuts. All sorts of salads made from different types of cheese, fish or onions and butter will be a great snack for an intoxicating drink. Among most Czechs, one of the favorite snacks that goes well with the taste of real Czech beer is marinated cheese with garlic. Also, along with beer, you can serve salted fish, meat pudding and even fresh, preferably freshly baked, bread.