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Water, hops and yeast: Discover the magic of beer
Miniature encyclopedia of beer: What’s the difference between a lager and draft beer?
Beer is one of the oldest and most widespread alcoholic beverages in the world. The Czech word for beer is derived from the word “drink” and means “the most broadest and ordinary drink”. Beer’s popularity in the Czech Republic is growing. Czechs traditionally rank number one in drinking beer, leaving behind in the dust other beer powers such as Belgium, Ireland or Germany. Even as several types of beer are currently brewed around the world, the basic raw materials do not change. What’s needed is water, yeast, malt and hops.
The Czech Republic consumes draft beer and lager the most. Traditional bottom-fermented beers are called lagers. Lagers are where the sucrose percentage by weight reaches past eleven or twelve degrees Brix. Multi-brewed beer has a fuller flavor with a distinct taste of hops. Draft beers are lighter and more refreshing. Beers seven to ten degrees Brix carry the draft beer name. Beer degrees indicate the concentration of processed malt, especially sugars, in the wort.
The popularity of mini-breweries in the Czech Republic has been rising
Besides the large breweries, ever more mini-breweries are being established in the Czech Republic, mainly producing beer specialties such as IPA Pale Ales and stouts. In 2019, they brewed 400,000 hectoliters of beer.
Did you know that...
The oldest surviving record of beer brewing is at the Břevnov Monastery?
St. Vojtěch Brewery inside the Břevnov Monastery is the oldest brewery in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 993 by Prince Boleslav II and the then Bishop of Prague, St. Vojtěch. Today, the Břevnov Brewery mainly produces specialty beers. There you can taste an 11° black special with a strong flavor of roasted barley that gives it a hint of chocolate and coffee.
How do you serve beer? The right way is cold
Let the beer first cool down. The ideal temperature for serving lagers and draft beer is 5-7 °C. With specialty beers, keep the temperature around 10-12 °C, while beers with a stronger flavor and aroma stand out better at higher temperatures. Rinse the glass with cold water before pouring the beer. You can get a good beer head by pouring a little beer at the bottom of the glass. Then pour the rest gently down the glass.
Classic lagers are best enjoyed in classic half-liter mugs, while the flavor and aroma of wheat beer stands out better in a tall slim glass. Specialty beers are poured into smaller glasses with a stem. This lets their deeper color stand out and all the flavors develop.
The best-known ways for pouring beer from the tap
Something interesting to entertain friends and family
Do you know about the morbid fear of an empty half-liter mug? Technically, this is called cenosillicophobia. But the cure’s just to refill it. Take a look at some of the other intriguing things about beer you never knew.
