Original source of greatness (Pilsner Urquell)
Pilsner Urquell is among the greatest Czech beers and it helped define a category. Adrian Tierney-Jones visited it
The historic brewing centre of Pilsen is hardly Burton-on-Trent. While the home of IPA and Bass still shows off its bleached industrial roots, the place where pilsner lager was born remains a relatively unspoilt city, with a wealth of buildings dating back to the middle ages plus some fine bars and taverns (including the Stara Sladovna, which used to be a torture chamber).
However, it’s the Pilsner Urquell Brewery (Plzensky Prazdroj) on the edge of town that beer aficionados flock to, making it one of the Czech Republic’s most popular tourist destinations.
It was on this site back in 1842 when local brewers decided to do something about the bad reputation of their town’s beer. Along came Bavarian brewer Josef Groll who was hired to make their beer. What Groll came up with was a goldcoloured, bottom-fermented beer, which first of all conquered Prague (allegedly making its debut at U Pinkasu, where you can still drink it) and then went global.
This new pale, fresh-tasting beer quickly became popular, but sadly for Groll his manners left something to be desired and he was sacked three years later.
Meanwhile, the beer went from strength to strength and in 1898 the trademark Pilsner Urquell (meaning Pilsner from the original source) was registered to try and forestall the many imitators.
During the long years of communism, Pilsner Urquell, along with Budvar, were the two main Czech beers found in the west.
Both developed fanatical followings, which reflected well on other Cz.....
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By Adrian Tierney-Jones
Section : International Brewery
Page number : 16
