The Czech Republic is famous in Europe for its beers and the country has had a long history of brewing. Brewing has been taking place in the Břevnov Monastery since 993 - more than a thousand years ago. Today Czech beers are a common sight on the shelves all around the world - and especially across Europe.
The Czechs take their beer very seriously and it is seen as an integral part of life. A beer tour is just another great reason to visit the Czech Republic. The capital city Prague is a must-see - so much so that it is even a magical destination in the winter.
Importance Of Beers To The Czech Republic
While the Břevnov Monastery may have been brewing since 993, the major city of Brno has had the right to brew beer since the 12th century. The cities of Plzeň and České Budějovice (called Pisen and Budweis in German) have had breweries since the 13th century.
While it is hard to find lists that agree (in some countries, eg. most people just homebrew), some say that the Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption per capita in the world.
- No.1: By Some Measures, The Czech Republic Is the Top Beer Drinking Nation On Earth
- Per Capita: Annual Per Capital Consummation of 156 liters or 41 Gallons of Beer
Today beer is so engrained in the Czech national psyche that brewers are wary of raising prices too much while no politician dares raise the taxes too high either. Prices are kept slow low in the country that often brewers make little profit on domestic sales and it is exports that keep them afloat.
Top Czech Beers
In the Czech Republic, the most common beers are pale lagers of the pilsner type. They are typical of golden color, have high foaminess, and have a lighter flavor. This is in contrast to Ukraine where dark beers are popular as well as Belgium beers where beers are typically strong (around 8%) and have a strong flavor.
- Production: In 2016 Czech Breweries Produced A Record 20.48 Million Hectoliters Of Beer
The largest Czech beer breweries are Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen, and Budweiser Budvar with other large ones being Krušovice, Starobrno, Březňák, Zlatopramen, Lobkowicz, Bernard and Svijany.
- Straropramen: Brewed In Prague
- Kozel: Well-Known Beer Brewed In Velké Popovice Just out Of Prague
- Budweiser: It The Most Widely Exported Czech Beer (It Is Unrated To The Cheap American Brew - there Has Been Legal Wrangling Over The Name For Decades
In the Czech Republic and Prague, beer is served almost everywhere - even in breakfast cafes. And best of all the beer in the Czech Republic is cheap and taster terrific.
- Ordering: Ask for A "Pivo" = 0.5 Liters, or Ask For "malé pivo" = 0.3 Liters
Pilsner Urquell
The best known Czech beer is Pilsner Urquell, it has been brewed in the town of Plzeň since 1842. It is the original Pils beer from which all other golden beers around the world have derived.
- Gambrinus: Produced By Pilsner, Popular In The Czech Republic, But Not Well Known Outside Of The Country
Today, the Plzeňský Prazdroj group of breweries brews the following beers Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, Velkopopovický Kozel, and Radegast. This group has three separate breweries and makes their own specific beer. On average around forty percent of the beers served in the Czech Republic come from this group.
Do A Beer Tour And Visit The Microbreweries
There are hundreds of breweries in the Czech Republic and Ratebeer.com lists them out with their beers.
In addition to the big and popular breweries, the Czech Republic is alive with scores of stunning microbreweries all over the country. If one is looking for a beer sampling holiday, then the Czech Republic just might be the best place to go - with Belgium being another contender with its less orthodox beers.
- Number Of Breweries: Today There Is Reportedly Over 400 Breweries In The Country
- Growing: The Brew Industry In The Czech Republic Is Continuing To Grow
According to Prague.eu, in 2007 the Czech Republic had around 100 breweries, since then the country's breweries have exploded. Today there are more than 400 breweries and more are opening every month. In Prague, there are at least 30 breweries as well as rate bottle shops and specialty beer bars. The Czech Republic is a heaven for beer enthusiasts.
There are many beer tours in the Czech Republic with the Praguebeer.tours being one company offering beer tours.
If one is on the American West Coast, then these are 10 of the restaurants that serve the best beers. As they say:
"What could be a better Prague experience than venturing off the tourist path and connecting with local beer professionals over a cold one?"