The Great ‘Bud’ Debate
The Czech Republic probably produces the best beer in the world. Don’t take my word for it! I’m not much of a beer drinker…more of a wino! But here in the Czech Republic, I have to admit, I do enjoy the odd beer or three.
FANATICAL GERMANS
And so do the next-door neighbours!
Germans are fanatical (in a disciplined, efficient, well-ordered sort of way) about beer’s purity. The ‘Reinheitsgebot’ is Germany’s gold standard seal of brewing which states there should be only three ingredients. Actually, there are four but yeast hadn’t been identified as part of the brewing process back in 1516 when Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria insisted that “nothing other than barley, hops, and water” should be used.
“Germans are ranked third in Europe in terms of per-capita beer consumption. The Czech Republic takes top slot!”
It was raining when we arrived in the town of Plzen so we went underground to the beer cellars was the thing to do…
THE URQUELL BREWERY
The Urquell Brewery is located in the town of Plzen and yes, this is where the word ‘pilsner’ comes from. Here you can take a tour of the Pilsner Urquell brewery, descending deep into the dark, damp cellars where they’ve brewed Urquell since 1842. The subterranean temperature nurtures the beer to perfection and you can help yourself to unfiltered, unpasteurized pilsner straight from a massive oak barrel. This must be a beer lover’s idea of bliss! I tried my best to ‘accidentally’ get lost but our tour guide had seen it all before and shepherded us along the dank corridors like a knowing collie dog!
TALKING HEADS
Did you know, you can pour pilsner in several different ways? Czech connoisseurs are so attuned to their national drink, they request a certain pouring style. The classic is called ‘Hladinka’, a smooth, creamy rendition leaving about an inch of head while ‘Na dvakrat’, the most popular leaves less body with a good measure of foam. Some Czechs ask for the ‘Mliko’ which is to all intents pure foam, said to release the most aromatic, sweetness from the beer. I’d feel cheated if I didn’t see a good measure of chilled, golden nectar in my glass.
THE GREAT ‘BUD’ DEBATE
The other two famous Czech beers that we shouldn’t forget to mention are Staropramen which I did frequently see on tap in Scottish pubs and Budweiser Budvar.
The most widely exported is Budweiser Budvar and it’s important, nay critical to distinguish between Czech Budvar and the American “Bud“ since they have very little in common - apart from the fact that they’re liquid and sold in cans or bottles! Oh, and of course the name!
IT’S ALL IN THE NAME
Budweiser was the original name of beer brewed in the Czech city of Ceske Budejovice. Germans, just across the border referred to the town as ‘Budweis’ which is pretty much what it sounds like and someone from Budweis is called a Budweiser - like Hamburg and Hamburgers… (yes, the first hamburgers did actually come from Hamburg although the bunned version was adapted probably by German immigrants in New York).
Similarly, a couple of Americans from St. Louis, Missouri; Adolphus Busch and his friend Carl Conrad, after a trip to the region in 1876 decided to develop a "Bohemian-style" lager and the name Budweiser was applied, clearly without much thought. Anheuser–Busch has been involved in a trademark dispute ever since! I believe they should capitulate, get taken over by the Czech company and deliver Americans some decent beer!
