Versión en español
We had to wait more than expected but, withouth much of a fuss, Bašta - Sousedský Pivovar u Bansethů (neighbourhood's brewery U Bansethů) finally opened. Right next door to the legendary hospoda U Bansethů, one of the favorite spots of Jarslav Hašek, the creator of the Soldier Švejk, and right opposite the beautiful Nuselska Radnice.
Evan let me know about its opening and recommended me to go. As soon as I had the chance, I took tram 18 to the stop Nuselska Radnice and there I was.
Actually, I got there a bit earlier. The brewery does not open until 3PM, so I went next door to have a glass of tanková Pilsner, something which to a certain extent I would regret later.
Bašta is very small and still smells new, but the atmosphere that it will soon have can be already felt. When coming in we are greeted by a narrow room, with tables only on the left, to the right, just by the door is the brewery, with its kettles and fermenters, a heavenly view.
Despite being the smoking section, I could help but sitting at one of the first tables, I wanted to have a view of the brewery. I didn't have to wait much for the first beer to arrive. A poltomavé, the kind of which is multiplying on the Czech market, with nice and sweet aromas full of roasted notes and fruits, very fresh. A great, almost silky body is the first thing we feel when drinking it and then its fruity notes followed by a pretty surprising hoppy finish, gorgeous.
It was followed by the other beer on tap that day, Bavorské 13°. With a very similar colour as the other one, though wereas the amber reflects the light, the bavorské absorbs it. It also has a fuller body and in some way its flavours reminded me of a homemade cake minus the sugar. Simply wonderful!
There weren't many patrons yet that early in the afternoon, but the few that were there enjoying those almost works of art seemed to be people who knew how to appreciate what they were drinking. I soon started chatting with one sitting at the next table, and for almost an hour we talked about beer, what else, while bitching at Staropramen and Gambrinus.
As much as I would have loved it, I could not stay very long. But I had to come back. I was curious at some of the things listed on the blackboards that work as menu.
And it didn't take me too long to be back, this time with my better half. I took her there in an ugly afternoon with the promise that she would be able to have zapekané (baked) camembert. A cheese lover, she was happy to join me.
Unfortunately that glorious bavorské was on tap anymore, but there was a světlý ležák, which of course, I ordered.
I was surprised by the colour. I was expecting a golden lager in the style of Pivovarský Dum or Richter, what I had in the glass, however, was a beer that anywhere else in the world would be called amber. I mentioned that to the waiter, but he insisted that it was a světlý. Which was confirmed, sort of, when I compared it to the polotmavé that my wife was drinking.
Whatever the colour, I really liked this beer, a lot. More fuit and no roasted notes on the nose, and more herbs and bitternes in the mouth, very nice, very fresh and refreshing, very tasty.
We each ordered a snack, utepenec for me, the promised camembert for the lady. Utopenec is a classic of tap-room cuisine, a thick sausage in a very vinegary pickle. It is usually served on a small plate covered with sliced onion, also from the pickle. Not very good looking, but, when well prepared it can be very tasty. Bašta has found a twist for this good old classic. Instead of coming on a plate, what they call staroprazšé vuřstý na octe (Old Prague sausages in vinegar) is comes in jar for conserves. In it, apart from the sausage there is sliced onion, sliced pickled cucumber and a bell peper. Once taken out of the jar, it is eaten from the little wooden board that is used as plate. The best bit of it is that you can dip your bread in the pickle, very tasty.
The baked "camembert" was not too bad either. Also with a pretty interesting presentation, it is brought in the clay pot in which is baked. The almost melted cheese is sprikled with coarsly chopped garlic, wich gives it a nice kick.
Both pochoutky were really nice. But the best was that each of them paired really well with the beers we had each ordered. However, I would like to warn that, for more than obvious reasons, neither of these choises are very appropriate before or during a romantic date.
It is also worth mentioning the price of the beer at Bašta, 25Kc for a pint (which makes it the cheapest brewpub in Prague), while next door, Pilsner Urquell goes for 30Kc.
This brewpub is more than welcomed. I hope to visit it again soon and be able to taste the other two beers listed on the blackboard, a pšeničné (which I heard is great) and a mavé speciál.
Now, that bavorské that brightened my life on my fist visit was never on the blackboard, which makes me think, and hope, wether Pivovar Bašta is going to become something like Pivovar U Bulovky, where the beers on tap are constantly rotated, with one or two being available on a permanent basis. Be that or not, I'm sure that Pivovar Bašta will have me as one of the regulars.
I really recommend it. It might seem far, but it is actually rather close to the centre, 15 min. from the National Theatre with tram 18, or less than ten with tram 11 from Muzeum to Náměstí bratří Synků, and then just 150m or so up the hill. Just one last bit to be aware of, though: the offer of non alcoholic drinks is very limited (just juice and a couple of soft drinks) and, at least as at the other day, warm drinks are not served. The horror! Only beer will have to do.
Pivovar Bašta
Táborská 49
140 00 Praha 4–Nusle
Tel.: +420 261 222 530
www.ubansethu.cz
We had to wait more than expected but, withouth much of a fuss, Bašta - Sousedský Pivovar u Bansethů (neighbourhood's brewery U Bansethů) finally opened. Right next door to the legendary hospoda U Bansethů, one of the favorite spots of Jarslav Hašek, the creator of the Soldier Švejk, and right opposite the beautiful Nuselska Radnice.
Evan let me know about its opening and recommended me to go. As soon as I had the chance, I took tram 18 to the stop Nuselska Radnice and there I was.
Actually, I got there a bit earlier. The brewery does not open until 3PM, so I went next door to have a glass of tanková Pilsner, something which to a certain extent I would regret later.
Bašta is very small and still smells new, but the atmosphere that it will soon have can be already felt. When coming in we are greeted by a narrow room, with tables only on the left, to the right, just by the door is the brewery, with its kettles and fermenters, a heavenly view.
Despite being the smoking section, I could help but sitting at one of the first tables, I wanted to have a view of the brewery. I didn't have to wait much for the first beer to arrive. A poltomavé, the kind of which is multiplying on the Czech market, with nice and sweet aromas full of roasted notes and fruits, very fresh. A great, almost silky body is the first thing we feel when drinking it and then its fruity notes followed by a pretty surprising hoppy finish, gorgeous.
It was followed by the other beer on tap that day, Bavorské 13°. With a very similar colour as the other one, though wereas the amber reflects the light, the bavorské absorbs it. It also has a fuller body and in some way its flavours reminded me of a homemade cake minus the sugar. Simply wonderful!
There weren't many patrons yet that early in the afternoon, but the few that were there enjoying those almost works of art seemed to be people who knew how to appreciate what they were drinking. I soon started chatting with one sitting at the next table, and for almost an hour we talked about beer, what else, while bitching at Staropramen and Gambrinus.
As much as I would have loved it, I could not stay very long. But I had to come back. I was curious at some of the things listed on the blackboards that work as menu.
And it didn't take me too long to be back, this time with my better half. I took her there in an ugly afternoon with the promise that she would be able to have zapekané (baked) camembert. A cheese lover, she was happy to join me.
Unfortunately that glorious bavorské was on tap anymore, but there was a světlý ležák, which of course, I ordered.
I was surprised by the colour. I was expecting a golden lager in the style of Pivovarský Dum or Richter, what I had in the glass, however, was a beer that anywhere else in the world would be called amber. I mentioned that to the waiter, but he insisted that it was a světlý. Which was confirmed, sort of, when I compared it to the polotmavé that my wife was drinking.
Whatever the colour, I really liked this beer, a lot. More fuit and no roasted notes on the nose, and more herbs and bitternes in the mouth, very nice, very fresh and refreshing, very tasty.
We each ordered a snack, utepenec for me, the promised camembert for the lady. Utopenec is a classic of tap-room cuisine, a thick sausage in a very vinegary pickle. It is usually served on a small plate covered with sliced onion, also from the pickle. Not very good looking, but, when well prepared it can be very tasty. Bašta has found a twist for this good old classic. Instead of coming on a plate, what they call staroprazšé vuřstý na octe (Old Prague sausages in vinegar) is comes in jar for conserves. In it, apart from the sausage there is sliced onion, sliced pickled cucumber and a bell peper. Once taken out of the jar, it is eaten from the little wooden board that is used as plate. The best bit of it is that you can dip your bread in the pickle, very tasty.
The baked "camembert" was not too bad either. Also with a pretty interesting presentation, it is brought in the clay pot in which is baked. The almost melted cheese is sprikled with coarsly chopped garlic, wich gives it a nice kick.
Both pochoutky were really nice. But the best was that each of them paired really well with the beers we had each ordered. However, I would like to warn that, for more than obvious reasons, neither of these choises are very appropriate before or during a romantic date.
It is also worth mentioning the price of the beer at Bašta, 25Kc for a pint (which makes it the cheapest brewpub in Prague), while next door, Pilsner Urquell goes for 30Kc.
This brewpub is more than welcomed. I hope to visit it again soon and be able to taste the other two beers listed on the blackboard, a pšeničné (which I heard is great) and a mavé speciál.
Now, that bavorské that brightened my life on my fist visit was never on the blackboard, which makes me think, and hope, wether Pivovar Bašta is going to become something like Pivovar U Bulovky, where the beers on tap are constantly rotated, with one or two being available on a permanent basis. Be that or not, I'm sure that Pivovar Bašta will have me as one of the regulars.
I really recommend it. It might seem far, but it is actually rather close to the centre, 15 min. from the National Theatre with tram 18, or less than ten with tram 11 from Muzeum to Náměstí bratří Synků, and then just 150m or so up the hill. Just one last bit to be aware of, though: the offer of non alcoholic drinks is very limited (just juice and a couple of soft drinks) and, at least as at the other day, warm drinks are not served. The horror! Only beer will have to do.
Pivovar Bašta
Táborská 49
140 00 Praha 4–Nusle
Tel.: +420 261 222 530
www.ubansethu.cz
Excellent write-up of this place -- I wish I'd had the sense to try the beer snacks, but the beers themselves were so good I couldn't think of anything else. Now I know what I missed!
ReplyDeleteWell, now you have one more excuse to go back there.....
ReplyDelete