Original Czech: Bernard Černý Ležák 12°

Bernard brewery is a Czech story of success. Established a good twenty years ago (in 1991), it quickly became one of the most known Czech breweries. This family brewery produces traditional Czech beers with only the best ingredients. Today, Bernard beers are famous not only around the entire Czech Republic, but also around most of Europe. And best thing yet, it’s still continuing to grow, so we can expect even more pleasant Czech beers from Bernard brew makers.

This beer is a part of my Beer Bottles Collection page on FB. Check it out!

DETAILS

• Name: Bernard Černý Ležák 12°

• Brewery: Bernard
• City: Humpolec
• Country: Czech Republic

• Style: Dunkel
• ABV: 5,1%

RATINGS

• Appearance: 3,75 / 5
• Smell: 3,25 / 5
• Taste: 3,75 / 5
• Feel: 3,5 / 5
• Overall: 3,5 / 5

DESCRIPTION

This Bernard is a very nice dark lager which pour of course with an almost completely black color and is topped with about two fingers of very decent light brown head with quite good retention. The aroma is surprisingly very gentle (not really as expected). It’s slightly sweet and chocolatey (+ some hops). The taste is likewise sweet, chocolatey, almost completely without the roasted feel, which is actually quite nice. The afterfinish comes late and brings along slight and lasting bitterness.

All in all, it’s a very nice and drinkable beer, which isn’t too strong, but still offers just enough taste to completely enjoy it. Good job Mr. Bernard.

A Czech Knight: Primus Svetle

This is one of the beers I brought back from my trip to Prague. Basically it is one of the cheaper beer brands, but still a pretty nice one (like most of the Czech beers)

• Name: Primus Světlé
• Brewery: Plzensky Prazdroj (SABMiller)
• City: Plzen
• Country: Czech Republic

Primus pours out a typical clear golden color with a relatively small white head – nothing out of the ordinary really. The malty and grainy aroma dominates the nose, which is pleasant and completely expected. The beginning is sweet, followed by a grainy continuation and a slightly (and pleasantly) bitter finish.

Truth to be told, this beer, although pleasant, is nothing special. But it will quench your thirst and give you that realy beer fell, which is basically all that matters. Plus, it’s realatively cheap, so you get enough quality for a (relatively) small price.

• Style: Czech Pilsner
• ABV: 4,2%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 4 / 5
• Taste: 3 / 5
• Overall: 3,5 / 5

The Original: Pilsner Urquell

Today’s beer is considered, by the beer experts, to be one of the best, if not THE BEST, pilsener in the world. I completely agree with them, and I also agree to the statements that this beer is the original pilsener (Urquell translates as original) and all others are just copies of it.

• Name: Pilsner Urquell
• Brewery: Plzensky Prazdroy (SABMiller)
• City: Plzen
• Country: Czech Republic

Pilsner Urquell pours out with the already familiar golden color. The body is clear with a medium carbonation. The white head is thin and not long lasting. It has a quite hoppy aroma along with some grainy smell – it is much stronger than is the case with some other pilseners and lagers. The taste is just slightly sweet, but otherwise the hoppy bitterness can be tasted throught. Again, the hoppiness is stronger than I’m used with other beers, but that’s a good thing. The finish is pleasanty bitter, just to follow the rest of it.

Pilsner Urquell really proved to be a beer of high quality, and that is why it is so acknowledged. The pleasant bitterness together with the ability to run smoothly down your throat makes it one of the best beers the Czech people have given to the rest of the world. A definite must try for anybody.

• Style: Czech Pilsener
• ABV: 4,4%
• Ingredients: water, hops, barley malt

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 4,5 / 5
• Taste: 5 / 5
• Overall: 4,5 / 5

A Taste of Czech Republic: Kozel Svetly

Czech Republic is famous all around the world for their beer making, which is no surprise since almost all their beers are simply amazing. In addition, it is also a country which consumes the most beer per capita, so it can be said Czech people are real experts when it comes to beer. So here is Kozel, or the Goat, one of the more popular beers from Czech Republic.

• Name: Kozel Svetly 10°
• Brewery: Pivovar Velké Popovice (SAB Miller)
• City: Velké Popovice
• Country: Czech Republic

Kozel Svetly boasts with its clear golden color, topped with a very decent white head that won’t go anywhere for quite some time. The aroma of this goat is characteristic of Czech pilseners. A mixture of grainy, malty and yeasty aroma, combined into a very pleasant, although quite mild smell. The taste naturally follows this aroma. Kozel starts on the sweet side, thanks to the malt, and finishes with a slight hoppy bitterness.

This balanced taste, together with a decent carbonation and a very smooth feeling, makes Kozel very enjoyable and refreshing and a perfect companion to the traditional Czech cuisine, where you can enjoy Czech gulaš, roasted pork, dumplings and so on and on. If you ever decide to visit Czech Republic, don’t miss out on the combination of their food and their beer. It’s perfect.

• Style: Czech Pilsener
• ABV: 4%
• Ingredients:

• Slogan: “A Taste of Czech Village!”

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 4 / 5
• Taste: 4 / 5
• Overall: 4 / 5

For the Kings: Budweiser Budvar

• Name: Budweiser Budvar
• Brewery: Budweiser Budvar
• City: České Budějovice
• Country: Czech Republic

Budweiser Budvar, or as it is known in the USA Czechvar, is one of the top quality pilseners that are available on the market. This beer presents itself with a pure golden color, topped with a decent white head, which lingers for just the right time. It comes with a pleasant sweet aroma, where you can also smell a hint of hops in the back. The taste is similar – a perfect balance of sweetness followed by a slight bitterness.  It is a very smooth beer, but by no means bland or watery.

• Style: Bohemian Pilsener
• ABV: 5%
• Ingredients: barley malt, hops, yeast, water

• Slogan: The Beer of Kings!

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4,5 / 5
• Smell: 4,5 / 5
• Taste: 4,5 / 5
• Overall: 4,5 / 5