http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news en sarahkunkler@yahoo.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-15T07:15:54+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/czech-beer-festival-2012-prague http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/czech-beer-festival-2012-prague#When:07:15:54Z Prague’s Czech Beer Festival begins this Friday, May 17 and lasts for 17 days until June 2. Located at Výstaviště exhibition center in Holešovice, this year’s festival once again has large tents, which serve different beer. Tent 1 is divided into section A and B, both of which will serve beer from the Lobkowicz brewery. Tent 2 is the most interesting, sponsored by Pivni Rozmanitost and serving beer from Kocour, Kout na Šumavě, and Chýně, just to name a few. To buy beer and food, you’ll need to use ‘tolars’ which is their special sort of currency. One tolar equals 45 czk, and you have to buy tolars in packs of 5. For more information, have a look at their website. Enjoy! News, Events, 2012-05-15T07:15:54+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/best-outdoor-drinking-prague http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/best-outdoor-drinking-prague#When:13:04:14Z Summer is almost here, and there is nothing better to do on a fine, warm and sunny afternoon than sit outside and enjoy a good beer. So, we’ve made a list of the top 10 best terraces for having a beer and something to eat. These places are restaurants with either a street-side terrace, or a patio- they are different than the large beer gardens like Letna or Riegrovy Sady. Our criteria of course was firstly beer, and then we took into consideration the atmosphere and food. Enjoy! Kulovy BleskWith excellent beer, Czech cuisine and a comfy, homey patio, what more can you want? Klášterní Pivovar StrahovTo go along with their hearty Czech cuisine and ales, Klášterní Pivovar Strahov has a larger outdoor drinking area in the monastery/brewhouse. Sousedský Pivovar BaštaThis Prague 4 microbrewery not only has fantastic, traditional Czech lagers, but a quiet backyard summer garden perfect for hot afternoons. U SaduLocated on a small scenic square in picturesque Vinohrady, U Sadu serves great beer and food, and has charming street-side cafe to match. Zlý ČasyWith their fantastic beer selection, Prague’s most admired beer pub has a nice outdoor drinking area. Lokal BlokWith Pilsner Urquell on tap, a diverse menu, this Andel area restaurant has a pleasant, outdoor terrace. Malostranska PivniceLocated in Mala Strana, Malostranska Pivnice has a large outdoor area to enjoy fine Pilsner Urquell in. Pod SlavinemThis infamous Budweiser pub has a large, tented area full of picnic tables to enjoy Budvar and hearty Czech cuisine. Tynska Literarni KavarnaRight in the middle of Old Town, Tynska Literarni Kavarna is the perfect place to enjoy Bernard beer and beer snacks, in a sun-washed courtyard. FraktalThis Letna pub has a street-side patio, where you can enjoy a great burger, good beer, and company.   News, PBG Recommends, 2012-05-11T13:04:14+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/zubaty-pes-one-year-anniversary-party http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/zubaty-pes-one-year-anniversary-party#When:07:01:46Z On Thursday May 10, Zubaty Pes will be celebrating one year of operation in Prague. And what a year has it been! After being voted the 2nd best pub in Prague by Hospodářské Noviny, and our favorite new pub of 2011, Zubaty Pes has given beer drinkers of Prague many new and much needed chances to try a wide variety of Czech beers, as well as foreign beers of different styles. The party starts at 17, and on tap will be Matuska’s Zlata Raketa and Raptor, as well as Kocour’s Sumeček. From foreign breweries, BrewDog and Mikkeller will also be on tap. There will be a Belgian beer tasting, a beer raffle, and each visitor gets a free beer. Cheers! News, Events, 2012-05-07T07:01:46+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/fine-dining-and-great-czech-beer http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/fine-dining-and-great-czech-beer#When:08:46:51Z Finally, Prague has a restaurant serving fine cuisine using ingredients from Czech farmers AND beer from the best Czech breweries- Nota Bene! Read our newest review about this classy restaurant in Prague 2 and get ready for a great dining experience! New Articles, PBG Recommends, 2012-05-05T08:46:51+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/the-best-pilsner-urquell http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/the-best-pilsner-urquell#When:11:21:40Z As many of you have probably tasted, not every Pilsner Urquell has the same taste, and the difference between a truly good Pilsner Urquell and an awful one is quite huge, with many varying degrees along the way. In this article, we’ll point out a few characteristics to look for when judging your Pilsner, as well as what distinguishes between a good and a bad Pilsner. To begin with, here are just a few notes: A Good Pilsner Urquell will not cost more than a poor one. In fact, bad Pilsner Urquell is usually the most expensive. At the time this article was written in April 2012, the best Pilsner pubs (have a look at our Top 10) have a standard price of 38 czk for a half liter. Anything above 50 czk is murderous, and probably piss poor too. The quality of a Pilsner Urquell does not always correspond to the price. Don’t judge a pub by its patrons.  Beer is consumed in such large quantities in Prague that it’s impossible to judge a pub by whom you see inside. Just because they look like a mug of beer, doesn’t mean they know a good Pilsner from a bad one. Watch the tap: a good Pilsner tap is a much loved and well-worn device. Observe the guy or gal pouring your beer- there should be no disco dance action and elaborate movements of the wrist, just simple, clean, straight pouring. Your glass: You can’t precisely judge the quality of beer based on the shape of the glass, but you will notice that almost all of the best Pilsner pubs serve their golden lager in a rounded, half liter glass mug with dimples on the side, or a traditional Pilsner Urquell mug with a handle.. The glass trend also shows that places serving poor Pilsner tend to use the taller glasses, without a handle. A Good Pilsner Urquell The best Pilsners should have a thick, frothy foam that looks like something that could come from a gourmet kitchen. As you drink your beer, the foam recedes slowly, clinging more to the edges, leaving lacy waves along the interior of your glass. When you look down into your glass, you’ll notice thicker, smaller islands of foam clinging together, varying in density and bubble size, and the color is a creamy off-white. As for the beer itself, it should be a fresh rich golden yellow, which the low light of pubs easily penetrates. A Bad Pilsner An experienced Pilsner drinker will know that something could possibly be amiss with the first glance at their beer. Poor Pilsners look flat, and the small bubbles seem ‘tired’ and not full of life. If you smell your beer, there will be a more one dimensional smell of hops. As you drink, the receding beer won’t cling to the inside of your glass. When you look down into the top of your beer after you drink, you’ll notice that the little white bubbles dissipate or dissolve more quickly and become transparent instead of clumping together as little islands, keeping their creamy whiteness as a good Pilsner does. You’ll notice a drier feeling on your tongue, and an overwhelming stale bitterness that hides any of the sweeter, malty flavors that a fresh Pilsner has. This stale bitter taste continues well into the aftertaste. Overall, there is a complete lack of freshness.  In conclusion, developing your Pilsner taste buds is a fun experience to perfect in Prague. Try for yourself comparing the golden lager poured from one of the taps of our Top 10 Pilsner Urquell Pubs, and just any ordinary Pilsner Urquell, and see what you notice. Cheers! This Month, 2012-04-30T11:21:40+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/drink-beer-vltava-river-prague http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/drink-beer-vltava-river-prague#When:10:57:56Z On these hot spring afternoons, taking a walk along the Vltava also becomes a chance to try some Czech beers. If you start your walk at Gallery Mánes on Masarykovo Nábřeží, and walk south by the river under Jiráskův Most towards Palackého Náměstí, there’s not only a path for cyclist and roller-bladers, but quite a few street side cafes serving beer and food. You’ll have a chance to drink Žatec 11° , and Regent from Cafe V Lese. Another cafe serves Dudak světlý ležák and Klosterman 13° polotmavý ležák, and also has food (like roasted potatoes, grilled sausages, pickled cheese) and rents bbq boats (which are quite expensive). Further down is a little cafe serving Pilsner. This bike route follows the Vltava, eventually to Zbraslav, a small village just inside the southern boundary of Prague. News, PBG Recommends, 2012-04-28T10:57:56+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/beer-festival-kocouri-kour-2012 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/beer-festival-kocouri-kour-2012#When:19:22:15Z On Saturday 28.4.2012, Pivovar Kocour will be hosting their ‘Smoked Festival’ (Kocouří Kouř) at their brewery in Varnsdorf. Of course, Kocour will have a huge amount of their amazing ales and lagers on tap, and some other respected breweries and beer shops will also take part. Since this is a festival centered around the Czech tradition of ‘witch burning’ on April 30, you’ll have a chance to try all sorts of smoked dishes, beers, and whiskies. This is a great chance to visit one of the best breweries in the Czech Republic, and try some unique beers. Entrance is 30 czk, and this festival begins at 11, and goes till the last fire is out. For all the information you need to plan your trip read our travel story on Kocour. Events, PBG Recommends, 2012-04-21T19:22:15+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/top-10-pilsner-urquell-pubs-prague http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/top-10-pilsner-urquell-pubs-prague#When:17:33:21Z As most beer drinkers in Prague have come to know, not every mug of Pilsner tastes the same- there is a large difference between your average Pilsner Urquell, and a truly fantastic one. There are few pubs that are able to do this historic lager the justice it deserves. So, we’ve made a list of pubs that in our opinion serve the best Pilsner Urquell to be had in Prague. Our criteria was simple- who serves the best Pilsner Urquell, and making the top 10 in a city of great beer is truly a feat in itself. Our three top pubs- Lokál, U Zlatého Tygra, and U Veverky have not only the best Pilsner Urquell, but each pub has a unique culture, and offers something different to experience. Undoubtably, Lokál serves the best Pilsner in Prague. This is the Pilsner you find yourself dreaming about. Both Lokal pubs in Staré Město and Mala Strana consistently serve the same perfect quality of Pilsner, so that’s why we’ve listed both as number one. This is also a great place to visit for trying homey, simple Czech dishes, in a unique atmosphere from the 1970s. For our second pub, we’ve chosen U Zlatého Tygra, a pub whose humble history shows how central the pub is to Czech culture. At the heart of this pub is the tradition of Pilsner- mugs upon mugs have been expertly poured from these taps to thirsty drinkers through good times and bad. For a true Czech pub experience, this is the best place to be. U Veverky, our third pub, is a great example of a classy, traditional Czech neighborhood pub that caters mostly to locals. With a cozy wooden interior, a diverse menu of hearty Czech cuisine, U Veverky serves amazing Pilsner and can fill your belly at the same time.           Top 10 list, Prague (2012)NoPubReview1.Lokál (both)Reviews: Staré Město | U Bile Kuzelky2.U Zlatého TygraRead pub review3.U VeverkyRead pub review4.U PinkasůRead pub review5.U HoubařeRead pub review6.SokolovnaRead pub review7.U RudolfinaRead pub review8.Smíchovský Radniční SklípekRead pub review9.U HrochaRead pub review10.Jelínkova Plzeňská PivniceRead pub review This Month, 2012-04-15T17:33:21+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/pilsner-urquell-shop-souvenirs http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/pilsner-urquell-shop-souvenirs#When:18:25:39Z For those in Prague who’d like to buy some Pilsner memorabilia, look no further than at the foot of the Charles Bridge in Mala Strana. The infamous brewery Plzeňský Prazdroj has recently opened up a shop on U Lužického Semináře, which sells everything Pilsner Urquell imaginable. This Pilsner shop sells every glass that you could have possibly drunk Pilsner Urquell from, including the traditional rounded mugs, taller champagne style glasses, etched glasses, ceramic and glass beer steins, and in .5 and .33 liter sizes. If you’re looking for shirts, they have a large variety of t-shirts, collared golf shirts, and other sport clothes. Hats, keychains, bottle openers, pens, towels, jackets are all available. Prices are good too, especially for their glasses. The shop assistants speak English and are helpful. They also have some information available about visiting their brewery in the city of Pilsen as well. In the near future, they’re also planning on developing a visitor’s center for their brewery, which is located in the city of Pilsen. If you can’t make it to Pilsen, this is a great place to shop for Pilsner Urquell goods! This Month, 2012-04-05T18:25:39+00:00 http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/pilsner-urquell-brewery-czech http://www.praguebeergarden.com/news/post/pilsner-urquell-brewery-czech#When:10:08:37Z Starting today, we’ll be featuring Pilsner Urquell as our Beer of the Month, the golden pale lager that made Czech history. We’ll be taking a closer look at Czech Republic’s most famous product, Pilsner Urquell. April is all about Plzeňský Prazdroj! To start, we’ve just posted a new beer travel article about our visit to Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery in Pilsen, and which has all the details you need to plan your trip. During the whole month of April, we’ll be publishing articles about everything to do with Pilsner Urquell, so stay tuned! This Month, 2012-04-01T10:08:37+00:00