Na Zdravi! Cheers for Czech Beer!

Na Zdravi

One of the greatest joys of travel is sampling the local cuisine. However, while traveling in the Czech Republic, I had a little bit different outlook on what constituted cuisine. After all, being of Bohemian descent I'd been eating traditional Czech food my whole life prepared in my grandmother's, my mother's and my own kitchen. But, sampling the beers of the Czech Republic and learning about the history of Czech brewing was a whole new adventure!

I'd never been much of a beer drinker before coming to Prague, but as the Czech Republic is the number one beer drinking nation on the planet, consuming over 156 liters per capita annually and it is cheaper than any other beverage including water, it seemed I was destined to explore this new world of pilsner and lagers.

Vysehrad Church

The Czechs have been drinking beer since the Czech lands were established. The secret for Czech beer brewing perfection is the agricultural conditions, which are ideal for growing hops. Hops cultivation in Bohemia dates at least 859 A.D., and this sought after ingredient essential to beer making was exported as early as 903 A.D.. The first mention of brewing in the Czech territories is in the foundation charter for the Vysehrad church, dating from 1088. In this document, the first Czech king, Vratislav II, decreed that his estates should pay a hop tax to the church.

Bohemian hops were so prized that King Wenceslas - yes, the one you are familiar with from the Christmas carol - ordered the death penalty for anyone caught exporting the cuttings, from which new plants could be grown. In the early days, only had the right to brew beer so most citizens had a micro brewery in their home. It wasn't long before some of these citizens banded together to form a co-operative central brewery, from which they would take beer extract home and finish the brewing process there. King Wenceslas again played his part, convincing the Pope to revoke an order banning the brewing of beer - which may explain why he's called Good King Wenceslas!

The expansion of the beer industry was halted in the 16th-century, when feudal lords forced their laborers to drink the manor brew instead of buying it from another brewery. The Thirty Years' War then devastated the Czech beer industry further. After this, what fame the Czech beer industry managed to attain was under the auspices of the Emperor in Vienna. The Czech nation - and its beer - did not begin to recover until the "national awakening" movement of the 19th century, when the Czech language, Czech culture, and Czech beer were reinvented years of Austro-Hungarian rule.

Kozel Cerny

Under communism, beer was very cheap. Unfortunately, as with other industries, the Communists failed to invest anything into the breweries. They simply produced the beer and squeezed as much money as possible out of the industry. Since the fall of communism, many breweries have been bought by foreign brewing giants and much currency has been invested in Czech brewing.

When you order pivo - the Czech word for beer, you will be brought a half liter mug. Ask for malé, meaning small, pivo to get a third of a liter. In most restaurants and pubs there will be coasters on the table. If you do not wish to order another beer put the coaster on top of your mug. Otherwise, you will be brought a fresh pivo just before you finish the last swig of your previous one. Never, ever, ever pour the remnants of your last beer into your fresh one, it's considered very strange behavior.

The number and variety of Czech beers can be somewhat overwhelming. The best way to figure out what you like is by sampling. Most Czech beers are lagers. The best known Czech beer is the original Pils beer, Pilsner Urquell, brewed in the town of Plzen and exported worldwide. Many Czechs also drink another Plzen brew, Gambrinus. The most widely exported Czech Beer is Budvar unrelated to the familiar American brew. My personal favorite is Kozel Cerny, a dark foam brew - heaven in a glass! Other beers brewed in Prague are Staropramen and Branik.

The last but perhaps the most important thing to know about drinking Czech beer is the proper way to toast! Pick up your mug, look your drinking partner in the eye, tap the top of you glass, the bottom of the glass, tap the bar and say a hearty Na Zdravi before you drink!

Be Well!

Thanks to www.pragueexperience.com for historical information