Beer Culture of Czech Republic

Czechs love to speak about beer, and they love to drink beer.Pilsner (golden lager), the most consumed style of beer in the known universe, was invented in Plzen, a small city an hour’s drive from Prague.While Prague may offer fewer choices than most cities, having one of the “local” beers is always a choice.  Most bars and restaurants serve only one beer, like Pilsner Urquell or Budweiser (a beer from Budvar).  Prague is also home to U Fleku, one of the oldest beer pubs in the world, which first started serving beer in 1499. And with out one can say that Czech Republic  produces some of the finest brews known to man, with Czech beer being known across the globe for its level of quality and superior taste.

Beer woven in to history

Czech beer brewing goes back centuries, with the first brewery known to have existed in 993. In the early days a lot of production was centred around monasteries with wheat beers being particularly sought after, and since then beer brewing has gone from strength to strength. Pilsner Urquell was created in 1842, being the first pilsner ever made, whilst Budweiser came into being in the city of Budweis. While the Czech Republic is primarily known for pale golden lagers,you can find superb dark lagers and other  strong brews , and even exclusive versions (such as unpasteurised varieties) only available in special Czech tank pubs. With all these  sheer variety of beers on offer , it has given testament to the history of beer brewing in the country.

Czech beer culture

Beer is a core part of national identity and there’s no denying that Czechs love the stuff (they’re the biggest consumers of beer in the world), but their love affair with it goes far deeper than simply drinking it—there’s a well-established culture surrounding the beverage. It  incorporates everything from beer spas and brewery hotels to various beer festivals held throughout the year, and with a lot of independent brewers being part of it there’s plenty of choice for discerning beer drinkers. The country is home to more than 100 breweries with a combination of big names and micro establishments offering a huge range of styles.

During, and shortly after the fall of communism, beer was very inexpensive.  But today it’s competitively priced compared to other European countries.  There are countless options for beer pubs in Prague, and plenty of passion for it.  And in the month of  May there comes the  annual beer festival that lasts 17 days (one day longer than Munich’s)!.