Most people when they think of Czech beer probably think of fizzy lager or pilsners, brewed, sometimes under licence, by multinational companies that have sought to define this country's brewing heritage by one style alone. Don't be fooled.
Czech brewing is among the oldest in the world - earliest records date form the 10th century - and a good many breweries can trace their past to the late middle ages; such breweries were often built inside castle walls demonstrating just how important beers is to people from this part of the world.
And it would be wrong to say "revolution" passed them by entirely, however. Underinvestment during the Soviet era was followed by a surge in interest and investment, and Czech breweries have thrived in recent decades, so much so that the Czechs, per head of population, drink more than anyone else in the world - some 143 litres of beer a year. Britain doesn't even make the top 10 in this questionable league table.
Czech beer expert Simon Laird, of Glasgow-based www.premiumczechbeers.co.uk, explained: "The Czech Republic has some of the world's oldest breweries, and is widely regarded as home of the world's greatest hops, such as the ever-popular Saaz. Like Germany, their beers are made under purity laws that have been in place for centuries, where the only ingredients allowed are water, hops, malt and yeast. And the recipes and techniques have been handed down from generation to generation. That's what I'd call craft.
"Most of the breweries tended to supply locally, but increasingly smaller breweries are looking to take on the establishment and make their beers available to newer markets, such as Scotland."
Six great Czech beers to enjoy:
Merlin Cerny dark lager (4.7%) by Protivín brewery
Intense and smooth, this award-winning black beer is brewed the same way as normal lagers but with dark roasted malts to give a black, bitter taste reminiscent of stouts. It has a strong salt and chocolate malt aroma. Starts off sweet, almost plummy, then leaves you with a tart and refreshing tanginess and flavours of caramel. Delicious.
Weizenbier wheat beer (5%) by Primator brewery
This wheat beer was voted the world's best beer in 2013, which is reason enough to hunt down a bottle or two. You have your typical clove and banana aroma, but there's also a trace of woodland berries, spices and an alpine lodge, giving a hint of the epic journey to follow.
Celia gluten-free lager (4.5%) by Zatec brewery
An award-winning gluten-free beer, this lager is one of the best you're likely to find. A spicy, light malt aroma is followed by a quick crisp lager hit that moves into a light-bodied vanilla and caramel biscuit character, with a wee bit of lemon in there too. Despite the quick drop off in body, it stands up well against other lagers, so it's not just for coeliac sufferers and gluten intolerants. A dark version is also available.
Sklepni unfiltered lager (4%) by Cerna Hora brewery
Typical lagers are filtered, giving that familiar crisp clear look. Sklepni belongs to a class of "nefiltrovane pivo", or unfiltered beers, meaning some of the yeast remains and gives the beer a somewhat cloudy look, but helps to lift flavours and maintain freshness. Sklepni is a zesty example of the ever-popular style.
Premium pilsner (5%) by Rychtar brewery
Originating from the town of Pilsen in the mid 1850s, pilsner is one of the world's youngest beers, but has since become the world's most popular beer style. Rychtar's version is a world away form the washed-out mass-produced versions though. It's refreshingly bitter, full-bodied, tangy with a spicy hop aroma, and tastes exactly as pilsners should.
Ferdinand Sedm Kuli polotmavy, or half-dark, beer (5.5%) by Ferdinand brewery
Worthy of inclusion for its name alone. Sedm Kuli translates to seven bullets, apparently in reference to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Golden red in colour, it's made with light and dark malts, typical lager hops as well as herbs. Fragrant, rich and bitter, Seven Bullets is not at all tasteless.
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