While some breweries are working hard at reducing or dumbing down their product line, there are others that, fortunately, are doing the exact opossite.
A couple of months ago Herold brought back from the dead their pseničné pivo, which, though not as good as Primátor Weizen, is a very decent product that can be easily compared with the better known Bavarian brands.
But it seems they haven't had enough. Pivovar Březnice "announced" (meaning that I was told by someone with no connection to the brewery) a Dunklesweizen a couple of weeks ago. Actually, it's not an entirely new product, either, they used to brew it in the nineties, according to what I've heard. I haven't been able to taste it yet, it is only available in kegs and I haven't been lucky enough to get it anywhere, but just the fact that it is out there is reason enough to celebrate in my books.
And they aren't the only ones taking the wheat road. Word on the street is that Pivovar Černá Hora is preparing a weizen of their own that might be launched together with the Gluten Free beer they have set for this Autumn.
Wheat beers are becoming more and more popular among the micros as well. That's not surprising, many of those breweries are working at the limit of their capacities and the increase in demand during the summer months always threatens to compromise the quality of their products. Wheat beers have turned out to be a blessing for them. They are ready in just two weeks, while their lagers need at least five. By offering their patrons a suitable alternative to quench their thirsts, the demand for ležaký decreases a bit, which gives them a bit more time to properly mature.
And people do like them. While enjoying Nuselské Bilé the other day, Hanz, the owner of Zlý Časy was telling me how well wheat beers in general are selling at his pub. But you don't need to go to a beer geeks' spot to see that for yourself. Just drop by at U Sadu during a sunny afternoon and check out how many glasses of Primátor Weizen can be seen on the tables.
What surprises me a bit is that it is women and other people who don't drink too much beer who seem to like pšenky the most. The other day I have my mother in law a bit to try, and she absolutely loved it.
In a nutshell, wheat beers do have a lot of potential. What they need is more exposure. For example, other than Dobrá Trafika in Karmelitská, I can't think of any other place in the centre that offers a Czech Wheat Beer, and I don't understand why? Anyway, once these beers get the exposure they deserve, they will be a huge success, perhaps reaching, if not surpassing, the numbers of dark beers.
Might we see in a near future the resurrection of Gambrinus Bilé?
Na Zdraví!
A couple of months ago Herold brought back from the dead their pseničné pivo, which, though not as good as Primátor Weizen, is a very decent product that can be easily compared with the better known Bavarian brands.
But it seems they haven't had enough. Pivovar Březnice "announced" (meaning that I was told by someone with no connection to the brewery) a Dunklesweizen a couple of weeks ago. Actually, it's not an entirely new product, either, they used to brew it in the nineties, according to what I've heard. I haven't been able to taste it yet, it is only available in kegs and I haven't been lucky enough to get it anywhere, but just the fact that it is out there is reason enough to celebrate in my books.
And they aren't the only ones taking the wheat road. Word on the street is that Pivovar Černá Hora is preparing a weizen of their own that might be launched together with the Gluten Free beer they have set for this Autumn.
Wheat beers are becoming more and more popular among the micros as well. That's not surprising, many of those breweries are working at the limit of their capacities and the increase in demand during the summer months always threatens to compromise the quality of their products. Wheat beers have turned out to be a blessing for them. They are ready in just two weeks, while their lagers need at least five. By offering their patrons a suitable alternative to quench their thirsts, the demand for ležaký decreases a bit, which gives them a bit more time to properly mature.
And people do like them. While enjoying Nuselské Bilé the other day, Hanz, the owner of Zlý Časy was telling me how well wheat beers in general are selling at his pub. But you don't need to go to a beer geeks' spot to see that for yourself. Just drop by at U Sadu during a sunny afternoon and check out how many glasses of Primátor Weizen can be seen on the tables.
What surprises me a bit is that it is women and other people who don't drink too much beer who seem to like pšenky the most. The other day I have my mother in law a bit to try, and she absolutely loved it.
In a nutshell, wheat beers do have a lot of potential. What they need is more exposure. For example, other than Dobrá Trafika in Karmelitská, I can't think of any other place in the centre that offers a Czech Wheat Beer, and I don't understand why? Anyway, once these beers get the exposure they deserve, they will be a huge success, perhaps reaching, if not surpassing, the numbers of dark beers.
Might we see in a near future the resurrection of Gambrinus Bilé?
Na Zdraví!
I don't know exactly what Hanz said (more power to him by the way!), but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before it's available at Zlý... :)
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