Czech beer among the best in the world

The Czechs have a very close relationship with their beer, and they will not miss an opportunity to celebrate that together.

Be that as it may, drinking and tasting should of course be done with moderation and common sense. Therefore, a beer festival programme includes concerts, non-traditional brewery tours, and competitions. As a matter of interest: If you would like to taste a different beer every day in the Czech Republic, your visit would drag on quite a long time, as more than 400 kinds of beer were brewed here last year!

Already in its 52nd year, the hops and beer celebrations of the Hop Harvest Festival in Žatec promise spectacular festivities. It is precisely the Žatec hops that make a vital contribution to the quality of Czech beer. Czech and Slovak music stars will perform for the audience at three genre-specific music stages on 5 and 6 September 2009. At the Festival, you can test your adroitness in picking hops or dancing with a beer mug on your head. A queen of hops will be chosen, and you will also see the world’s smallest hops field directly on the square. Tasting will include around 45 kinds of beer from Czech and foreign breweries. Admission is free both days.

Beer is brewed at more than 120 places in the Czech Republic, but the Pilsner beer is known worldwide. In 1842, a legend was born in Pilsen: the pale lager Pilsner Urquell. The Bavarian brewmaster Josef Groll brewed a beer using the bottom fermentation method, which aroused a passion for that beer’s golden colour, dense snow-white froth and exceptional taste. This passion has continued to today, and the Pilsner Fest is held to celebrate brewing the first beer of the Pilsner type. This year’s fest will be held on 4 and 5 September 2009. In addition to Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus, visitors can look forward to tasting an entirely special beer brewed solely for this occasion. This year, as every other year, gastronomic specialties and cultural events will accompany the fest. The co-organiser of this important event is the City of Pilsen, and admission to all events of the Pilsner Fest is free.

A traditional beer festival is also held at the Chodovar family brewery. It was made famous by the world’s largest beer spa and by the so-called “beerarium” that connects gastronomy and beer. You can experience these amenities personally on 22 August 2009. In addition to the non-traditional tours of the brewery and malt-house, you will be entertained by a musical performance and amusing competitions relating to beer.

On 8 August 2009, with the arrival of the master of the mountains, the legendary Krakonoš himself, the gate to Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) Beer Festival will open. An addition this year will be a second stage which will offer alternative music genres and, above all, there will once again be the rides and amusements of the traditional Vrchlabí carnival. The entertainment will include the music of a regional folk group, dancers in regional folk dress, magicians and, above all, local specialties.

The Bernard Family Brewery in Humpolec will provide a combination of good beer and music for the Bernard Fest programme. On 7 and 8 August 2009, such very popular Czech musical groups as Monkey Business, Kryštof and Chinaski will perform here in the heart of the Vysočina (Highlands) region. The audience also can look forward to competitions and fireworks.

Other festivities
Harrachov Beer Festivities 18 July 2009 in the Novosad glassworks
Traditional Regent Beer celebration on the premises of Třeboň’s Bohemia Regent breweryon 25 July 2009
Beer Festivities in Jindřichův Hradec, 5 September 2009
Beer Carnival in the Černá Hora brewery26 September 2009