Comments on: Getting Good Beer into the Newspaper http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/ Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:08:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Evan Rail http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Evan Rail Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:20:52 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=357#comment-438 Hey Mike, Yeah, I've been to Pražský most: the house beer wasn't astonishingly fantastic on my visit, and I thought the prices were high. You can read a similar evaluation from Max Bahnson, who recounts his trip to Pražský most here: http://pivni-filosof.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-had-to-wait-so-long.html After my visit, I thought about those Thai restaurants in Europe and America which boast that all of their cooks came from Thailand. Wonderful! They're all from Ang Thong! But what if they don't know how to cook? What if the restaurant has filled its kitchen, say, with a bunch of unemployed carpenters from Thailand? Is that why my pad see ew tastes like sawdust? Meaning: a beer isn't good simply because it comes from a microbrewery or brewpub. A beer is good because it is good. Obvious and banal, sure, but maybe still worth remembering. Hey Mike,

Yeah, I’ve been to Pražský most: the house beer wasn’t astonishingly fantastic on my visit, and I thought the prices were high. You can read a similar evaluation from Max Bahnson, who recounts his trip to Pražský most here:

http://pivni-filosof.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-had-to-wait-so-long.html

After my visit, I thought about those Thai restaurants in Europe and America which boast that all of their cooks came from Thailand. Wonderful! They’re all from Ang Thong! But what if they don’t know how to cook? What if the restaurant has filled its kitchen, say, with a bunch of unemployed carpenters from Thailand? Is that why my pad see ew tastes like sawdust?

Meaning: a beer isn’t good simply because it comes from a microbrewery or brewpub. A beer is good because it is good. Obvious and banal, sure, but maybe still worth remembering.

]]> By: majk http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-437 majk Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:53:59 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=357#comment-437 Have you ever been to Prazsky most restaurant on Betlemska? I was only there once, didn't bother with the food, but just stopped in with a friend because I was passing by and noticed they had Rohozec and needed a break from Christmas shopping. According to the menu they have a house brew as well, but I only noticed that afterwards and was set on the Rohozec anyhow. Would be interesting to see if the food there is any good, as the beer was excellent and the decor original. Have you ever been to Prazsky most restaurant on Betlemska? I was only there once, didn’t bother with the food, but just stopped in with a friend because I was passing by and noticed they had Rohozec and needed a break from Christmas shopping. According to the menu they have a house brew as well, but I only noticed that afterwards and was set on the Rohozec anyhow. Would be interesting to see if the food there is any good, as the beer was excellent and the decor original.

]]> By: Knut Albert http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-440 Knut Albert Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:56:55 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=357#comment-440 I liked the "For Heineken, absolutely never." Well, maybe on a transatlantic flight if the other chice is Miller Light... I liked the “For Heineken, absolutely never.”
Well, maybe on a transatlantic flight if the other chice is Miller Light…

]]> By: pivero http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-439 pivero Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:15:21 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=357#comment-439 "It’s worth pointing out that Vermeer also has “fancy” leather-bound menus… with “Krušovice” printed on the cover. Not the name of the restaurant." I think that proves my point about why Vermeer is really selling Krušovice - Heineken. “It’s worth pointing out that Vermeer also has “fancy” leather-bound menus… with “Krušovice” printed on the cover. Not the name of the restaurant.”
I think that proves my point about why Vermeer is really selling Krušovice – Heineken.

]]> By: Evan Rail http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-433 Evan Rail Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:31:22 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=357#comment-433 I think that's right, I don't think Stella or Heineken are the favorites of people who really like beer here. I think people here who "prefer" Stella or Heineken are generally not people who are really into beer, and from a business point of view, catering to them might not be such a great idea: they're just as likely to drink something else as order a beer. But then again, no one ever went broke underestimating the tastes of the general public. It's worth pointing out that Vermeer also has "fancy" leather-bound menus... with "Krušovice" printed on the cover. Not the name of the restaurant. Personally, I think that looks cheap, but what do I know? I'm just the restaurant reviewer. I think that’s right, I don’t think Stella or Heineken are the favorites of people who really like beer here. I think people here who “prefer” Stella or Heineken are generally not people who are really into beer, and from a business point of view, catering to them might not be such a great idea: they’re just as likely to drink something else as order a beer. But then again, no one ever went broke underestimating the tastes of the general public.

It’s worth pointing out that Vermeer also has “fancy” leather-bound menus… with “Krušovice” printed on the cover. Not the name of the restaurant.

Personally, I think that looks cheap, but what do I know? I’m just the restaurant reviewer.

]]> By: Velky Al http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-434 Velky Al Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:27:55 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=357#comment-434 Very true Pivero, I am yet to meet a Czech who actually likes beer and will drink Stella or Heineken. Stella is seen as a status symbol, about being westernised almost - as ridiculous as that sounds (especially given its "wifebeater" reputation amongst Brits). Very true Pivero, I am yet to meet a Czech who actually likes beer and will drink Stella or Heineken. Stella is seen as a status symbol, about being westernised almost – as ridiculous as that sounds (especially given its “wifebeater” reputation amongst Brits).

]]> By: pivero http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-435 pivero Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:11:42 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=357#comment-435 I'm sorry, but I can't believe the owner of Vermeer. If he really wanted to provide what foreigners want, he would be selling Pilsner Urquell that has topped the list of best beer for the readers of The Prague Post for ages. IMO, either the place was already tied to Krušovice or Heineken CZ made him a good offer. Both are cases I know from a couple of my wife's clients (she sells furnishings for restaurants). I see the latter as more likely. Heineken seems to be using the strategy that served Stella so well a few years back, introducing their brand at places where people don't go for the beer, but would drink it anyway. There are some Czechs that like Stella or Heineken, but they are few and far between. The ones I've met were all yuppies that would not set foot in a hospoda, but would rather go to fancier places, and those are the spots where those beers thrive. There is also another reason why some places decide to stock these beers, people don't like them, don't drink them very much, choosing more profitable drinks instead, as I reported <a href="http://pivni-filosof.blogspot.com/2008/11/worse-beer-better-business.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I’m sorry, but I can’t believe the owner of Vermeer. If he really wanted to provide what foreigners want, he would be selling Pilsner Urquell that has topped the list of best beer for the readers of The Prague Post for ages.
IMO, either the place was already tied to Krušovice or Heineken CZ made him a good offer. Both are cases I know from a couple of my wife’s clients (she sells furnishings for restaurants). I see the latter as more likely. Heineken seems to be using the strategy that served Stella so well a few years back, introducing their brand at places where people don’t go for the beer, but would drink it anyway.
There are some Czechs that like Stella or Heineken, but they are few and far between. The ones I’ve met were all yuppies that would not set foot in a hospoda, but would rather go to fancier places, and those are the spots where those beers thrive.
There is also another reason why some places decide to stock these beers, people don’t like them, don’t drink them very much, choosing more profitable drinks instead, as I reported here.

]]> By: Jay http://www.beerculture.org/2009/01/11/getting-good-beer-into-the-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-436 Jay Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:33:57 +0000 http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/?p=357#comment-436 I'm glad you mentioned this. This seems to be a common problem in Prague. The unfortunate part of it all seems to be that some Czechs prefer these foreign lagers. Over the past year or two I had countless conversations with Czechs who said that their favorite beer was Stella. I guess since these beers (Stella, Heineken) are relatively new to the Czech market, Czechs want to try what they feel they've been missing out on. I hope the "new" does wear off soon though. I’m glad you mentioned this. This seems to be a common problem in Prague. The unfortunate part of it all seems to be that some Czechs prefer these foreign lagers. Over the past year or two I had countless conversations with Czechs who said that their favorite beer was Stella. I guess since these beers (Stella, Heineken) are relatively new to the Czech market, Czechs want to try what they feel they’ve been missing out on. I hope the “new” does wear off soon though.

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