The Czech Beer Festival 2012

The festival will keep the beer flowing with its Tolar payment system. One Tolar is equal to 45 CZK (roughly 1.80 EUR/2.40 USD/1.50 GBP) and are sold in packs of 5, which can be bought at your table from your server. In the main tent, beer will be served in 1-liter mugs only and costs 2 Tolars.

For the sophisticated, the not-so-sophisticated, the geek, the enthusiast and the all-around beer lover, make your way to Křižík pavilion C where you will find a rotating selection of beers from Czech microbreweries and small regional breweries. If liter after liter gets to be a bit much in the main tent, this is where you can taste a wider range of styles, and pour size will be more civilized. You may end up spending a few more Tolars, but this will be compensated by selection and strength.

If you happen to get lost in the wide range of beers available, keep an eye out for these must tries: Únětice, my current favorite, has a 12º unfiltered světlé that is so well balanced and drinkable that I would be happy to sit back with few liters. Kout na Šumově is another outstanding brewer, some might even say the current best in the Czech Republic, and I would not put up a fight over that claim.

Pivovar Dvůr Chýně will also have a presence at the festival. Chýně is a little town just on the outskirts of Prague and makes a range of very good beers. I’m sure Chýně will bring a ležák to the party, but look out for some of their other offerings and you will be glad that you did.

The Pernštejn brewery in Pardubice is sure to bring out their bottom-fermented Baltic-style porter, which is worth a try, but can be found around Prague quite easily. If Pernštejn offers a wider selection, go for their very well made non-filtered kvasňák, my favorite from this brewer.

A few of the heavy hitters that you are sure to come across are Kocour, who seem to be taking over the world with their impressive lineup. You can’t go wrong with their Sumeček, 70 Quarterback, Stout and many more. I also expect Matuška to bring out their star-studded lineup; with beers like Raptor, California APA, and their Pšeničné, you’re sure to find one you can’t put down.

From Prague, I imagine you will see a few beers from the well established Pivovarský Dům. Hopefully even something from the many other brewpubs in Prague; this would be a great chance for the new (and quite good) Staroměstský Pivovar U Tří Růží to show off what they are doing and get a little exposure.

With the many exciting things that have been happening in Czech brewing the 2012 Czech Beer Festival proves to be the best one yet. Get out there and taste as many of the wonderful choices as possible. What beers are you most excited to try?

See you there, and enjoy!