The history of Czech lager - part 2

Beer in the Czech Republic isn't just a drink; it's a centuries-old tradition woven into the fabric of the nation's history. The ancient Czechs didn't view beer merely as a refreshing beverage but as a nutritious, tasty, and affordable "liquid bread." They even considered beer a remedy for various health issues. Today's market echoes this sentiment loudly and clearly. The Czech Republic leads the world in beer consumption per capita, with beer holding a cherished place as the national drink and pride. It's no surprise, given that beer brewing has a thousand-year documented history in Czech monasteries.

Despite the ancient tradition, the Czech lager didn't make its grand debut until much later, around the mid-19th century. A landmark in Czech brewing history was set in Pilsen, town in western Bohemia. Legend has it that Pilsen once suffered from beers of dismal quality, which spurred the townsfolk to band together and establish the Townspeople´s Brewery. They invited a young, adventurous brewer to take the helm. 

Beerday birthday

On October 5, 1842, the new brewmaster Josef Groll decided that to truly impress the locals, he needed to come up with something new. He chose not to comply with local taste for top-fermented beer which is somewhat easier to produce. He rather opted for Bavarian-style lager, which we talked about in History of Czech lager pt1. 

The bottom-fermented lager needs special kind of yeast and colder temperature to lie down and actually “lager”. In the deep brewery cellars this was possible. But Groll went even further. During the process he made several changes including shortening the lagering period. He also used local unique Czech ingredients like Žatec hops, soft Pilsen water, and a lighter malt prepared with English technology. On that day something entirely new was born - the prototype of today’s world’s most favorite beer – Pilsener lager aka pils. And in Pilsen itself it was an instant hit. Even the local chronicler wrote: “How the drinkers rejoiced when they tasted the sharp, splendid flavor, previously unknown in beer, boasted by this local product.”

The beer the world fell for

And its popularity grew quickly. In a few years the new kind of beer replaced most other types in Czechia and it wasn’t long before the pils got over the borders. The Germans liked it very much too and local brewers took this fresh, pure, and crisp recipe worldwide. It reached the United States in 1876, Argentina by 1888, and China in 1903, continuing to spread from there.

Why was it so successful? The pale lager is smooth, flavorful, and food-friendly. It pairs wonderfully with a vast array of tastes and dishes around the world. Its light-bodied malt is perfect alongside bread on a crispy German schnitzel. Its hoppy notes beautifully complement the spices in Mexican-style nachos. And in the same way it is a slam dunk with Singaporean curry noodles, balancing out the dish’s saltiness with its refreshing crispness.

The style is characterized primarily by its pleasant maltiness, golden color, medium carbonation, higher bitterness, and subtle hop aroma and alcohol content between 4.5% and 5.5%. The hallmark of Czech lager is in its drinkability and the intricate challenge of its production. With its straightforward and clean taste, any imperfections are easily noticeable. Brewing a true Pilsen lager is a sort of a graduation test not every brewer can pass with flying colors.

"Pils" today reigns as the most popular type of beer globally, and Czechs rightly view this with a sense of pride. Even though it seems that most beer enthusiasts around the world who are currently enjoying their crisp pilsner might not realize that the term "Pils" on their bottle or can—a label seen on some of the biggest brands—refers to a small town in the western Czech Republic where it all began about 150 years ago.