The difference between Czech and Bavarian beer. Beer from the Czech Republic
Czech beer has a long history and rich traditions - it is known that already in 993 the Benedictine monks of the Brženov Monastery brewed this drink. It was in the Czech Republic, in the city of Pilsen, that in 1842 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 light lager with a clear golden color, light flavor and high foaminess. 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 can vary:
Top-fermented beer (ale) makes up a small part of the total. This type, for example, includes the Trappist ale Chimay and the Bohemian ale Bernard.
Brewing centers of the Czech Republic
- Svetle- light, pale yellow beer;
- Polotmave- amber, deep yellow color;
- Tmave- medium-dark, deep brown color;
- Černe- the darkest, black beer.
Assortment of Czech beers
Today, Czech beer is widely represented in the CIS countries. In WineStyle stores you can buy popular brands of Czech beer on favorable terms.
- Ceske Budejovice. The history of brewing in this city dates back to the 13th century. The modern plant began its existence in 1795. Today, the famous Budweiser Budvar beer, which is a protected geographical indication product, is produced here.
- Pilsen. Birthplace of the first pilsner (1842). Today, the Plzeňský Prazdroj plant 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 monks brewed beer more than 1,000 years ago. Today in the capital the dominant brand is Staropramen, although there are many small breweries in bars. The oldest of them, U Fleků, has been in operation since 1499.
- Brno and South Moravia. The monks began brewing Moravian beer around the 11th century. Today, Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, produces such famous beer brands as Starobrno and Černá Hora.
Czech beer - prices in Winestyle
In Winestyle stores in Moscow you can buy Czech beer at prices starting from 102 rubles.
You can find out how much Czech beer costs in bottles of various sizes in our catalog.
Beer in the Czech Republic is not just a low-alcohol drink made from hops and malt. In any country there is a cornerstone on which the national culture is based. Czech beer is just such a local foundation. It brings together centuries-old brewing traditions and the pride of the entire Czech people.
It is quite natural that under such conditions a huge number of varieties and brands of foamy drink were born. In Prague, and in the Czech Republic in general, the division of beer into light and dark looks like outright primitivism. The local brewing culture is much richer and more diverse.
This situation can best be illustrated with a simple example. Let's take Staropramen beer. This world-famous brand has, among others, the following varieties: Velvet (corduroy), Granat (pomegranate) and Kelt (Celt). Moreover, if you ask a Czech in Prague about corduroy or garnet, he will not start telling you about fabric or semi-precious stone. No, he will tell you in which restaurant you can taste these wonderful Czech beers.
But let's talk about everything in order.
Top Manufacturers
There are a huge number of beer producers in the Czech Republic. There is probably no point in listing them all. After all, among them there are brewing companies that brew Czech beer, which is, of course, unremarkable by local standards. Let's focus our attention on the best brewers and their most famous beers.
The following brands belong to the elite of Czech brewing:
- Pilsner Urquell (Pilsner Urquell);
- Budweiser Budvar (Budweiser Budvar);
- Staropramen (Staropramen);
- Krusovice (Krusovice);
- Velkopopovicky Kozel (Velkopopovicky Goat).
Of course, they are all familiar to Russian beer lovers. Moreover, almost all of them, except Budweiser, can be bought in our country in two variations. Made in Russia and brought from the Czech Republic. Of course, to understand what real Czech beer is, you should buy imported drinks. Domestic samples are significantly inferior to them in their taste or organoleptic qualities.
Pilsner Urquell
Surprisingly, most Czechs can easily name the best beer in their country. This is exactly how locals feel about Pilsner Urquell products. Interestingly, this name was coined as an international one for export purposes only. The Czechs themselves know this foamy drink as Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsen Prazdroj). However, for ease of perception and to avoid confusion, let's still use the international name.
Classic Pilsner Urquell has been brewed since 1842 in Pilsen. It is a bottom-fermented light beer or lager with a strength of 4.4 degrees and an initial wort density of 11.7%. The drink has a beautiful golden color and a rich snow-white foam. The aroma is formed by malt, herbal, grain and honey nuances. The taste is refreshing and balanced with pronounced honey notes, which are complemented by hop bitterness.
In addition, other brands are brewed at this enterprise: unfiltered pilsner, Master dark beer and Phoenix wheat beer, which contains orange.
Budweiser Budvar
Budweiser beer is a classic of Czech brewing. But it should not be confused with American Budweiser. The overseas manufacturer simply took advantage of the sonorous and glorious European name. This issue has been the subject of many years of international litigation.
Czech beer Budweiser Budvar is brewed in the city of Ceske Budejovice. In its modern form, production of this variety started in 1895. However, the history of the recipe used is much older. It dates back to 1265.
Classic Budweiser Budvar is a bottom-fermented light beer. It has a rich golden color. The rich aroma of malt is perfectly complemented by notes of flowers, herbs and hops. The lager has a balanced and smooth taste with malt, apple, floral, hop, herbal and grape notes with a slight hop bitterness.
In addition, the brewery produces the following brands: dark premium lager, light light Palebeer and many others.
Staropramen
This was the first brewing brand to appear on the domestic Russian market. In its homeland, this Czech beer is considered the third most popular. It is brewed in Prague. In addition to the traditional foamy drink, this manufacturer is interesting for its unique varieties: Velvet, Celt and Garnet.
They are distinguished by very beautiful foam. When pouring into a glass, the liquid pours from the top. The glass appears almost completely filled with foam, but when the bubbles settle, it turns out to be full of beer. This is an incredibly spectacular picture. In terms of its effectiveness, it can even compete with the bottling of the famous Irish stout Guinness.
Velvet is a golden-brown foamy drink in which hop bitterness plays a dominant role. Its rich, bitter taste is guaranteed to stay in your memory for a long time.
Kelt is an almost black beer with a hint of coffee and a powerful aroma of roasted barley malt.
Granat is a dark golden foamy drink with red flecks. The aroma is delicate with malt and hop notes. The taste has caramel and fruity tones. There is a pleasant refreshing acidity.
Krusovice
They are brewed at the “royal” brewery, located in a small town of the same name. This brand is known not only in the Czech Republic itself. It is actively exported and is currently successfully sold in several dozen countries around the world.
The main pearls of its assortment are the following varieties: light beer Imperial and dark Cerne. In my opinion, the second foamy drink deserves more attention. However, this is all extremely subjective.
Krusovice Imperial is a classic Czech lager. It contains 5% alcohol. The density of the initial wort of this foamy drink is 11.7%. It is distinguished by a luxurious bouquet and yellow-amber hue. The taste is fresh and drinkable. It consists of hints of malt and bread, complemented by the exquisite bitterness of hops. The aftertaste is dry and full, formed by nuances of nuts and hops.
Krusovice Cerne is a Czech lager. Its strength falls just a little short of the usual levels and amounts to 3.8 degrees. The beer appears to the taster in noble dark brown tones. The aroma is formed by malt, caramel, hop, and prune undertones. They are highlighted by notes of field herbs, juicy apples, garden plums, figs and hazelnuts. The manufacturer found amazing harmony in the taste. It amazes with its subtle play of roasted malt, spices, hops, chocolate and cocoa.
Velkopopovicky Kozel
In Russia, Velkopopovicky Kozel beer is the most famous Czech foamy drink. At home, his successes are not so impressive. However, he still has an army of loyal fans. It is brewed in the village of Velke Popovice. This small town is located near Prague.
Czech beer Velkopopovicky Kozel is presented on the domestic market in four varieties: light, dark, premium and cut. Each of them has a characteristic bitter aftertaste.
Velkopopovicky Kozel Svetly is a classic lager with a strength of 4 degrees and an initial wort density of 10%. The foamy drink has a beautiful golden color. The aroma is interesting. It is dominated by bread, malt and coriander shades. The taste is dry and balanced with pronounced hop bitterness.
Velkopopovicky Kozel Cerny is a lager with an alcohol content of 3.2% and an initial wort extract of 9%. The beer has a rich dark brown color with ruby highlights. The aroma reveals hop notes. The basis of its taste is formed by caramel shades.
Velkopopovicky Kozel deserves a separate discussion.
Traditional snacks
Czech beer is good in itself. However, the Czechs themselves are accustomed to snacking on it. We are, of course, not talking about chips, crackers and nuts. There are traditional Czech beer snacks. What captivates me most is their versatility. They are great for any type or brand of foamy drink.
One of the most popular beer snacks in the Czech Republic is stuffed hermelin. It is an analogue of the famous Camembert cheese. Before serving, the head of cheese is cut into 2 parts. After this, it is stuffed with spicy and hot spices and left to ripen in vinegar with oil, onions and peppers. This appetizer is usually served with black bread, small hot peppers and onion rings.
The drowning people also deserve attention. These are pickled bacon in a natural casing. To prepare them, high-quality sausages with large pieces of fat are used. They are kept in a spicy marinade with onions, vinegar and garlic for three days.
A hot appetizer can be any traditional dish of Czech cuisine.
As many people know, the Czech Republic is famous for its local alcoholic drinks, and perhaps the most popular of them is beer. Whatever you say, they know how to brew this intoxicating drink here. Tourists rush to the capital for impressions, so I will tell you what kind of beer you can try in Prague and where to do it.
As for the Czech Republic as a whole: I think you can easily find all or almost all of the listed beer brands in other cities of the country.
History and traditions
Beer was brewed in the Czech Republic by the Celts. Thus, this drink became firmly entrenched in the history of the country. In the 12th century, beer gained such popularity that it was brewed in almost every home. Needless to say, after visiting Prague, I myself was looking for recipes “for dummies.” Large workshops and factories appeared already in the 14th-15th centuries, and in 1842 a new type of beer was brewed in Pilsen - “Pilsner”, which in some way became a trendsetter for this drink.
Czech beer brands
There are about six dozen types of beer in the Czech Republic, so we won’t list them all. In addition, small breweries in Prague and other cities brew the intoxicating drink and do not bottle it, which increases the number of brands to perhaps several hundred.
Most likely, many have heard or seen the following names: Bernard, Budvar, Velkopopovitsky Kozel, Zlatopramen, Krusovice, Pilsner, Staropramen. If so, then know: this is all a Czech recipe, although the products of these companies are distributed throughout many countries of the world. But the taste of draft beer and bottled beer is very different, since preservatives are added to the latter for long-term storage. Therefore, be sure to try the drink in its first form. I will still describe the most interesting brands of beer, as well as my recommendations, but below.
Types of beer in the Czech Republic
At first glance, it may seem that no matter how you brew the beer, it will be the same. This is a very deep misconception. In the Czech Republic, beer is divided into 11 subgroups based on the mechanism of wort production, alcohol content and fermentation option. In addition, wort has such an indicator as density - a value measured for any liquid in comparison with water. Essentially, it is the concentration of dry substances in the initial wort, which give the drink its taste. This indicator is measured as a percentage. The higher the density, the richer and brighter the taste of the beer.
Let's consider the classification of this intoxicating drink so that we know what we are dealing with.
By group, beer is as follows:
- Světlá – light, made mainly from malt of the same name.
- Polotmava – semi-dark, made from dark, caramel malt mixed with light.
- Tmavá – dark, prepared without mixing with other malt.
- Ř ezaná – beer obtained by mixing light and dark ready-made drink.
The above is divided into subgroups as follows:
- stolni – table beer, brewed mainly from barley malt, with an initial wort density of up to 6%;
- výčepní – similar to the previous one, but with a density of 7-10%;
- ležáky – the same barley malt, but the density is 11-12%;
- special – similarly, density greater than or equal to 13%;
- portery – dark beer with a gravity of 18% or higher;
- se sníženým obsahem alkoholu – beer with a specially reduced alcohol content to 1.2% by volume or lower;
- pšeničná – wheat beer, also known as white beer, the malt of the same name must make up at least a third of the volume of the drink;
- kvasnicová – beer prepared by adding additional wort to the finished beer;
- nealkoholická – non-alcoholic, with a strength not exceeding 0.5°;
- ochucená – flavored, with the taste of fruits, herbs, honey or alcoholic beverages;
- z jiných obilovin – beer, one third or more consisting of grains other than barley or wheat.
In addition, there is a classification according to the method of fermentation: top and bottom. The first includes:
- English varieties - ale, stout;
- German - wheat, altbier;
- Belgian, for example, Trappist;
- porteri.
Beer produced by the second method is called lager. It includes the following subspecies:
- pils;
- marzen;
- Bavarian style beer.
I don’t think that such details will interest most, so we’ll leave them for aesthetes. Those interested can easily find a description on the Internet.
There is also a classification based on place of production.
Beer restaurants in Prague
You can drink beer in Prague at almost every step: street kiosks, bars, restaurants - they are all located in large numbers in tourist areas.
If you are not interested in local cuisine or surroundings, then there is no big difference where you try this drink. I’ll tell you about some unusual establishments.
Pivovarský dům
This restaurant is famous for its unusual types of beer: nettle, champagne or banana flavored, cherry, vanilla. I came here to try these drinks, let's say, to broaden my horizons. I wouldn’t say with certainty that these options are very tasty, but rather unique. But I would advise all interested tourists to try this beer out of pure curiosity.
Address: Lipová 15.
Opening hours: 11.00-23.30.
Klášterní Pivovar Strahov
This restaurant is located near the Strogiv Monastery. Yes, don’t be surprised, quite a few monasteries have their own breweries. Depending on the time of year, you can taste different drinks here. The permanent menu includes amber and dark unfiltered beer, and for the holidays, Easter and Christmas, special varieties are brewed: semi-dark Christmas beer and unfiltered wheat beer. Here you can also try unusual desserts: waffles made from beer dough, as well as ice cream made from this intoxicating drink.
Address: Strahovské nádvoří 301, Prague 1.
Opening hours: 10.00-22.00.
Prvni Pivni Tramway
This is an old tram depot, stylized as a trailer of the type of transport of the same name. It's very cozy and interesting here. This restaurant serves rare varieties of real Czech beer, for example, Conrad Výčepní, Baronka Premium, Permon Xmas Ale and others.
Address: Na Chodovci 1 .
Opening hours: 17.00-00.00.
Výtopna
In the city center, right on Wenceslas Square, next to the building of the National Museum, there is an interesting beer depot. This is a whole show: a train with trailers drives around the hall and delivers drinks to the tables.
That is, to order, the waiter comes up to you, writes down what and in what quantity needs to be brought to which table. And then the glasses and bottles drive up the ring road and stop near you. True, in the evening it can be difficult to get into this establishment: all the seats can be occupied. Therefore, you need to either come during the day or book a table in advance. Be sure to visit this establishment! Many tourists take pictures and videos of unusual restaurant delivery waiters. Needless to say, the idea is very original.
Address: Palác Fénix, Václavské nám. 802/56, 110 00 Praha - Nové Město.
Opening hours: 11.00-01.00 on Fridays and Saturdays, 11.00-00.00 on other days.
The best brands of beer according to the author
Tastes and preferences, as the famous saying goes, are different for everyone. But if you don’t know where to start, I dare to give my recommendations and short descriptions.
Bernard
This brand has about 12 types of beer. I especially liked JANTAROVÝ LEŽÁK (lager), ČERNÝ LEŽÁK (Black lager). Ležáky, also known as lager, is, as I already said, a type of beer formed during bottom fermentation. It is characterized by the fact that the final ripening of the drink occurs during storage. In addition to delicious alcoholic beer, the company produces non-alcoholic semi-dark, light, and also with plum and cherry flavors. I have not tried the fruit flavors of this particular manufacturer. But I found similar alcoholic versions of another brand to be quite tasty. Additionally, some bottles have a resealable cap.
Budweiser Budvar
The plant has been producing beer since 1895, but it has been brewed in Ceske Budejovice for about 750 years. There are both dark and light lagers. And for real connoisseurs they produce Kroužkovaný ležák (ringed). This type of beer is brewed in the same way as the classic one: wort is made, hops and yeast are added to it, after which the fermentation process begins. Since Budweiser is a lager, all beer is sent to special facilities for maturation. But for the production of Kroužkovaný ležák, a peculiarity appears: when filling kegs (metal containers for transporting or storing beer), another portion of new yeast and hop extract are added. Because of this, the drink ripens directly in the container. And for those who like stronger drinks, there is a special beer with a strength of 7.6°.
Velkopopovický Kozel
It is the owner of the honorary sign “Czech Beer” due to the preservation of traditions and production technologies. Don’t be surprised, not all local breweries have received this honor. This manufacturer produces three types of drink: light, semi-dark, dark and premium. I have heard from more than one person that this beer is the most delicious of those produced in Russia.
Krušovice
This is one of the oldest breweries in the Czech Republic, producing products around the beginning of the 16th century. The company produces the following types of beer:
- Krušovická 10°;
- Krušovická 12°;
- Černé (black);
- Mušketýr (musketeer);
- Malvaz (dark);
- Krušovice Imperial (imperial);
- Krušovice Jubilejní Ležák (jubilee lager);
- Krušovice Pšeničné (wheat).
I drove past the Krušovice factories, located near huge barley fields - it looks very impressive.
Master
This is a dark, sweet, very dense beer. As it was written on the Internet, it is sold in many places in Prague, but personally I had to try to find it. Until recently, the company was proud that beer was served only on tap, in special 0.4 liter glasses. This fact made the drink more unique and prestigious. But I definitely saw Master bottles in the customs-free area of the airport. Although, perhaps, this exception was made specifically for those leaving.
Pilsner Urquell
This is a light, very popular beer. Many summer cafes and pubs are open under this trade name in Prague. Beer of this brand is characterized by a pronounced hop taste, as well as fruity tones.
Staropramen
Thanks to a special type of yeast, beer has an unusual aroma and fresh taste. In addition, after pouring into glasses, the drink retains a dense head of foam. This company produces quite a few types of drink:
How much does beer cost in Prague?
In the Czech Republic, beer sometimes costs even less than mineral water, which makes this country even more popular for tourists. In restaurants and bars, half a liter of draft beer will cost you 30-35 CZK. And in breweries with locally produced drinks it’s a little more expensive – 40-50 CZK.
In stores, prices usually vary more. The cheapest beer I saw was for 8 crowns, even at the modern exchange rate this is just pennies. The upper limit can reach hundreds of crowns, because imported varieties are also brought to the Czech Republic, as to other countries: London, Belgian, German and others.
Beer in Prague can be drunk not only in pubs and restaurants, but also at home, having previously purchased it in a store. The intoxicating drink is sold in glass bottles and aluminum cans. Interestingly, glass containers can be returned. The price tag shows two prices: the beer itself and the deposit, that is, the cost of the packaging.
Large supermarkets, for example Kaufland, Albert, have special conveyors for receiving bottles. You can bring empty containers there, place them on the belt, and the automatic system will determine whether this form is accepted. As a result, you print out a receipt, and you can use it to pay part of the bill at this supermarket. For example, we handed over bottles worth 20 CZK, and the total purchase amounted to 200 CZK. By presenting a receipt, you only pay 280 CZK. It is not possible to convert the amount for returned bottles into cash. It’s better to buy something right away, because several times I forgot to show the receipt at the checkout.
Excursions
Many breweries offer tours that include drink tastings.
There are various options for visiting: organized and not. The first ones organize special excursion companies, whose representatives can be found in places where tourists gather: on Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Kampa Island and others. At the appointed time, you and other participants are picked up by a bus and taken straight to the plant, and delivered back after the event. The cost, of course, is not small, about a thousand Czech crowns, but for those interested it should be very interesting. The advantage of this type of excursion is that you can get a Russian-speaking guide.
You can find "cultural and beer" excursions. This happens when you combine visits to attractions and breweries:
- Konopiste Castle and Velke Popovice;
- and the Krušovice brewery;
- Křivoklát Castle and lunch at the Berounsky Bear brewery and so on. There are quite a lot of similar combinations; I won’t list them all.
In addition to searching for special excursion tents, you can use the following options:
- Many hotels organize excursions that you can join without even staying there. If you already live in one of these, just make an appointment at the reception. You can also go to the nearest hotels or inns in the city center and inquire there. Having visited a dozen or fewer places, I think you will find a suitable option.
- The Internet, where you can find literally everything.
Unorganized excursions are a more economical option. Breweries are usually located in or near cities that are accessible by bus or train. A transport ticket can be purchased for a hundred crowns. Next, single tourists are put into groups three times a day by language: Czech, English, German. Such an excursion will cost 300-500 CZK; the exact price depends on the factory and the amount of beer tasted.
How do they drink beer in the Czech Republic?
Of course, go with amazing cold or hot dishes. But don’t be confused, in the Czech Republic they don’t eat beer, since it has already absorbed all the essentials. The taste of an intoxicating drink should be enjoyed. That is, food here is consumed on its own, and not in addition to beer.
In addition to the fact that this drink can be consumed in the traditional way, there are also some original variants. For example, some Czechs wash down the local Becherovka liqueur with light beers. Fernet Stock, Slivovice and other strong alcohol can be consumed in a similar way. But for this they do not use large shot glasses, but special small glasses with a capacity of 20 ml.
There are also options to add various alcohol directly to a mug of beer. So, by “throwing” a shot of mint liqueur into a glass, you get the “Magic Eye” cocktail. But, as people who have tried it say, the consequences in the morning may not be the most pleasant.
Not long ago, the Czechs developed a tradition of mixing beer with juice. But still, I repeat that it is customary to enjoy the taste of an intoxicating drink, so such manipulations are still considered bad manners in many bars.
It is impossible to call a particular type of Czech beer the best and recommend it to everyone. Czech– this is the heritage of the nation, centuries-old traditions and a popular product. People in Russia love this drink very much. Czech beer is part of the distinctive national culture. Czech brewer is considered one of the most respected and prestigious professions among Czechs. Czech breweries are famous all over the world.
The history of their beer goes back thousands of years; the drink was mentioned in chronicles of the 11th century. Many people want to know the recipes of famous brands of the drink.
Pilsner Urquell
Pilsner Urquel is the most famous in the Czech Republic; it is brewed by the best brewers at the brewery in the city of Pilsen. He is known on all continents and in many countries. The drink was first brewed by Josef Groll, who came to Pilsen from Bavaria at the invitation of colleagues in 1842.
Genuine Pilsner Urquel cannot be confused with other varieties. This is a light bottom-fermented one. A bright golden drink with a classic aroma of herbs and malt, characterized by honey notes and a bitter aftertaste. The raw materials are of very high quality; pure soft water, the best barley and Bohemian malt are used in the preparation. The drink is produced using triple digestion technology.
Velkopopovitsky Kozel is a famous brand all over the world, loved by many connoisseurs. It is produced at the Velkopopovitsky Kozel brand brewery. The brewery is located in the village of Velke Popovice, which is not far from Prague.
The line includes four varieties:
- dark,
- light,
- medium,
- light medium.
Dark Goat is the best dark, it has a fruity aroma and a chocolate flavor. The light one has a pronounced hop taste, a drink with liquid foam and a golden color. All varieties of Velkopopovitsky Kozl have a bitter aftertaste.
Staropramen
Staropramen deservedly ranks third in popularity in the Czech Republic. Beer is produced at the Staropramen Brewery in Prague by the best brewers. About ten types of beer are produced and each of them is interesting to people in its own way. Dark with a subtle aroma of roasted malt, light with a sweetish malt flavor. This type of non-alcoholic beer is considered the best in its category in the Czech Republic.
Budweiser Budvar do not confuse with American Budweiser, these are different brands. The drink with a bittersweet taste has been brewed in Ceske Budejovice since 1895. The dispute over the right to use the word Budweiser in the name has been going on for several decades. The Czech brand remains unrivaled.
Budvar is brewed from the best hops and malt. Artesian water from wells is used in production. A drink with a specific taste and smell, has a golden color, and is characterized by a low carbohydrate content.
Types of beer brewed:
- Dark premium,
- Light lager premium,
- aged mug,
- special strong, light “Pardal”.
Krušovice and Bernard
The plant brews dark, light, light light, wheat Krušovice Pšeničné, light special Mušketýr, semi-dark Malvaz.
- Bernard is also an old brand of beer. Unpasteurized beer has been produced since 1597 in the city of Humpolec. Bernard is produced in two types: light, sweetish and with a hop aroma, and semi-dark with a noticeable aftertaste and balanced taste.
Velvet and Kelt – from Staropramen
Velvet and Klt are produced by the company Pivovar Staropramen. It is famous not only for its taste, but also for its bottling features. The drink is poured into glasses at 400 mo with an “avalanche” effect. First, the foam rushes down. Liquid is poured from the top and then passes to the bottom. The glass seems to be completely filled with foam, but when all the bubbles settle, it is completely full.
Velvet is a golden brown drink with thick foam and bitterness. Celt is dark, even black, with a taste of coffee and the aroma of well-roasted barley.
All of the brands listed above are manufactured not only in the Czech Republic, but also in other countries. The name “Czech beer” can be used to refer to a drink that is produced in the Czech Republic.
There are many beer pubs in the Czech Republic and the tradition of visiting them is passed down from generation to generation. Czechs prefer draft drinks to bottled drinks. There are even special guides to beer establishments published for guests of the Czech Republic and for residents of the country.
Beer for treatment and spa procedures
It's not just pubs and restaurants that are popular in the Czech Republic. The 21st century has brought its own innovations. The beer drink has become widely used in cosmetology. The beer spa is located in Chodova Plana. People from all over the world come to try hop massages and beer baths. It is believed that these procedures rejuvenate and relieve skin diseases. Clients end their beauty sessions with a glass of fresh draft beer.
Some beers are specifically used to treat various diseases. Pilsner Urquela is low in calories. It is recommended for people with kidney pathologies and peptic ulcers. They say that the variety acts on the body like mineral water. The Balthasar beer drink, which is produced in Karlovy Vary, contains few carbohydrates and is recommended for diabetics.
It has not yet been proven whether these beers produce beneficial effects. But everyone knows that the main thing is to sincerely believe in the healing power and this will help.
The Czech Republic has its own traditions in drinking the drink. It is believed that the taste of beer is revealed only on the third mug. It is recommended to drink beer in three sips, the first to drink half of the mug, the second and third to drink the remaining half. Glasses are only suitable for porcelain and glass. Pouring or topping up a drink is considered unethical. Not many people will reveal the recipe for Czech beer.
Note:After the end of the temperature pause* at 62°C (or during it), it is necessary to separate part of the mash into a filter tank. Calculate the volume so that after combining the parts, the whole mash reaches the mesh-out temperature = 78°C. In my case it is 250 l (remains in the boiler).
* At first glance, it may seem that the pause lasts only 15 minutes, but you need to pay attention to the fact that the separated part remains on its own in the filter vat for about 45 minutes until the decoction is added to it again. As a result, the pause is 60 minutes.
Boil the remaining mash in the kettle for 30 minutes. Then we combine it with the part in the filter vat. I leave it for 10-15 minutes to allow the grain to settle and begin filtering.
The main fermentation is 5-7 days at a temperature of 10°C until the extract content is 4.5°P. Remove from yeast and send for further fermentation - 30 days at 2°C
Sheet pile device at 0.8 bar. Estimated CO2 content 5.4 g/l
Ingredients
Cereals:
Hop:
Yeast:
For fermentation, 10,500 billion yeast cells are recommended: 105 fresh packets or bottles of liquid yeast or 525 grams of dry yeast.
Mashing options
Mashing method:
Cereal (with decoctions)
Temperature breaks:
Water requirement:
Mash water: 349.2 l(hydraulic module 3.6 l/kg) | Rinse water: 377.5 l(grain absorption 1.1 l/kg) | Total water: 726.7 l
Cooking parameters
Cooking efficiency: 95.4 %
Boiling time: 90 min| Whirlpool/sludge after boiling: 20 minutes| Cooling: 20 minutes
Batch size after boiling: 560 l.| Evaporation: 9.7 %
| Batch size before boiling: 620 l.
Carbonation parameters
Batch size after fermentation: 504 l.| Carbonation temperature: 2 °C
Primer:
Extra options
Energy value: