Is there a decent pilsner out there?

[No_umlaut_for_U]

@GreasyJack

The Czech Budweiser is apparently called “Czechvar” in the US, although I’ve never actually seen it anywhere.

I live around a lot of Czechs, but it’s hard to find outside a restaurant (Chicago suburbs for frame of reference). It’s to die for; a totally lovely brew.

[bump]

@Floater

By definition typical Czech beers, like Pilsner, are not lagers. The word is German for storage and and means that the beer has been stored for some time in a cold temperature. The reason for doing this is to get rid of a substance called diacetyl that gives the beer a kind of fudgey savor. The Czechs, however, like this taste and drink their beer without previous storing.

Not quite accurate…

They’re lagers because:

1. They use what’s called bottom fermenting yeast. As a matter of fact, the smuggling of the Bavarian yeast to Bohemia in about 1840 is one of the defining events of Czech pilsner.

2. They’re fermented relatively cold- in the 50s.

3. Czech pilsners are definitely lagered. Diacetyl reduction is not the only reason for lagering; clarity and a number of other taste related issues are improved by lagering. PU in particular is lagered for 35-40 days.

Cite: http://www.brewingtechniques.com/library/backissues/issue5.3/urquell.html

Having had PU, Budweiser Budvar/Czechvar and Staropramen in the US, I have to say I prefer Staropramen to the other ones.

I’d break someone’s legs for a bottle of Kozel Dark though…

[Floater]

@pulykamell

I’ve never heard anyone claim that pilsener is not a type of lager.

Now you have. I’m very well aware that Czech beers are usually lumped together with other bottom-fermented beers and called lager, but, as I explained, technically speaking they shouldn’t as they have not been stored cool for a while like German beers, as described in the Wiki article you quoted.

[pulykamell]

As per bump’s site, the original pilsener (Pilsener Urquell) was lagered for 3 months in caves. It looks like the current version isn’t lagered as long, but it’s lagered. Given that it is fermented cold, bottom fermenting, and stored for clarity and flavor, I don’t see how it shouldn’t be classified as a lager. There’s really no reason to create a separate category just for pilsener, in my opinion, especially as I can’t see what that category would be based on.

[MPB_in_Salt_Lake]

@Floater

There’s a beer from the town České Budějovice called Budějovický Budvar. The German name is Budweiser, which you may find in the US.

In my experience the Czech Budvar sold under the name Czechvar here in the USA tastes NOTHING AT ALL like the “same” beer sold in the Czech Republic.

I have spent a couple of months cumulative traveling the Czech Republic (not all at once, but a couple weeks here and there over several different visits) including a few days in Plzen, and some of the best beer that I can remember were the dirt-cheap draughts of Staropramen sold in flimsy plastic cups from the little beer wagons (like you can sometimes see at ballparks or concert arenas here in America) on the streets of Prague.

Perfection in a disposable plastic cup, all for about 50 cents a pop…

[Panurge]

A good part of the flavor of Czech pilsners come from the use of the saaz hop which has a very distinct flavor and lends a crisp feel to the beer. According to the beeradvocate site recommended above there are quite a few American pilsners that use the saaz. Happy hunting!

[LawMonkey]

Thanks for all the replies, folks.

Soproni was no Pilsner Urquell, but it was tasty enough–I wound up drinking a fair bit of it while visiting a little cafe across the street from my hotel for the free wifi.

Homebrewing is out, as there’s no way I have room for a fridge to dedicate to the purpose.

The Astoria beer garden is definitely on my list of places to investigate–all the better since I’ve got a lady friend who lives that way.

In the meanwhile, I’ll investigate Prima Pils and the others mentioned. Sadly, I’ve yet to find a really good beer store–there are wine/liquor shops by the bucketload 'round here, but beer doesn’t get the same love…

[Gary_T]

@Panurge

A good part of the flavor of Czech pilsners come from the use of the saaz hop which has a very distinct flavor and lends a crisp feel to the beer. According to the beeradvocate site recommended above there are quite a few American pilsners that use the saaz. Happy hunting!

Though it wasn’t on the list you linked, Boulevard’s Pilsner uses Saaz hops (along with two others). Go to my first link and then click on “Ingredients.”