Comments on: Czech Beer Fest Update

By: Misak

Misak — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:25:13 +0000

I don’t think people need the big brewers there to be sure there’ll be something they like, but it’s a question of whether those brewers aren’t putting in a big financial injection, which could justify their presence. Of course it’s a question whether they won’t rethink their participation themselves after half-empty tents. There is a good small brewery festival in Brno by the old town hall, and it’s quite packed.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 29 May 2008 09:07:29 +0000

I hate to say it, but I think that you do need to have the Budvars and Staropramens at the festival for the same reason that they are so popular everywhere else: they’re familiar. Participation by the big boys gives casual drinkers assurance that they’ll find a beer that they like. It probably also legitimizes the festival, since Plzen (in this thinking) would never get involved with a fly-by-night outfit.

Of course, the proportion of smaller breweries should be higher, and I would bet it will be next year.

By: Evan Rail

Evan Rail — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:27:23 +0000

Woah! That is news…

It’s an interesting situation. When I first talked to the organizers, I was told that Primátor was definitely going to be there, and that Primátor was brewing a special beer for dogs. (Remember that?) One month later: no Primátor, no psí pivo. What happened? I have no idea.

My impression is that things are getting made up as they go along. Not that that’s bad — for some people that’s the ideal mode of operation.

In any case, I’m definitely on the side of supporting the festival: however much we might criticize some of the choices, someone took some serious initiative and spent some serious money to put on an major, large-scale event that — at least ostensibly — celebrates beer in Prague. That’s already an achievement. Other than yourself, Honzo, I can’t remember anyone else who has done something like this. Constructive criticism is fine, but at some point I think we have to say, “Hey, this is a heck of a lot better than a stick in the eye.” It really could be worse.

That said, I do think the festival would be vastly improved if they would (A) drop the entry fee, and (B) drop the big multinational breweries that are available everywhere in Prague already.

Effectively, what I would push for would be like the K Brewery tent now, with the Konrad tent and another tent or two for other small brewers. (Sound familiar?)

Going further, I think things would be helped if the breweries were encouraged to make special beers just for this event. (Also familiar?)

As to your question: how many beers at the festival have I not tried before? As you might have guessed, the answer is exactly zero. (How many beers are there in the CR that I haven’t tried yet? I don’t know, maybe 15 or so?)

Which is to say: I’m not going to the festival to taste beers I haven’t had before. Although it wouldn’t hurt if I could do that, too.

By: Honza

Honza — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:44:22 +0000

and by the way, I was told yesterday, that K Brewery Group bought another brewery, Klaster Hradiste…

By: Honza

Honza — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:26:40 +0000

Well, life is full os suprises.

When I talked to organizer, he told me to have five small breweries for a tent. So there was our Kocour, Herold and two other that were “thinking” about going there. At the end even Herold decided not be there…

May be for next year they can do more for small breweries.

I would be just so excited about the beer choice – how many beers were there to try you did not have before? Including the entry fee, how much it would cost total?

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:21:08 +0000

I was proud of my fellow Praguers when, as I departed the packed k-brewing tent, I passed by the almost-empty aircraft hanger of the Staropramen tent. I then had a nice pint of Konrad.

By: Pivero

Pivero — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:56:44 +0000

I think the relatively high price for the beer played in the small breweries’ favour. Everybody knows the stuff from the big boys and I don’t think there are too many people out there willing to pay 39CZK for Gambáč, Staropramen or Braník when you can get them cheaper at pretty much every corner.
The smaller breweries, however, have the advantage of being, to many, unkown, which I’m sure makes many people more willing to pay that price. All beers will cost the same, so why not having something they never had before? To this, of course, we must add the variety factor.
Anyway, this post is really good news, and I’m really happy that more beeers from smaller producers will make it to the lineup.

By: andreea

andreea — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:16:33 +0000

i can’t wait :)
although i have to remember i am there for work … !