The Search for the Perfect Pint
U Fleku - Křemencova 11,
110 01 Prague
This pub was founded in 1499 and the brew found there will not be found anywhere else. However I think what you have to remember is that U Fleku's legendary dark lager Is simply that. A lager. The original recipe was changed over 100 years ago but the one they sell is still an excellent brew. The dark chocolaty brew almost makes it worthwhile to brave the hordes of Russians, brash Americans and false "oompah" band in the pub. Not to mention the money grabbing waiters who are permanently trying to force feed you with expensive Becherovka schnapps. Believe me though the Flekovske pivo is probably the greatest black lager style drink in the world. Even Nigel who is a LCL only drinker loved this stuff.
Unmissable.
Unmissable.
U Medvidku - Budvar Bar - Na Perštýne 7,
100 01 Prague 1.
We first visited this place in 2004 when it was just a bar that sold different types of Budvar and nothing else. Well it's all changed. Since then brewery, hotel and restaurant have been added to the building and very good it is too.
Not only does the U Medvidku (At the Little Bears) have a spacious beer hall to serve Budvar only (although 5 different types) it also has a brand new brewery, surprisingly next to the toilets, serving a couple of excellent new beers "Oldgott" which is a semi -dark lager and is pretty good with a thick head and a bitter sweet finish. It was a tad expensive at 48 koruna for 40cl. The price of the Bud was around 31 (just over £1). The other was called "x beer" and is allegedly the strongest beer in the world. We didn't have one of those because Towey was moaning about spending too much time in there so we left. We managed three visits and if I'm in Prague again I'll be back. On one trip Fred and I ordered a beer and we didn't like it as we thought it tasted sour. The beer "officianados", Norman and Charlie thought we were being soft and drank ours for us. They liked it that much, they ordered another. This time the barrel had been changed and it tasted somewhat different. Fred and I were right. It was sour.
There is also a brew shop where you can buy ale and t shirts etc but I didn't bother.
Three of us sampled a meal in the restaurant next door, all of us having venison meatballs and roast potatoes. Very good value at 95 korunas. Well worth a visit and it's easy to find as it's about 50 yards from Tesco's at 7 Na Perstyne.
Not only does the U Medvidku (At the Little Bears) have a spacious beer hall to serve Budvar only (although 5 different types) it also has a brand new brewery, surprisingly next to the toilets, serving a couple of excellent new beers "Oldgott" which is a semi -dark lager and is pretty good with a thick head and a bitter sweet finish. It was a tad expensive at 48 koruna for 40cl. The price of the Bud was around 31 (just over £1). The other was called "x beer" and is allegedly the strongest beer in the world. We didn't have one of those because Towey was moaning about spending too much time in there so we left. We managed three visits and if I'm in Prague again I'll be back. On one trip Fred and I ordered a beer and we didn't like it as we thought it tasted sour. The beer "officianados", Norman and Charlie thought we were being soft and drank ours for us. They liked it that much, they ordered another. This time the barrel had been changed and it tasted somewhat different. Fred and I were right. It was sour.
There is also a brew shop where you can buy ale and t shirts etc but I didn't bother.
Three of us sampled a meal in the restaurant next door, all of us having venison meatballs and roast potatoes. Very good value at 95 korunas. Well worth a visit and it's easy to find as it's about 50 yards from Tesco's at 7 Na Perstyne.
Pivovarský Dům - Ječná/Lípová 15,
Praha 2 120 44.
Fantastic pub. The home-brew beers are excellent, Towey particularly liked the wheat beer, but the light, dark and 'mix' are my favourites. Not as strong as other brew-pubs in Prague, which is a good thing if you're out all day / night. The speciality beers are something else though. You could try champagne beer, banana beer, sour cherry, nettle, coffee, blueberry and coriander. The coriander beer actually looked and tasted vile. I think it may have been the one that finally sent Charlie up to that boozer in the sky. Perhaps a small taster was more than adequate! The food was reasonable and well-priced. It gets very busy of an evening, so it's best to arrive early, or try it at lunch time.
Pivovarsky Klub - Křižíkova 17,
Prague 8 Karlín
Right. I may be a bit harsh here. But. When I've visited Prague in the past I've always visited the Pivovarsky Dum and loved the experience, although John H got the shits through eating green curry on the last visit. This time we decided to try to Klub, the sister of Dum after reading loads of good write ups. We were promised 50 brews from Belgium and Germany and the Pivovarský klub already offers great stuff: Samichlaus, the world's strongest lager, a once-discontinued Swiss legend of 14 percent alcohol now made in Austria. Dark-beer fans can find Ireland's Beamish, fruit beer fans can taste Belgium's Floris, and microbrew hunters can pick up U Medvídků's Oldgott Barrique and X30, the strongest Czech lager, weighing in at 11.8 percent alcohol.
Not only is Pivovarský klub a bar and "beer boutique" with refrigerated bottles available for take-out upstairs, but would-be brewers can even make their own lagers on site. The menu apparently includes a roasted pork koleno (knuckle) — the best-seller at Pivovarský dům — the new place also offers grilled pork, chicken and turkey steaks, all served in spacious rooms with a feel somewhere between a typical Czech pub and a high-end cocktail bar. The downstairs dining room includes a second set of taps, some surprisingly modern recessed lighting, light-wood banquettes and exposed brick arches, as well as what looks like display cases for the bottled beers. In fact, the framed beers along the walls hide reach-in refrigerators with those same bottles inside, making selection a snap — I want this one.
Unfortunately we didn't see any of this. I went for a dump, the rest had a piss and none of us had a drink because they couldn't find room for us. Wank. As it is so far away from anywhere else we wanted to be and was in a shit-hole area (Karlin in Prague 8) I doubt that I'll be back.
Not only is Pivovarský klub a bar and "beer boutique" with refrigerated bottles available for take-out upstairs, but would-be brewers can even make their own lagers on site. The menu apparently includes a roasted pork koleno (knuckle) — the best-seller at Pivovarský dům — the new place also offers grilled pork, chicken and turkey steaks, all served in spacious rooms with a feel somewhere between a typical Czech pub and a high-end cocktail bar. The downstairs dining room includes a second set of taps, some surprisingly modern recessed lighting, light-wood banquettes and exposed brick arches, as well as what looks like display cases for the bottled beers. In fact, the framed beers along the walls hide reach-in refrigerators with those same bottles inside, making selection a snap — I want this one.
Unfortunately we didn't see any of this. I went for a dump, the rest had a piss and none of us had a drink because they couldn't find room for us. Wank. As it is so far away from anywhere else we wanted to be and was in a shit-hole area (Karlin in Prague 8) I doubt that I'll be back.
U Zlatého Tygra
The Golden Tiger is a Prague classic. Be aware though, it is difficult to get in. The doors open at 4 pm and it's packed 10 minutes later. It consists of a single room, simply furnished with long pine tables and benches and that's it. Plus a small counter for the beer taps. They only sell Pilsner Urquel and it's priced at around half the cost of the pubs near to it.
Pivní Galerie Praha Holešovice
The Pivni Gallery is a living exhibit to a traditional Czech handcraft beer. Forget about Bohemian crystal, costume jewellery, or shoes; when it comes to tradition, Czech beer has had well-lagered reputation for centuries:Czechs have been brewing for the last 2000 years and neither wars, plagues, or threats of eternal excommunication by the pope have been able to stop them.
Over one hundred years ago, the country was home to around 1200 breweries, producing for both domestic and foreign consumers. Although the total number of breweries has dropped to less than 70 since then, Czech brewing is much more than Pilsner Urquell or Budweiser - Budvar. Although these two breweries are internationally known, there are still many other small and medium-sized breweries throughout the country. The goal of the Pivní Gallery is to be a common platform where these smaller breweries, many of which are available only within a limited region, can present their craft to the thirsty consumers.
An Artiste wooden palette, with holes for seven bottles of beer, is the logo of the Pivni Gallery. It was chosen by the owners to symbolize the wide variety and range of beers still available from the country´small and medium-sized breweries. Currently, visitors to the Pivni Gallery can choose from between more than 180 brands of beer selected from the portfolios of 34 breweries.
The wooden palette is more than symbolism. Visitors can take a specially designed palette home with them after filling it with their own selection of Czech beer. In addition to the palette, a range of wooden gift boxes is available. Glasses, steins, and other beer - related paraphernalia are also for sale.
Beyond the 180 brands on the shelves, the Pivni Gallery is developing its own range of specialty beers to fill the holes in the customized palette.
Each of these beers will bear the Galleries own label and be produced in a small independent brewery. The first of these seven beers is already available. It was produced by the Broumov-Olivetin brewery. Six additional beers are to follow during the next year.
Visitors to the Pivni Gallery are greeted by an oversized wooden artists palette suspended behind the counter. On the left side of the palette is the signature of Michael Jackson, one of the worlds leading critics and writers on beer and malted beverages.
He visited the Pivni Gallery in November of 2001 and wrote about the visit on his web site ( www.beerhunter.com). Other famous visitors include the French singer and actor Charles Aznavour. He was one the cast of Angelina, a TV movie filmed within the unique setting of the Pivni Gallery.
A mural depicting the brewing process is painted on the upper walls of the Gallery. Showing the progression of liquid bread from field to the final consumers glass, the mural was designed and painted by Pavel Jákl, an expert in Czech brewing history. His paintings, each signed with a JP, can be found in pubs throughout the country.
The Gallery has tables and seating for visitors wanting to test the local waters in addition to selling bottled beer for offsite consumption. Each week, a different draft beer is presented to visitors,supplementing the wide range of chilled bottled beers available.
The Pivni Gallery can also be rented out for parties and private meetings, combined with a customized beer degustation.
The hope is that the Gallery will become both a showcase for small and medium-sized brewers and provide visitors both Czech and foreign a taste of a living Czech tradition.
The Pivni Gallery was officially opened on May 2.2001 by its owners, Petr and Olga Vanek.
Over one hundred years ago, the country was home to around 1200 breweries, producing for both domestic and foreign consumers. Although the total number of breweries has dropped to less than 70 since then, Czech brewing is much more than Pilsner Urquell or Budweiser - Budvar. Although these two breweries are internationally known, there are still many other small and medium-sized breweries throughout the country. The goal of the Pivní Gallery is to be a common platform where these smaller breweries, many of which are available only within a limited region, can present their craft to the thirsty consumers.
An Artiste wooden palette, with holes for seven bottles of beer, is the logo of the Pivni Gallery. It was chosen by the owners to symbolize the wide variety and range of beers still available from the country´small and medium-sized breweries. Currently, visitors to the Pivni Gallery can choose from between more than 180 brands of beer selected from the portfolios of 34 breweries.
The wooden palette is more than symbolism. Visitors can take a specially designed palette home with them after filling it with their own selection of Czech beer. In addition to the palette, a range of wooden gift boxes is available. Glasses, steins, and other beer - related paraphernalia are also for sale.
Beyond the 180 brands on the shelves, the Pivni Gallery is developing its own range of specialty beers to fill the holes in the customized palette.
Each of these beers will bear the Galleries own label and be produced in a small independent brewery. The first of these seven beers is already available. It was produced by the Broumov-Olivetin brewery. Six additional beers are to follow during the next year.
Visitors to the Pivni Gallery are greeted by an oversized wooden artists palette suspended behind the counter. On the left side of the palette is the signature of Michael Jackson, one of the worlds leading critics and writers on beer and malted beverages.
He visited the Pivni Gallery in November of 2001 and wrote about the visit on his web site ( www.beerhunter.com). Other famous visitors include the French singer and actor Charles Aznavour. He was one the cast of Angelina, a TV movie filmed within the unique setting of the Pivni Gallery.
A mural depicting the brewing process is painted on the upper walls of the Gallery. Showing the progression of liquid bread from field to the final consumers glass, the mural was designed and painted by Pavel Jákl, an expert in Czech brewing history. His paintings, each signed with a JP, can be found in pubs throughout the country.
The Gallery has tables and seating for visitors wanting to test the local waters in addition to selling bottled beer for offsite consumption. Each week, a different draft beer is presented to visitors,supplementing the wide range of chilled bottled beers available.
The Pivni Gallery can also be rented out for parties and private meetings, combined with a customized beer degustation.
The hope is that the Gallery will become both a showcase for small and medium-sized brewers and provide visitors both Czech and foreign a taste of a living Czech tradition.
The Pivni Gallery was officially opened on May 2.2001 by its owners, Petr and Olga Vanek.
Dacicky Pivni - Kutna Hora
The principal reason for visiting Kutna Hora was to see the Bone Ossuary in Sedlec but six of the party just couldn't be arsed getting their heads into gear so it was left to Norm, myself and an under the weather Chappie to venture onto the great unknown.
Another worthwhile day out because we found a beer we hadn't sampled before.
The train only took about 50 minutes although we had to change trains at Kolin. Kutna Hora is a UNESCO listed town featuring medieval streets, a museum of mining, the bone church at Sedlec, a gothic cathedral and most importantly of all, a brewery.
We couldn't actually find the brewery although we visited the brewery tap "Dacicky". This was named after a local hero Mikulas Dacicky z Heslova who apparently loved masturbating (I've no idea why he was a local hero). This was an excellent little boozer with an extensive food menu. Norm had the Goulash and voted it the best of the trip. Yet again I settled for the meat platter. Mmmm.
Anyway back to the beer. We had the Dacicke svetle a 4.1% deep golden brew that was superb and also had the Dacicke tmave which was a deep amber malty brew. Fabulous. After the beer and food, we took a taxi to the wierd Ossuary church. Well worth a visit but we were a bit concenred about the scores of Hells Angels who seemed to be their worshipping the bones rather than realising they were visiting a church. The same could be said for the proprietors who asked all to respect the dead yet allowed thousands of visitors a year to take photographs of them.
All in all a great day trip from Prague. Go for it.
Another worthwhile day out because we found a beer we hadn't sampled before.
The train only took about 50 minutes although we had to change trains at Kolin. Kutna Hora is a UNESCO listed town featuring medieval streets, a museum of mining, the bone church at Sedlec, a gothic cathedral and most importantly of all, a brewery.
We couldn't actually find the brewery although we visited the brewery tap "Dacicky". This was named after a local hero Mikulas Dacicky z Heslova who apparently loved masturbating (I've no idea why he was a local hero). This was an excellent little boozer with an extensive food menu. Norm had the Goulash and voted it the best of the trip. Yet again I settled for the meat platter. Mmmm.
Anyway back to the beer. We had the Dacicke svetle a 4.1% deep golden brew that was superb and also had the Dacicke tmave which was a deep amber malty brew. Fabulous. After the beer and food, we took a taxi to the wierd Ossuary church. Well worth a visit but we were a bit concenred about the scores of Hells Angels who seemed to be their worshipping the bones rather than realising they were visiting a church. The same could be said for the proprietors who asked all to respect the dead yet allowed thousands of visitors a year to take photographs of them.
All in all a great day trip from Prague. Go for it.
Pivovarsky Dvur - Chyne
The Pivovarsky Dvur can be found 13 km to the south west from Prague. The easiest way to get there from Prague is to get the tram to Zlicin and then get a number 347 bus to the brewery. A three day transport pass cost about a tenner and this trip is covered by it.
The brewery is excellent and the beer was easily the best we tasted in the five days in the Czech Republic. They had four different ales on the day we were there so naturally we had to try them all.
The brewery is excellent and the beer was easily the best we tasted in the five days in the Czech Republic. They had four different ales on the day we were there so naturally we had to try them all.
Pivovarsky Krema - Chyne
This is in the same village as the Pivovarsky Dvur and sells them beers. BUT CHEAPER!!
If you're in Prague, get a ticket to Chyne, you won't regret it.
Radegast Pivnice - Templova near namesti Republiky Stare Mesto
This is a no-frills beer hall that is very long and narrow with many wooden paneled booths lining the walls. The decor is ordinary and a bit plain, but the atmosphere is authentic and the service is speedy. Locals and the occasional tourist frequent this establishment for its selection of inexpensive food and Radegast and Gambrinus beers that are served all day.
U Vejvodu - Jilska 4 Stare Mesto
This cavernous beer hall looks exactly like it came from 200 years ago. Named for a town mayor from the past, Vejvodu was saved from demolition in 1908 by a local historical society. The pub features old brewery equipment and artifacts downstairs along with strolling musicians and filling meals. Gambrinus and Pilsner Urquell beers are available. The food and beer are really good and very reasonably priced for the location.
Novomestsky Pivovar (The New Town Brewery) - Vodickova 20 Nove Mesto
This brewpub opened in the late twentieth century (much later than U Fleku) and is located down a hallway through a shopping area. The place has multiple rooms (some with music) including a glass roofed upstairs terrace. The brewing equipment is in the center of the entrance, and the pub produces tasty house pale and dark lagers. The food is satisfying and includes many welcome vegetarian entrees.
Klasterni Pivovar - Strahovske nadvori 301 Strahov Monastery Mala Strana / Prague Castle Area
This lovely, privately owned brewpub sits on the grounds of the Strahovsky Klaster (abbey). This location had been a brewery in the not-to-recent past, but in 2001 the new brewery restaurant opened its doors. Their Pilsner lager and other beers are flavorful, unfiltered, and unpasteurized. The amber lager is clear and slightly dry and hoppy, and the dark is well hopped and has a slightly roasted, caramely flavor. The small 1,200 hl brewery is visible in the main bar/dining area, and the food is some of the very best we enjoyed in the Czech Republic. Be sure to try the old Bohemian recipes that are cooked with beer. The entire establishment is very attractive with several indoor dining rooms and outdoor beer garden.
