How different can beer be ? Many would like to argue that in the end it is just beer. I would argue the same if I was stuck in the middle of the desert and had not had a drop to drink. But since we are in Prague we can afford to be a little obnoxious about beer. The Czechs have been brewing beer since the beginning of the 13th Century. Over the course of a couple of hundred years, Czech have more or less perfected the art of brewing and now are considered to be amongst the best, if not the best.
It is true that in the beginning you would feel that all beer is the same, but once you have spent enough time and drank to your heart's content, you will slowly realise that not all beers are the same, not all restaurants are the same in terms of the quality of the beer. Some are fine while others are excellent. There can and will be another chapter on Czech Beer and why it is the best, till then let us at least show you the way to some of the places where you can decide for yourself.
Pilsner Urquell being served in branded Pilsner branded mugs.
Czech Beer is classified into four main categories based on the amount of alcohol they have.The logic that we were told about the numbers ( 10, 11, 12....) is that if you were to divide the number by two, you will get the percentage of alcohol present in the beer.
- Desítku or the number ten is pronounced as you read it. This is the mildest variant.
- Jedenáctku or the number 11 is pronounced as Yedenactku. This is a little stronger than desítku and a popular choice amongst locals.
- Dvanáctku or the number 12 is pronouced as you read it. This is the most popular gradient. Pilsner Urquell is the most famous brand that sells this grade.
- I.P.A is an acronym for Indian Pale Ale. This is the strongest of them all. Try at your own risk.
- Černy pronounced as Cherny. The CH needs to sound like Ch in Chair. This is black beer and can be tried for testing purposes.
Enough of Logic, Let's go get some beer ! !
U Rudolfinum
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Located in Staromestka, this place is opposite Staromestka Tram Stop. We were recommended to this place by our friend. We were told that this place serves the best beer in town to which we couldn't agree more. The restaurant has seating spread between two floors. The food is not bad but the beer is simply the best. Directions to the place can be found>here.
U Kruhu
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This place is a hidden gem. It is right in the city centre but if you are not taken there, you will not know that it exists.
Situated in a building with a courtyard this is a cosy place where you can have a fun evening with your friends. The courtyard is perfect for the summer but you will be advised to be quiet so as to not disturb the neighbours. They serve the Pilsner family and the staff is friendly and speaks english.
Deunde
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One of the coolest in the list, this little nondescript bar is a real winner. Its been serving beer for the past twenty years and shows no sign of slowing down. They serve beer from the Bernard family. This is a nice place to meet locals. Ambient music is played indoors till 10 pm after which it is shut down since there are people who live above the pub.
Cafe Alternatif
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This watering spot is located near the National Museum. It is a cosy hole in the wall and a perfect place to have an intimate conversation over a glass of beer. They host art exhibitions regularly and serve beer from the Bernard family. Unfortunately they do not have a menu online. The price for a large beer will be roughly 45Kč and they do not have a kitchen.
This little cafê is located near the National Meuzeum. It is a cosy hole in the wall and a perfect place to have an intimate conversation over a glass of beer. They host art exhibitions regularly and serve beer from the Bernard family. You can find the directions to get there Unfortunately they do not have a menu online. The price for a large beer will be roughly 45Kč and they have a very limited food menu.
That's the list for now. We hope you liked it. Please click on the mail icon at the end of the page to share your feedback or visit our contact page to drop us a line.
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Photographs by Unsplash.