In one of the many “Best Beer” threads floating around in the past months, I (and others too, I think) lamented the fact that the original “Budweiser” from Budvar in Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) was unavailable in the U.S. because the name “Budweiser” is owned in this country by Anheuser Busch. Well, this may be very old news to some, but to me it’s brand new: it’s now available here under the name “Czechvar.” I stumbled across it today; the bottle caught my eye because it looked so familiar. Needless to say, I bought some, and it tastes as good as I remember it tasting when I last had it, in Germany in 1993.
Just thought someone might want to know. Thus ends my mundane and pointless post. Probst!
I visited the US in July, and found a new (to me) Czech brand for about $4/6-pak. It was fantastic and I would put it up against any microbrew I’ve ever had in the US
I care too. I think I had beer every evening I was in the Czech Republic, just trying the different variations. Unfortunately, the best will never be bottled.
Ahh, Czech beers! I love them, and when I found out that the Systembolaget in Stockholm carried my favourite one, Staropramen, I gave Anniz instructions to bring me some bottles with her during her visits to the US this year.
Now that she lives here, I’ll have to find another source for Staropramen…
But, Budvar. I tried every pilsner I could in Prague in '98, and while Budvar is vastly superior to Budweiser, I found it rather lacking compared to Staropramen.
Mmm, I think I have one bottle of Staropramen at home waiting for me tonight…
My parents and sister came to the US from Czechoslovakia in 1969 (I was born in the States). My father comes to visit me once every few months to raid the local “Beers of the World” store. He picks up some Rebel, Staropramen, and Kozel. I don’t know if they carry Czechvar but I’ll make sure to check it out. I remember Budvar from my trips to visit the family, and it was quite good. Have any of you tried “Gambrinus”? Or as they call it over there, “Gambach” (spelling incorrect due to American keyboard, but say it phonetically).
If you ever come around this way again I suggest you visit the Švejk. They have I don’t know how many Czech beers on tap and minimum pouring time is 6-7 minutes.
[Hijack] Just wanted to say that`s a really nice sig Floater [/Hijack]
I currently study law in Belgium but the study part is not going to well since they have so many great beers here. Hoegaarden is a really nice Weissbier you should try out, easy to drink but alot of flavour anywy.
Montfort, have you tried Total Beverage? They’re fairly extensive as far as beer goes - can’t remember offhand if they have Staropramen, however. Will look next time I’m in the neighborhood of one.
Juggler - They have Hoegaarden at the World Market store near where I live, but I can’t find the damn six-sided glass you need according to the instructions on the package. And yes, I’m enough of a stickler when it comes to beer that I’m not gonna try Hoegaarden until I do find one. I love Hefeweissen!
As regards the OP - if I find Budvar around here anywhere I’m definitely gonna pick it up and try it.
Olentzero: Come to Belgium, there a whole bunch of the glasses here.
Actually they are really serious about their drinking glasses, to every pub I went to no matter how many different kind of beers they have they have a glass with the right beer-logo on it. I ordered a Gordon scotch yesterday and sure enough it was served in a Gordon scotch glass complete with a tartan stripe on the rim.
Im thinking of stealing a whole set of beerglases when I go home to Sweden, esp. Chimay, Hooegarden and Duvel.
Chimay red label. Believe it or not, all three of these beers are available in Shanghai. Also, if you’re ever in Tokyo, Brussels Bar in Jimbocho has a very wide selection of Belgium beers (well, okay, maybe 40-50 out of a few thousand) with a few Czech ones thrown in. And they have the correct glasses.
Now to seek out some Czechvar!