Czech beer pilsner urquell. Famous Czech Pilsner
The classic Czech beer Pilsner Urquell comes from the city of Pilsen. Production of this light lager began in 1842, and today it is one of the most popular amber drinks in the world. The unique refreshing taste of Pilsner Urquell, in which honeyed malt notes are harmoniously combined with the aromas of meadow herbs, is explained by the use of Bohemian Saaz malt and a unique triple boiling technology. When preparing the drink, pure soft natural water and the best varieties of Moravian barley are used. The beer has an uncompromising taste, a classic malt aroma and a bright golden color, emphasized in the glass by a head of snow-white foam.
The Pilsen Prazdroj brewery is one of the most famous in the country; its history began in 1839, when local brewers decided to open a new plant that met the most modern technological requirements. The famous Bavarian brewmaster Josef Groll was invited to introduce bottom fermentation in Pilsen.
In 1842, a light lager called Pilsner was brewed. It became the standard for all brewers of the Old World for many decades. They began to copy it everywhere, and this motivated the brewery owners to officially register the Pilsner Urquell brand in 1898, which translated means “Pilsner from the original source.”
Now the Pilsner Prazdroy brewery owns four factories in different regions of the country. This allows it to be the leading Czech exporter of beer and supply the amber drink to 50 countries on the planet. Pilsner Prazdroy is today one of the main members of the SABMiller group, the largest brewing holding in the world, operating on all continents. This helped Pilsner Urquell beer enter new markets and win even more fans.
"Pilsner Urquell" - price in WineStyle
Pilsner Urquell beer is sold in WineStyle stores at prices starting from 98 rubles. Beer from the Czech Republic is more expensive: a bottle or can costs from 200 rubles. This item is sold in batches of 20-24 pieces.
Pilsner (pilsner, pils) is a type of light lager. The name comes from the Czech city of Pilsen, where this style was invented in 1842. The original Pilsner Urquell, the very first variation, is still produced there.
Story. Brewing in Pilsen began in 1295, but until the 1840s, Bohemia produced predominantly top-fermented ales. There were no uniform standards of taste and quality until the city authorities opened a "civic brewery" (today's Urquell) in 1839, bringing to market beers in the newly emerging Bavarian style. The difference was that, firstly, the intoxicating drinks were made using the bottom fermentation method, and secondly, they underwent additional aging in barrels.
An episode talking about the quality of beer before pilsner is indicative. In 1838, Pilsen brewers rolled 36 barrels of foam onto the main square, opened them and... poured the intoxicating drink onto the pavement, allowing it to mix with the dirt and flow into the sewer. Thus, the masters demonstrated that the ale that existed at that time was impossible to drink.
The first true pilsner beer was created in 1842 by the Bavarian brewer Josef Groll, working in Pilsen, based on light malt. The secret of the variety was malt prepared using English technology, soft local water, Zatec hops and Bavarian technology. The result was a golden drink that instantly became a sensation. Groll returned to Germany three years later, but the enterprise remained.
Josef Groll - style creatorPeculiarities of production include incompletely malted barley (it is important that the grain does not burn or smoke during drying!), as well as aromatic Žatec hops.
Around this time, Europe developed an efficient and inexpensive method for producing glass, and bottles became cheaper and more accessible. Pilsner in glass bottles, firstly, was associated with luxury, and secondly, it looked advantageous, captivating beer lovers with its bright golden color.
For pilsner, barley is not completely germinated, then dried without roasting or smoking.
In 1853, pilsner was already served in 35 Prague pubs, in 1856 it appeared in Vienna, and in 1862 in Paris. The style soon spread throughout Europe, and the Pilsner brand was registered in 1859 (which still creates considerable confusion). In 1898, the Pilsner Urquell trademark was registered to emphasize that it was here that the original pils was produced according to a traditional recipe.
Pilsner Urquell – classic Czech pilsnerThe invention of cooling systems and modern refrigerators made it possible to abandon the storage of beer in basements. Pilsner Urquell followed the tradition the longest, but in 1993 it also replaced the barrels with stainless steel vats.
Today, pilsner is a bottom-fermented light beer with a straw-golden color. The strength of the drink averages 4.5-5%, although some brewers may raise this bar a little (usually such beer is called export beer). The bouquet contains notes of hops.
Pilsner styles
German (Bavarian). Color: from straw to gold. Taste: bitter, with “earthy” notes. Well-known manufacturers: Jever, Flensburger, Konig, Bitburger, etc.
Czech (Bohemian). It has high foam and a slightly less rich taste. Manufacturers: Budweiser, Kozel, Staropramen, Gambrinus, etc.
European (American). Sweetish taste, can be produced not only from barley, but also from rice malt. Manufacturers: Amstel, Heineken, Stella Artois, etc.
Czech gastronomic traditions
Difference between Pilsner and Lager
Pilsner is a subtype of lager, just like charlotte is a subtype of apple pies. Lager is a term that refers to all bottom-fermented beers.
How to drink pilsner
Pilsner beer is drunk from special tall and narrow beer glasses (“Pokalov”), beer mugs or glasses. The intoxicating drink should be enjoyed with fresh toast, fried eggs, savory pastries, shellfish, and light desserts.
Pokal - traditional pilsner glassWho makes Pilsner Urquell beer? What components are included in the drink? Why does Pilsner Urquel have such a taste?
1
The history of the origin of the Pilsner brand has several options, but, according to most brewing historians, the name of the variety is directly related to the Czech city of Pilsen, where in the early 40s of the 19th century the production of the drink began using the technology of the Bavarian manufacturer Groll. It was he who first created the recipe for light beer using a special variety of hops growing in the Bohemian province of Žatec.
Pilsner brewery logo
Pilsner was originally produced in Bohemia, but due to many attempts to forge the recipe by the German Josef Groll, a beer product called Pilsner Urquel was registered in the late 19th century. This particular drink is produced at a brewery in the city of Pilsen, which translated from Czech sounds like “Pilsen prazdroj” and means “Pilsen source”.
Important to know!
The easiest way to recover from alcoholism without pills, injections or doctors with a 100% guarantee of results. Find out how our reader, Tatyana, saved her husband from alcoholism, without his knowledge...
2
Today, little is known about the production technology of natural Pilsner Urquel beer; the recipe is carefully hidden and cannot be disclosed, but connoisseurs know that two fermentation methods are used in the preparation of the Pilsner drink:
- Top fermentation. During this type of fermentation, special yeast is used in large quantities to give the beer a high strength. As a rule, porter, stout and ale are prepared using this type. Moreover, the fermentation temperature is not lower than 18°C, which allows the drink to acquire a thick and dense foam.
- Bottom fermentation. The fermentation process is carried out at a temperature no higher than 10°C and does not require a large amount of yeast; they accumulate at the bottom of the vat with malt, which allows the malt liquid to be saturated with the taste of hops due to the absence of a foamy head. It is on the basis of bottom fermentation, according to true beer connoisseurs, that Pilsner Urquell is produced.
Pilsner beer production
Known facts in the manufacturing process of Pilsner Urquel are the use of barley malt, Bohemian hops from Saatz and natural spring water. At first glance, the exclusivity of barley may be questionable, but it is barley grown in the climate of the Czech Republic that is the key to the uniqueness and originality of the taste of beer, along with the use of Žatec hops, which have a richer taste than other varieties of the plant. Much is known about the healing and taste qualities of spring water in the Czech Republic, as well as the composition of the water without the presence of chemical compounds and harmful substances.
3
The brewery in Pilsen became the pioneer in the production of light varieties of the drink using local malt and Bohemian hops. At the moment, many varieties of beer are produced under the Pilsner brand that meet all the requirements and quality standards of low-alcohol beer-type drinks. The type of beer product produced is called Cezh Pilsner (Bohemian) and today is presented in more than a hundred types. The most popular brands are:
- Bohemia Regent President with 13.5% ABV;
- Bohemia Regent Premium Light Lezhak, a beer product with 12.5% strength;
- Bohemia Regent at 10% ABV;
- Cerna Hora Lezhak;
- Cerna Hora Pater;
- Cerna Hora Tas.
Pilsner light beer
All types of Cerna are presented in the classic version of the production of light varieties of Czech beer, not exceeding 5% strength.
As for the traditional classic beer Pilsner Urquell, this brand is represented by one version, produced in two types of containers:
- Pilsner Urquel (glass bottle 0.5 l). Filtered light beer with a strength not exceeding 4.5%. It has a delicate light amber color. This beer is characterized by the aroma of bitter hops and the taste of boiled malt. The brand has 125 density and a foam head.
- Pilsner Urquel in a tin. The composition of this drink is completely no different from beer released in glass containers, as is its strength. Tin packaging perfectly preserves all the taste qualities of the drink and does not in any way affect the aroma or aftertaste of the beer product.
4
Efes Pilsener beer has long been on Russian shelves, and it is also in demand. Although not a Czech product, it has similar technological processes for manufacturing the Pilsner line.
Efes Pilsener
Efes beer is produced by the Efes Rus company, which emerged as a result of the merger of the Turkish brewing company Anadolu EFES and the SABMiller company. This circumstance made it possible to influence the increase in beer production and the expansion of consumer demand in Russia and neighboring countries.
Efes Pilsener is available in cans and 0.5 liter glass bottles. The beer is pasteurized, has a rich wheat color, a deep aroma of malt and a light aftertaste of hops. The strength is 4.5-5%.
5
Czech beer, produced according to the German Groll recipe, involves drinking it chilled in beer glasses that allow you to retain a high and dense head of foam. It is worth pouring it into the glass at an angle, trying to avoid excessive effervescence and overflow of foam. Pilsner beer is usually served with appetizers of meat and fish, but the traditional dish is hard cheese, from which canapés or slices are prepared. Beer acquires a special taste when eaten with blue cheese, which is common in the Czech Republic and Germany.
Pilsner Urquel
Pilsner Urquel beer should be stored in a dark, cool place. Stored in a regular refrigerator for 9 months. The only thing you need to remember is storage on the lower shelves to avoid icing of the bottle, after which the product will lose all its natural qualities and properties.
6
In order not to become a deceived buyer, it is enough to follow several rules when purchasing and pay attention to the following points:
- Natural Pilsner product is not available in large plastic bottles.
- The Pilsner bottle or can must have the manufacturing date printed on it, and the shelf life at the time of sale must not exceed 9 months.
- Beer must be stored in a special supermarket refrigerator for sale.
- Pilsner is a product that has an international quality certificate, which must be indicated on the label.
- The stated composition of the beer on the label should not contain any listing of foreign components or impurities other than malt, barley and spring water.
- The tin bottle should not have worn inscriptions or blurred production dates.
- The glass Pilsner bottle has its own patented shape and is not available in other versions.
- This Pilsner product may not contain labels written in German or Chinese only. The drink, supplied for sale in Russia for export, contains a translation into Russian.
Pilsner beer bottle
The producers of Pilsner beer have given official permission for the open sale of the beer product in regular supermarkets or alcohol stores in Russia, so when you see it on the shelves, you shouldn’t be surprised or suspect that the drink is counterfeit, just take a good look at the bottle or can.
7 Treat yourself to real quality
For every drink lover, the Pilsner company offers different varieties that meet almost all taste requirements.
At the same time, the quality of Pilsner meets all the requirements of natural malt beer.
For special connoisseurs of natural varieties, Pilsner Urquel is perfect, a beer that combines German quality and the real taste of Bohemian hops. Despite the bitter aftertaste, the honey notes of real malt are perfectly refreshing and give vigor and good mood. Urquel beer is suitable for any party in the company of close friends or will complement an excellent barbecue and outdoor recreation.
And a little about secrets...
Russian scientists from the Department of Biotechnology have created a drug that can help treat alcoholism in just 1 month. The main difference of the drug is ITS 100% NATURAL, which means it is effective and safe for life:- Eliminates psychological cravings
- Eliminates breakdowns and depression
- Protects liver cells from damage
- Helps you recover from heavy drinking in 24 HOURS
- COMPLETE RIDGE from alcoholism, regardless of stage!
- Very affordable price.. only 990 rubles!
The famous Pilsner Urquel beer is, in comparison with other types of this intoxicating drink, the most widespread. This lager beer originated in the Czech city of Pilsen, after which it received its name. Let's find out more about it.
In the article:
Features of Pilsner beer
Pilsner is considered the first golden hop drink with a unique taste of a mixture of honey and bitterness. This beer is called legendary all over the world. Pilsner (Pilsner or Pilsner) is a type of intoxicating drink brewed by bottom fermentation. A real Pilsner is made from light malts, the famous Zatec hops and soft water. This type is brewed using technology borrowed from Bavarian brewers.
The most popular varieties of this type of beer are those produced in Germany and the Czech Republic. In Holland, Pilsner has a slightly sweet flavor.
Pilsner has an oily consistency, a slightly bitter taste and an incredible hop aroma.
History of Pilsner beer
In 1839, it was decided to build a brewery in the city of Pilsen. No one at that time could have imagined that this idea would result in the construction of one of the largest concerns in the Czech Republic today.
The plant was equipped with the best production equipment. The only snag was the production technology. At that time, bottom-fermented beer began to be prepared in Bavaria (see). One of the most popular brewers in this country was Josef Groll. It was he who was invited to Pilsen to develop the future concept of beer production. This talented specialist was put in charge of production at the new Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery.
Josef Groll
Josef Groll had a reputation for being obstinate. And since he was considered an unsurpassed brewer in the field of brewing dark types of intoxicating drinks, he completely refused to brew this beer. Josef Groll stated that he would produce exclusively light varieties. This was his condition.
Just 3 years later, the first batch of intoxicating drink was released, prepared using the latest production technologies. Thanks to selected varieties of hops, specially brought from the city of Žatec, as well as Pilsen water, known for its excellent qualities, the beer turned out excellent and created a sensation.
The new beer stood out because, unlike all previous varieties - dark and cloudy, this one was golden and transparent.
Another special feature of this drink was that it was prepared using the technology of triple wort digestion, which had not previously been used in the Czech Republic. It is noteworthy that to this day this technology has been preserved in the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery for the production of Pilsner.
In 1859, the Pilsner Bier brand was registered based on a new beer recipe. And 39 years later, this famous intoxicating drink began to be produced under the Pilsner Urquell brand, which translated means the Original Source of Pilsner.
Brewery house in Pilsen
In the 20th century, Plzeňský Prazdroj developed actively. Even when the brewery was almost completely destroyed during the war, it was quickly rebuilt and equipped with the best equipment. Production continued to develop.
Today, this company brews beer on modern equipment, uses the latest technologies, but at the same time remains faithful to the classic recipe of Josef Groll.
Products of the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery
Pilsner Urquell
The most popular product of the Plzeňský Prazdroj company is Pilsner Urquel. This aromatic drink has an amber color and harmonious taste.
Gambrinus svetle vycepni
Gambrinus svetle vycepni
This intoxicating drink has a dense structure, a bitter taste and lush lacy foam inherent in almost all Plzeňský Prazdroj drinks.
Gambrinus Premium
Gambrinus Premium
Beer belonging to the Pilsner type. This light, strong drink has a subtle hop aroma.
Gambrinus se snizenym obsahem cukru
A light beer that differs from other products of the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery in its low sugar content.
Primus
A light, pleasant, intoxicating drink with a delicate sweetish aftertaste.
Pilsner malt and other secrets of Pilsner Urquell
When producing Pilsner Urquell, the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery also adheres to the recipe. Thanks to tradition and the use of natural ingredients, Pilsner Urquell is the second most famous intoxicating drink in the Czech Republic.
Pilsner barley malt
In one of the French bars, the drink menu offers 140 types of intoxicating drinks. Opposite one of them is the inscription “The best beer in the world.” These words are written opposite the Pilsner Urquell beer.
When brewing Pilsner Urquell, the following components are used:
- Malted barley, from which excellent quality malt is produced.
- Žatec hops, characterized by a low level of alpha acids, which gives a specific herbal flavor to the future product and a delicate aroma.
- Pilsen water, famous for the purity of its chemical composition and softness.
- Yeast, namely a special type of yeast culture, has been used at the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery since 1842. It is this component that plays an important role in giving the drink its unique taste.
Pilsner Urquell beer gained its popularity back in the middle of the 19th century, when it began to enjoy unprecedented demand in countries such as France, Germany, Austria, etc. Today, this beer remains one of the most common intoxicating drinks in the world. Most modern breweries use Pilsner as the standard for their products..
Brewing process of Pilsner Urquell beer
The process of brewing Pilsner Urquell beer begins in the fields of Bohemia and Moravia, where the best varieties of barley are grown for future intoxicating drinks. The Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery produces high-quality malt from this grain crop. To do this, the grain is sent to the malthouse, thoroughly soaked and left to germinate. After five days, the barley is dried.
Fermentation in oak barrels, cellars of the Pilsen Prazdroj brewery
The prepared malt is crushed and sent for mashing (mixing with water), resulting in a white mixture.
After this, the malt is filtered, due to which all insoluble elements settle at the bottom of the vat. This creates a natural filter apparatus through which the wort is purified.
The wort is transferred to the boiler. The hops are being prepared. To brew Pilsner beer, Žatec hop cones are used, which are first thoroughly crushed and cleaned of ballast elements. Hops are added in three approaches. In order for beer to acquire its characteristic taste, the mixture of wort and hops is boiled very intensively.
The wort is cooled and left to oxidize. After this, yeast is added to it. This begins the fermentation process, which is important in brewing. This stage lasts 12 days. During fermentation, yeast cells help convert existing sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
The resulting drink is transferred to special tanks, where it matures to the desired state for 30 days. At the same time, the temperature must be maintained low.
This is what the production process of the famous Pilsner Urquell beer looks like. After the drink has matured, it is filtered, pasteurized and poured into bottles, aluminum cans and other containers. The part of beer that is intended for quick consumption is not pasteurized (so-called live beer).
To ensure that the quality of Pilsner Urquell has not changed from the original drink, the company's brewers brew a small quantity each year according to Josef Groll's principles, using the same equipment he used to brew. Thus, the brewery maintains the classic recipe of Pilsner beer. Brewers are invited to taste a modern drink and beer brewed using old technology. It is noteworthy that so far none of them have been able to distinguish between these two hop products.
By combining new bottom-fermentation technology with the use of Czech ingredients, the brewers of Plzeňský Prazdroj created an incredible quality drink that was a sensation at the time of its introduction and which remains one of the best hop products today.
From Wikipedia: Pilsner Urquell (read Pilsner Urquell) is a brand of light beer produced by the Czech company Plzensky Prazdroj, a. s. since 1842 in the city of Pilsen. Traditionally in the Czech Republic it is unofficially referred to as “Plzensky prazdroj” (Czech Plzensky prazdroj, which translates as “Pilsen (ancient) spring”, or simply “Plzen” (Czech Plzen). In Russia it appeared on mass sale in 2004. In Paris, on the Boulevard Montparnasse, there is a bar whose drink list lists 140 brands of beer, and only one says: “The best beer in the world.” This is said about 12% Prazdroy, that is, Pilsner Urquell.
Story. XIX century. Czech Republic. Pilsen
The history of Czech beer production is inextricably linked with the Pilsen Prazdroj brewery, which today is one of the most titled beer producers in the world, and its 12% Pilsner Urquell is a recognized world standard for light beers.
Brewing in Pilsen, founded in 1295, began with the light hand of King Wenceslas II of Bohemia, who granted its residents numerous privileges, the main one being the right to brew beer.
True, this was preceded by several important historical events. Firstly, for a long time Pilsen did not have its own brewery (according to other sources, there were several small scattered breweries that were unable to satisfy demand); beer was brought to this city from Prague. It is clear that while it reached its destination, its quality noticeably deteriorated. The residents of Pilsen, dissatisfied with the quality of the beer supplied, started an uprising, which resulted in permission from the city mayor to build their own brewery.
A fateful moment in the history of Pilsen beer is considered to be the speech of the innkeeper Vaclav Mirvald, who called on the brewers to unite and build a brewery together. The first stone for the foundation of the City Brewery was laid in 1839, and in 1842 a test batch of the intoxicating drink was already brewed there. The plant was destined to become one of the largest and richest brewing concerns in the Czech Republic. The first name that the future giant received was Mestansky pivovar Plzen.
At that time, the plant had no equal in Europe in terms of technical equipment of the enterprise. However, there was a problem with the production technology. Therefore, to work it out, they invited the German brewer Joseph Groll, whose fame resounded throughout Bavaria. The German was an unsurpassed specialist in the field of preparing dark beers, and was also known as a very conflicted and obstinate person. Therefore, upon arriving in Pilsen, he immediately set his condition that he would not brew dark beer, and would try to help only with the technology for producing light beer. For the production of the first batch, raw materials were brought from Bavaria, and the new type of beer was brewed in accordance with Bavarian traditions and recipes. However, a year later, barley and hops for Pilsen beer began to be grown in the vicinity of the city, and the excellent taste of the resulting beer was explained not only by the talent of the brewer, but also by the natural quality of local raw materials.
The second necessary historical digression. Until this time, all beers were cloudy and dark, most often sold in clay mugs. But then came October 5, 1842, when Josef Grol brewed the world's first golden, clear beer. The name Pilsner was given to the new variety by the city in which it was brewed - Pilsen. Experts claim that the beer turned clear as a result of using a then new method of bottom fermentation, but there is also an opinion that Grol simply made a gross technological mistake. One way or another, this created a sensation in Europe, and the result of the “mistake” subsequently turned the entire beer world upside down.
Very quickly the new beer became popular, many breweries around the world sought to create something similar. The name Pilsner has become a synonym for golden, clear beer.
As a result, many other industries began to use not only the same technology, but also the same name for their drinks - Pilsner or Pils. However, you can’t argue with the facts; the first was Pilsner from Pilsen. Only 56 years later, in 1898, the Pilsen brewers, who sacredly preserve the standard recipe for golden beer, registered the Pilsner Urquell trademark, which almost immediately became the symbol of the brewery and its main product. The most accurate translation into Russian: “pra” - ancient, “zdroy” - source, or primary source, ancestor.
Almost immediately, Pilsner beer appeared in Prague, including in the U Pinkasu restaurant. During the first decade, the brewery's products gained a strong position in Prague and began to conquer Vienna. In 1862 The plant celebrates its success in Paris. There is only one step left to reach America.
In 1857, steam engines were installed at the plant, electric lighting appeared in 1878, and in 1880 the Pilsen brewery was the first in the world to receive its own railway line. Throughout its history, the plant has remained faithful to the principle of increasing productivity without any compromises in relation to the quality of its golden beer.
The 20th century became a century of rapid progress for the company, which even wars could not stop. In 1945, when Pilsen was subjected to German bombing, the plant was almost completely destroyed. Over the following years, however, the brewery was rebuilt with the latest technology and increased production to unprecedented levels.
In 1992-1994. As a result of the privatization of the Pilsen breweries and the national enterprise Plzensky Prazdroj, the company Plzensky Prazdroj, a.s. is born. Now it owns the following beer brands: Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, Radegast, Velkopopovicky Kozel.
Today's state-of-the-art brewery remains true to the vision of its original architect, Martin Stelzer, and the visionary talent of brewmaster Josef Groll, both of which changed the world's understanding of beer. Pilsner Urquell is brewed using the same technology as in 1842 - the beer has survived to this day with almost its original taste. In February 2004, it began to be produced in Kaluga in the same form and using the same technology.
Features of brand production
Bohemian and Moravian barley, which has only two rows of grains per ear and a thin grain film, is used in the production of beer. The malt for Pilsner Urquell is produced at the brewery using traditional malting methods.
The hops are grown in the Bohemian region of Žatec, near Pilsen. The combination of red soils and a favorable climate allows the cultivation of a hop variety known as "Saatz" (German name for Zatec). Hops give Pilsner Urquell a sharp, floral but pleasant bitter flavor that balances the sweetness of the malt.
The water has an exceptionally low content of ions and natural salts. Thus, as drinking water it is nothing special, but is ideal for brewing and provides the unique taste of Pilsner Urquell. And although the brewery no longer uses the 47-meter water tower, the water is otherwise the same as it was in 1842.
In the production of Pilsner Urquell beer, a single strain of brewer's yeast is used, called Pilsner H. The genealogy of this strain can be traced back to the time of Josef Groll. According to legend, this yeast was sold to Groll by a runaway monk who stole it from the monastery to pay off a debt. If this is indeed the case, then the monk has paid off his debt a hundredfold. Yeast (which, by the way, is not considered an ingredient since it is removed from the mixture after it has done its job), is a microscopic fungus that turns sugar into alcohol. They are added to the process at the fermentation stage and diluted at the brewery every month. The Pilsner H strain does not produce a very high concentration of alcohol, but a fairly high concentration of residual extract.
There are three interesting differences in the production of Pilsner Urquell. The first is triple decoction, or triple digestion. A method where beer is actually boiled in copper kettles to a temperature of 70°C three times. Second, beer is brewed over an open fire. Third, it is aged longer than other well-known mass-produced industrial varieties. All this provides the beer with original, unique taste qualities: its famous noble bitterness and pleasant aroma.
Triple boiling is a hallmark of Pilsner Urquell production. This process is based on principles developed in the 19th century and is an important step in the second stage of brewing, called mashing. Malted barley grains are ground to form a “mash” of malt and soft water. Part of the mash is separated from the total mass, heated in copper vats and mixed again with the main mash. While in other breweries the mash is heated once or twice at most, in the production of Pilsner Urquell the mash is heated three times. Invented by Josef Groll in 1842, it requires a lot of time and money.
Heating over an open fire
While other breweries use electric or steam heating, the production of Pilsner Urquell uses the principle of open fire (“fire cooking”). An open flame allows you to get a golden color, a fragrant bouquet of roasted grains and a smooth caramel taste.
Fermentation
Bottom fermentation at the bottom of the kettle was one of the main secrets that Josef Groll brought with him to Pilsen. In his homeland, he observed how Bavarian brewers stored their vats in Alpine caves, where the cool temperature allowed the yeast to sink to the bottom. This made the beer lighter. Although today bottom fermentation is no longer carried out in large open vats, the process nevertheless requires a high degree of skill and patience. Young beer (sometimes called "green") must ferment at +9°C for 8-9 days to allow the yeast to process the sugar and sink to the bottom of the vessel. At the end of this period, the yeast is removed from the vessel and can again be used to ferment the next batch of beer.
Maturation
Maturation or “lagering” (a German term describing storage) of beer occurs at a temperature of + 1°C until the beer acquires the required taste and optimal aroma. Cold temperatures were once maintained by using natural ice in tunnels dug into the sandstone beneath the brewery. The beer was stored in huge wooden barrels. The tunnels were cut by hand, and their total length was more than 9 kilometers. Today, maturation takes place in 56 large stainless steel tanks, and the temperature is maintained by the latest refrigeration system. The fermentation process of a certain part of the beer is still done in the old way in the cellars.
The plant employs 8 coopers who have preserved the rare craft of making large barrels for storing beer. These barrels are handmade from oak or poplar and are ideal for the brewing process. The barrels are coated with pine resin, which preserves the aroma of beer. Once upon a time, during the brewery's busiest times, up to 6,300 barrels could be stored in the cellars using the old technology. In 1842, Josef Groll noticed that his beer best retained its exceptional velvety, bitter taste if kept in the cellars of the Pilsen brewery on the seventh level. Therefore, he insisted that each barrel be gradually moved upward until it reached the seventh level. Only after this could the barrel leave the brewery. We can say that these were a kind of steps to heaven.
Parallel Brewing
Today, production methods have become more modern, but the recipe and taste of Pilsner Urquell beer have remained unchanged. To be sure of the same quality, every year a certain part of the beer is always produced in exactly the same way and on the same equipment as in the time of Josef Groll, respecting traditions and carefully passing on the accumulated knowledge and experience from generation to generation. To do this, the hop wort undergoes a fermentation process in wooden vats, and traditional barrels are placed for maturation in old cellars cut into sandstone with a granite floor. A specially selected group of brewers conducts a blind comparative tasting of beer brewed using old and new technologies. Until now, none of them have been able to distinguish beer prepared in the traditional way from beer brewed using modern equipment. If someone wants to make such a comparison themselves, then this can be done in the “Na Spilka” bar, which is located next to the brewery museum. This is the only place that serves unfiltered and unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell beer.
Brewing Museum in Pilsen
Of course, the brewery and the famous golden beer became a source of real pride for the townspeople. In 1892, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Pilsner Urquell, the city council built a huge gate for the brewery, which became a symbol of the brand. This gate still stands above the entrance to the brewery. 8 years later, in 1900, Pilsen allowed the use of its coat of arms on beer labels. And today on the labels of Pilsner Urquell we see an image of those famous gates and the city coat of arms. It is not surprising that Pilsen, located an hour's drive from Prague, has become a place of pilgrimage for beer connoisseurs from all over the world. Like the Czech capital, Pilsen has amazing architecture, a rich cultural heritage and excellent bars serving Pilsner Urquell beer straight from the brewery.
Every year, thousands of beer connoisseurs make a pilgrimage to the Pilsen Brewery to learn how Pilsner Urquell is brewed. During the tour, guests of the brewery will learn how the very first Pilsner was brewed in 1842, and how generations of master brewers and factory workers were able to maintain the quality of Pilsner Urquell until the present day.
You can visit the banks of the Radbuza River, enter through the double triumphal arch that serves as the entrance gate to the brewery, admire the huge copper boilers, the high water tower in the form of a Dutch lighthouse and 9 kilometers of tunnels laid in sandstone.
The World of Beer exhibition at the Pilsen Brewery is open daily from April to September and on weekdays from October to March.
The Brewing Museum in Pilsen is the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic. It is located in the historical center of the city in an ancient house, written mention of which dates back to the end of the 15th century. It is no coincidence that the museum is located in this house. Its owners in past centuries enjoyed the privilege of brewing beer. There used to be about 260 such houses in Pilsen. Visitors here can get acquainted with the original appearance of all the premises suitable for brewing; the exhibition is called “The History of Beer”, and this history begins in ancient centuries and ends in the present.
Visitors will learn that beer began to be brewed as early as 4 thousand years BC in Mesopotamia, and how it was produced over the centuries. They will receive general information about beer, not only about the famous Pilsner beer, to which a significant part of the exhibition is nevertheless devoted. As the guides explain, beer was most likely invented by mistake - people used to store grain in vessels into which water most likely accidentally got in. They forgot about the vessel and when it was later found, they found in it a fermented product with a pleasant intoxicating taste. The drink gained great popularity in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Beer came to the Czech lands in the Middle Ages. The first mention of its production in the Czech Republic dates back to 993, and it is associated with the Břevnov Monastery in Prague. There, in addition to wine, the Benedictines made it. Later, townsfolk in cities also began to brew beer, but today it is produced mainly only by large breweries. The Czechs literally fell in love with beer; today, one Czech drinks an average of 162 liters of amber drink a year, which is a world championship. Until the 19th century, due to the large number of small breweries and houses with the right to brew beer, the quality of Czech beer was very variable. Representatives of the cities, however, officially checked it, but taste was not always the main criterion.
The beer was poured onto a bench, and then the shinker or brewery owner sat on it. He had to dress in a special brewing suit, which included leather pants. If the pants stuck to the bench, the beer was declared to be of high quality, and the brewer received permission to sell it in the city.
However, the brewers did not have the necessary education; each brewed beer to their own taste. But if the taste of the beer was very disgusting, the city fathers punished the brewer. They were punished in different ways. The culprit had to wear an offending iron tie or have his head shaved. The taverns whose taverns served low-quality beer could even have all their dishes broken.
The turning point in the city of Pilsen came in 1838, when 36 barrels of local beer were poured out in front of the town hall and declared unfit for consumption. It was this event that, in all likelihood, became the main impetus for the construction of a new modern brewery among small brewery owners who wanted to contribute to improving the quality of Pilsen beer.
“They invited brewer Joseph Groll here from Bavaria, who began brewing beer at the new plant using a new bottom-fermentation method. On October 5, 1842, he brewed the first bottom-fermented light lager beer - “Pilsner Urquell.” “Meshchansky Brewery”, later “ Pilsen Prazdroj", made the city of Pilsen famous throughout the world, and its light aged beer became the prototype for all other types of light beer, which are everywhere designated in honor of Pilsen with the names "Pils", "Pilsner" and "Pilsener".
In the building of the Pilsen Museum there is a malt house with original equipment, a drying room for wet malt, and in the basement there is a former glacier in which the ice needed to cool beer was stored. Ice was cut down from rivers and ponds, and it was supposed to be stored in the basement until the next winter. Visitors will also get to know what Czech taverns looked like in the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries.
In the so-called beer laboratory, one of the many exhibits placed in display cases attracts attention. This is a polarograph invented by the Czech scientist Jaroslav Heyrovsky, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for this device in 1959. This is the original from 1948. In Pilsen Prazdroj the device was used to determine the contents of tinctures of sugar solutions. This technique was new in brewing at that time.
The brewing museum's collection also contains almost 30 thousand beer labels from all over the world. Among the exhibits is a large wooden mug, almost one meter high, made from roots and a stump. This is a gift from Siberian workers to the Pilsen brewery. And on the wall in the room next to it is a photograph of Yuri Gagarin with a package of beer bottles. The first cosmonaut visited the Pilsen brewery in 1966.
There are also a number of records related to beer. For example, drinking beer underwater. Its owner is the Czech actor Jiří Bartoška, who drank half a liter of beer from a bottle while submerged in water in 12.66 seconds. Or, another record - Fero Vidliczka drank half a liter of beer while standing on his hands in 4.8 seconds.
The tour of the brewing museum ends in the small courtyard of the historic brewery. There is a Baroque bell there from the 18th century. When the next batch of beer was ready, each house owner with the right to brew beer invited his neighbors to try the new batch by ringing this bell.
Pilsen Prazdroj has received high awards more than once in the modern period. In 1970, an elegant figurine of the “Golden Mercury” was added to the collection of awards of several dozen medals, in 1975 a gold medal from the international exhibition in Brussels, in 1978 - a “Golden Salima” from Brno. JSC "Pilsen Prazdroy" unites five factories. The nine-kilometer cellars were recently expanded by several hundred meters. The fermentation and settling processes now take place in huge cylindrical containers. A small part of the beer, as in the old days, is prepared in wooden barrels and old cellars for tourists.
The expected increase in foreign demand for Pilsner Urquell beer forced the city brewery Plzensky Prazdroj in Pilsen to install the next ten cylindrical-conical tanks for beer fermentation. Thanks to an investment of 120 million crowns, there are already 114 such tanks in the plant. From October, the brewery will be able to produce 140,000 hectoliters of beer per week or 6 million hectoliters per year. The export of products from Plzensky Prazdroj, which has its factories in Pilsen, Noszowice and Velkie Popovice, is growing significantly. First of all, this concerns the Pilsner Urquell brand.
SABMiller's leading brands, which include Pilsner Urquell, Miller Genuine Draft and Peroni Nastro Azzurro, have a total production volume of more than 50 million liters per year. In addition to being the world's second-largest beer maker and the largest beer producer in China, SABMiller is looking to buy at least three more breweries in that country. In 2006, SABMiller bought beer manufacturer Fosters in India for about $115 million.