Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Outdoor restaurant overlooking the Vltava River
CHRISTER FREDRIKSSON / LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©
Czechs like their beer served at cellar temperature (around 6°C to 10°C) with a tall,
creamy head (known as
pěna,
meaning foam). Americans and Australians may find it
a bit warm, but this improves the flavour. Most draught beer is sold in
půl-litr
(0.5L)
glasses; if you prefer a small beer, ask for a
malé pivo
(0.3L). Some bars confuse the
issue by using 0.4L glasses, while others offer a German-style 1L mug known as a
tuplák
.
A recent trend has seen the emergence of the 'fourth pipe' (
čtvrtá pípa
) pub.
Prague pubs traditionally offered just three beers on tap, all from one large brewery
such as Pilsner Urquell; some pioneering bar owners added a 'fourth pipe' to allow
them to offer a rotating range of guest beers from various independent regional brew-
eries. Many now have five, six or even more pipes.
