Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
wonder why the Czech national anthem is a song that translates as “Where
Is My Home?”
Several widely held Czech superstitions are connected with drinking beer.
One says that you should never pour a different kind of beer in a mug hold-
ing the remnants of another brew. Bad luck is sure to follow. Some believe
that the toast—usually
“Na zdraví!”
(“To your health!”)—is negated if any-
one fails to clink his or her mug with any of the others at your table and
then slams the mug on the table before taking the first chug.
Czech beer comes in various degrees of concentration, usually marked on
the label or menu. This is not the amount of alcohol, though the higher
degree does carry a higher alcohol content. The standard premium 12-
degree brew contains about 5% alcohol, though each label varies. If you
want something a little lighter on the head, try a 10-degree, with 3.5% to
4% alcohol content.
The never-ending debate over which Czech beer is best rages on, but here
are the top contenders, all readily available in Prague. (Each pub or restau-
rant will usually flaunt its choice on the front of the building.)
•
Pilsner Urquell:
The original Pilsner lager. A bit bitter but with a smooth
texture that comes, the locals say, from the softer alkaline waters that
flow under Pilsen. Urquell is mostly packaged for export and often seen
at beer boutiques across the Atlantic.
•
Budvar:
The original “Budweiser,” this semisweet lager hails from Ceské
Budêjovice, a town also known by its German name, Budweis. The clash
with U.S. giant Anheuser-Busch over the “Budweiser” trademark kept the
American giant from selling Bud in much of Europe for years. There's lit-
tle similarity in the taste of the two—you decide. Busch wanted a stake in
the Budvar brewery, but the Czech government balked at a deal in 1996.
•
Staropramen:
The flagship of Prague's home brewery is a solid choice and
is easiest to find in the capital. Now that Britain's Bass owns Staropramen,
they're marketing a hybrid called Velvet, a cross between a Czech lager
and an Irish ale. It's worth a try.
•
Kozel:
This is a favorite with the American expat community, with a dis-
tinctive namesake goat on the label. It has a spicy taste and full body.
Light beer it is not.
•
Krusovice:
From a tiny brewery in the cradle of the western hop-growing
region, this brew, commissioned by Rudolf II 4 centuries ago, used to be
hard to find in Prague, but no longer. Lighter but not fizzy, it has just a
hint of bitterness.
sweet dark beer is excellent and not available anywhere else; however, the sausages and
goulash are overcooked and overpriced. For musical entertainment at the Cabaret Hall
(daily from 8pm) there is a cover charge of 100K
c
($4.15/£2). Open daily from 9am
to 11pm.
Kremencova 11, Praha 2.
&
224-934-019.
www.ufleku.cz. Metro: Národní trída.
