{"title":"Czech beer","description":"\u003cp\u003eCzech beer is all about lager: golden, with floral Saaz hops and brewed with Moravian barley. The country is the birthplace of the pilsner. At Hoptimaal you'll find Czech beer from Sibeeria Brewery and Budějovický Budvar, in the styles Lager \u0026amp; Pilsner and Barleywine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!--verhaal--\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow the Czech beer scene came about\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCzechia has been brewing for centuries, using Moravian barley and Bohemian hops. In the Middle Ages everyone, from farmer to king, brewed beer at home. In 1265 King Přemysl Otakar II founded the town of České Budějovice (Budweis in German) and granted it brewing rights. In 1295 Wenceslaus II founded New Plzeň and gave all its inhabitants the right to brew and sell beer at home. Elsewhere in Central Europe that was usually reserved for nobles. In 1588 the world's first brewing handbook was also published, written by the Bohemian Tadeas Hajeck.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Thirty Years' War set beer quality back for years. It only recovered at the start of the 19th century, with the founding of large citizen breweries. In Plzeň, the young Bavarian brewer Josef Groll brewed the first pilsner with new golden malts and bottom-fermenting yeast from Munich. That was in 1842. Most of the beer the world drinks today descends distantly from that beer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the Second World War, too, Czechoslovakia kept making good lagers, unlike East Germany. After the Velvet Revolution, foreign investors bought up many breweries. Budweiser Budvar remained state-owned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Czechia is known for\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLager, and above all the pilsner. What we call Bohemian or Czech pils is called světlý ležák in Czechia: golden, with floral aromas from Saaz hops (Žatec) and usually 4.5 to 5 percent alcohol. Most Czech brewers stick to patient, traditional methods such as open fermentation and long cold maturation. That's why the best lagers taste precise and clear, never dull.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe names on the label say something about colour and strength. Světlé is light, polotmavé is amber and tmavé is dark. Výčepní is the light draught beer class, ležák the middle class and speciální everything above 5.5 percent alcohol. Top-fermented beers such as weizen or porter exist too, but are rare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePer head of population, Czechs drink more beer than any other country. The craft beer scene got going more slowly than you'd expect, but it is growing steadily. More and more pubs pour a čtvrtá pípa, a fourth tap that is independent of the big breweries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCzech beer at Hoptimaal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Hoptimaal you can choose from two Czech breweries: Sibeeria Brewery and Budějovický Budvar. From Budvar, which comes from České Budějovice, you'll find Budweiser Budvar \/ Czechvar Original, among others, highly rated on Untappd. From Sibeeria, Sibeeria Zima 2023 and Sibeeria Zima 2024 score well with Untappd users.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of style, you'll mostly end up with Lager \u0026amp; Pilsner and Barleywine. Each brewery has its own page with us, with all the beers we supply from it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!--faq--\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is typical Czech beer?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTypical is a bottom-fermenting lager, called ležák in Czechia. The best known is the světlý ležák, a golden pils with floral Saaz hops and usually 4.5 to 5 percent alcohol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich Czech breweries are well known?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell-known names are Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Budvar, Staropramen, Krušovice and Radegast. From this list you'll find Budějovický Budvar with us, alongside Sibeeria Brewery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat do výčepní, ležák and speciální mean on a Czech label?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are strength classes. Výčepní is light draught beer with usually less than 4.5 percent alcohol, ležák is the middle class and speciální starts above 5.5 percent. In addition, světlé, polotmavé or tmavé indicates the colour.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"sibeeria-zima-2023","title":"Sibeeria Zima 2023","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eSibeeria Zima 2023 is a bold barleywine built on a rich malt backbone, delivering a warming, full-bodied experience. At 13.8% ABV, this edition blends caramel sweetness with dark fruit and subtle spice to create a long, evolving finish. With an Untappd rating of 4.24, it’s a favorite among fans who value depth and balance in a robust, age-worthy beer. Its power and poise make it ideal for special moments, quiet evenings, and serious collectors who savor a beer that reveals more with time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sibeeria Brewery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57173799502169,"sku":null,"price":15.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/0076\/4249\/files\/1-1189.png?v=1769689797"},{"product_id":"sibeeria-zima-2024","title":"Sibeeria Zima 2024","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSibeeria Zima 2024: this specialty beer from Sibeeria captures winter in one powerful sip.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis style is characterised by a warming, malty foundation with spicy hints and sometimes a subtly fruity character. Expect a full, creamy body and a mild bitterness that gives enough presence without dominating. The finish often lingers pleasantly, so you keep wanting the next sip.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003eBrewery Sibeeria\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSibeeria is the name behind Zima 2024. This type of specialty beer fits within the broad craft beer culture in which seasonal beers and experiments are central.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sibeeria Brewery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58122746823001,"sku":null,"price":15.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/0076\/4249\/files\/1-2058_processed.png?v=1779477407"},{"product_id":"budejovicky-budvar-budweiser-budvar-czechvar-original","title":"Budějovický Budvar Budweiser Budvar \/ Czechvar Original","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrewed in České Budějovice, this pilsner has set the benchmark for Bohemian lager for over a century — made with artesian water, Moravian barley, and Saaz hops.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the nose, expect spicy, faintly floral Saaz hop character layered over a soft malt sweetness. The palate is crisp and dry, with a fine bitterness that lingers cleanly through the finish without turning harsh.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBrewery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBudějovický Budvar is a Czech state-owned brewery based in České Budějovice, founded in 1895, and remains one of the country's last major independent producers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Budějovický Budvar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59356677112153,"sku":null,"price":1.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/0076\/4249\/files\/IMG_0500_processed.png?v=1789048940"}],"url":"https:\/\/hoptimaal.com\/en\/collections\/czech-beer.oembed","provider":"Hoptimaal","version":"1.0","type":"link"}