Czech beer is a symbol of its centuries of progress in the techniques and innovations in brewing. The most noble profession in the Czech Republic throughout history is that of a brewer. Many who have perfected their art are even known as Master Brewers.
The bohemian region has the perfect climatic conditions required for growing a quality harvest of hops, one of the key ingredients of a good beer. The Saaz hops cultivated in Bohemia are considered noble hops suitable for the most premium beers and hence were considered a valuable commodity. To protect the integrity of Czech beer and its customs, The King of Bohemia Wenceslaus imposed the death penalty on everybody attempting to export any hop cutting that could be used as new hop seedlings. This endeared him to the local hop farmers and the brewers.
"Blessed is the mother who gives birth to a brewer”
(Famous Czech Saying)
The City of Pilsen
In 1295, King Wenceslaus founded the city of Pilsen – the beer capital of Bohemia and asserted that every individual had the “right to brew”. The right to brew was passed on throughout Bohemia resulting in publicly founded breweries. From the 16th century to the 18th century, 36 malthouses and 26 breweries were operating in Pilsen alone. Once canonized as Czechoslovakia’s patron saint, Saint Wenceslaus also became the patron saint of Czech brewers.
Bohemia Regent Brewery – Europe’s Oldest Brewery
The Bohemia Regent Brewery was founded by the Rosenborg noble family in 1379 in Trebon, South Bohemia on a proposal from the house regent giving it the name Bohemia Regent. It has continued to operate uninterrupted up until now, thus making it one of Europe´s oldest breweries with continuous production on the same premises! The brewery has retained its Renaissance appearance and is a jewel of architecture, beautifully encroached in the picturesque historical town of Trebon.
Bohemia Regent lagers (especially the Bohemia Regent 12) are a rare example of a typical South Bohemian Real Lager, with a bitter-sweet palate. The brewery adheres to traditional Bohemian brewing with double mashing and very long maturation with a perfect balance between hops and malt. If you want to learn more about Bohemia Regent Brewery, you can visit their official website here.
Bohemia Regent Premium
Bohemia Regent Premium is the flagship beer of the Bohemia Regent Brewery. It is made with only the best Saaz hops and Moravian barley, soft low-sodium water from artesian wells owned by the brewery, and pure cultures of bottom fermentation yeast strains. Traditional double decoction mashing and 90-day secondary fermentation in the centuries-old brewery cellars delivers a beautifully balanced, lightly carbonated lager- easy on the mouth and with medium bitterness. It has an alcoholic strength of 5%
Pilsner Urquell – Europe’s Largest Brewery
Four years before Pilsner Urquell was invented, 36 barrels of bad beer were discarded in front of Pilsen’s town hall. The following year when the citizens of Pilsen grew unhappy with the quality of the beer, the public decision to build a new brewery was announced and soon German master brewer Josef Groll was invited. In 1842 the Bürger Brauerei(Citizens’ Brewery) was built, which would later become Pilsner Urquell.
Groll invented Pilsner on October 5, 1842, and he is largely responsible for the superb taste of Czech pale lager. A golden Pilsner beer made history by becoming the first light-coloured beer in the world! In the following decades, the export of Pilsner was an ever-increasing demand all over Europe and America and Pilsner Urquell brewery proved the biggest in Europe. If you want to learn more about Pilsner Urquell, you can visit their official website here.
Pilsner Urquell
Pilsner Urquell’s signature flavour balances the sweetness from triple-decocted malt and the bitterness from Saaz hops. The thick head of dense, wet foam adds smoothness and seals in flavour and aroma. The recipe has been untouched for more than 180 years and uses traditional methods like triple decoction and parallel brewing. Pilsner is still made the same way as in 1842, with Saaz hops, soft water from Pilsen and a much paler malt from Sweet Moravian barley. It has a refreshing natural carbonation, subtle caramel tones and a clean finish with a pleasing, hoppy bitterness. It has an alcoholic strength of 4.4%
Albrecht Brewery – Europe’s Most Awarded Brewery
Located in the historical town of Frýdlant, the Albrecht brewery is named after one of the most famous military leaders of the 30 Years’ War Albrecht von Wallenstein who was reported to have a passion for the local beer observing the brewery from the castle of Frýdlant. Albrecht lagers have enjoyed a great reputation for centuries and this is no coincidence, indeed the very first book on bottom fermentation in Bohemia was written by Albrecht’s head brewer Josef Daněk in 1852.
Albrecht lager beer is brewed the traditional way, using the double-decoction technique with the primary fermentation stage being separated from maturation in lager tanks. Since 2015, Albrecht Brewery has won 23 gold medals, 15 silver medals and 18 bronze medals in national as well as international beer competitions. The brewery has been offering its award-winning craft beers brewed from its soft water and carefully selected ingredients. The beer preserves its purest form and mostly comes unfiltered and unpasteurized. If you want to learn more about Albrecht Brewery, you can visit their official website here.
The Katerina 12°
The Katerina 12° is a classic dark lager with a distinctive dark chocolate colour and a pleasantly balanced flavour. It is made up of five malts, which, once put together with the brewery’s unique well water, give the beer an unmistakable character. The taste and smell of Katerina have clearly pronounced caramel and dark chocolate flavours and scents. However, it is not particularly sweet! It is a drier beer with a prominent increased body. Due to its uniqueness, this dark lager has become favoured even by drinkers who do not usually drink dark beers. It is the most award-winning beer of the Albrecht brewery. It has an alcoholic strength of 4.5%
Czech Beer Culture
Beer is an integral part of Czech culture and tradition. Brewing has a significant essence of age-old traditions and customs second to none other than the unique Bohemian architecture, arts and education. If you want to learn more about check beer, you can check out The Czech beer alliance. The Czechs are a very friendly and community-based close-knit group of people. Next time you are in the Czech Republic, visit a pub and ask a group if you can squeeze into their table and you are bound to make a wonderful group of friends and enjoy a wonderful pale lager while you’re at it!
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