Comments on: Where to Buy Beer in Prague: Belgians at Billa

By: Knut Albert

Knut Albert — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:01:05 +0000

It is interesting to note that if you set up a Beligan beer cafe somewhere in Europe, at least you’ll have the InBev range, while there are hundreds of fake English pubs with nothing but Guinness and industrial lagers. Well, maybe Newcastle Brown Ale…

By: Velky Al

Velky Al — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:24:08 +0000

Have been to several other Billa’s this week and the only one with the Belgian stuff is the one on V Celnici. Though I did pick up a few bottles of Primator stout at one in Prague 3.

By: pivero

pivero — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:27:45 +0000

“will british ales be available here soon?”
I don’t see it happenning. Not because of anything wrong with British ales, but because these Belgian beers are already known here in Prague. Several restaurants and shops sell them alerady, and they have their market (not foreigners only, I think). British beers, on the other hand, are practically, and sadly, unknown in these latitudes. It will take a speciality shop to introduce them for the supermarkets to start taking notice.
What I would like to check out is if these beers are also available at other Billa outlets.

By: steviee

steviee — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:21:30 +0000

Pivnizub make’s a good point. Billa’s target market for these superb belgian ales must be primarily foreigners.
Czech nationals have a beer culture similar to the u.k – they are used to highly sessionable beer with a low abv and price.
One can only get excited about billa’s intentions for the future though, will british ales be available here soon? It bodes well!

By: pivnizub

pivnizub — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:59:59 +0000

Yes, great news – maybe. But one of the sympatic habits of all the Hankas and Honzas is that they’re used to consume beer in large quantities. I’m afraid that these Trappist brews are not very suitable for a long lasting beer session, so the demand for these Belgians will be modest IMHO……… On the other side the average czech beer consumer doesn’t like to spend too much crowns for his favourite drink, even if it is great. Look at the superb Strahov brewery. These fine beers – especially the Velikonočni Speciál – are unknown to the most of the Czechs, because a 0.4 l glass costs more than 50 Kč. The Billa offer will be more interesting for foreigners than for the average pivař, I’m afraid…………

By: pivero

pivero — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:51:12 +0000

Well, ain’t that great news! Really, it is nice to see a supermarket chain that is offering imported beers other than the ones we don’t want to drink.
Now about the prices. You make a really good point. The problem as I see it is that to most people, beer is just another generic product, they go to the supermarket and pick bread, milk, butter and beer without paying any attention to what else is around. At the same time are happy with spending 170CZK or more on a bottle of at best average Spanish or Italian wine. Myself, I’d much rather pay that much for a 0.75l bottle of Westmalle.
On another note, as much as I welcome Billa’s initiative (though I believe the risk is more on the distributor of these beers as I’m sure he had to pay a pretty hefty fee to get them on the shelves) I still prefer to spend a few more Crowns at Cheesy, the beers are kept in better conditions than in a supermarket.

By: Velky Al

Velky Al — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:56:44 +0000

I turn my back for five minutes and the world turns upside down. Rochefort just round the corner and at only three times the price in France? Yes I would love to see more ale from the UK, but you are right, this is one small step for beer lovers, one giant leap for a major retailer in the Czech Republic! Well done Billa.