It’s The Right Time for a Radler

Several tastings have been held to put these Czech radlers in to perspective. There is one from ihned.cz and there was Radio Prague’s great radler tasting special. But, like any other beer, don’t take someone else’s word for it, set up your own tasting event and find the one that quenches your own thirst.

Gambrinus
Řízný Citrón – 2.1% abv.
Limetka & Bezinka – 2.1% abv.

Litovel
Escape Limetka – 2.5% abv.
Escape Malina – 2.5% abv.
Escape Zázvor – 2.5% abv.

Primátor
Chipper Grapefruit Beer – 2.0% abv.

Samson
Radler Lemon – 2.5% abv.
Radler Grapefruit – 2.5% abv.

Staropramen
Cool Lemen – 2% abv.
Cool Grep – 2% abv.

Zlatopramen
Radler Citrón – 2% abv.
Radler Pomeranč a zázvor – 2% abv.

Zubr
Yuza & Limeta – 2% abv.

Mixed at the pub
I can’t see myself regularly ordering a radler at a pub, but there are a number of pubs in Prague now serving radlers, and I thought I should try a few out. Here are two examples from opposite ends of the spectrum. 

First, I noticed that Melantrich, just under Marks & Spencer on Václavské náměstí, had a summer beer listed as a panaché in their outdoor seating area. So I sat and ordered said panaché. When it came, I asked the waiter which beer they use in this mix, he informed me that it was Pilsner Urquell. Next I asked about the lemonade mixer, and found out that they simply mix it with Sprite; to say the least, I did not enjoy the beer. Finally, I asked for my bill and was absolutely shocked to receive a 116 CZK check for one beer. So, I went to the waiter in case there was some mistake. No mistake. Melantrich serves Únětice regularly, and has always been a pub that I could make a quick stop to escape the river of people on Václavské náměstí. But 116 CZK for an Urquell and Sprite, ridiculous! The moral of this story is when at Melantrich go inside and drink Únětice.

On a much brighter note, if you haven’t heard of it or tried it yet, Pivo a Párek is a must stop. They have a cute little shop on Korunní with an admirable selection of bottled beers, a few rotating taps, a selection of sausages, and their own radlers. I was speaking with one of the owners, Pavel Mrzena, and could not have asked for a more helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable guy. Pavel was happy to tell me about the 8º beer that they have specially made just for their radlers, though I could not get him to divulge who makes it for them. Same story with the syrups: all of their syrups are specially made to work with the beer to make their radlers unique, but he would not budge on sharing exactly who makes them. I like that they are keeping their secrets close to the chest. Pivo a Párek is a wonderful little shop with some interesting and different Radlers. 

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