In 1895, a group of the Czech bourgeoisie, unhappy with the offerings of the German-oriented City Brewery, set up their own state-funded brewery. On 7th October 1895, a legend of the beer world was born.
Since that time, the little brewery in the city of České Budêjovice (Budweis) has grown to a huge size, producing over 50 million hectolitres (1 hectolitre = 100 litres) of their delicious Czech Pilsner. Still government-owned, it is the fourth largest brewery in the Czech Replublic, and the second biggest exporter of beer.
Drawing water from artesian wells over 300m deep, and using Moravian malt and whole Saaz hop cones, this beer is not brewed under licence anywhere in the world. Although displaying the name ‘Czech Lager’ on the label, this beer is recognised as a classic Czech pilsner.
It pours a golden colour with a generous white foam. An aroma of crusty bread from the malt, and grassy, floral hops invite you in. The taste has an early sweetness which gives in to a citrus and floral hop bitterness. The beer finishes quite dry, with a lingering bitterness that invites another taste.
This beer is a ‘worldie’ I’m sure many of you have enjoyed before. If you haven’t, then settle in to experience a beer that many others try to imitate.
