Franconian Beer Message Board

Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?
Posted by jason on 2016-10-05 05:17:25
Ah right, yeah the keg comparison is a little more complex. I've never had Czech beer served from gravity but certainly when served straight from the tanks (tankova/fermentation tanks) it is far superior. I'm not an expert in Czech dispense, I just know that there are stark differences between the beer served at a beer pub and a pub that serves beer (clean lines often account for the difference). Of course tankovna pubs are specialists and unique to Czechia, but again is all about freshness, care and turnover.

Spezial is served from the fermentation tanks of course, but the gas is way too high, as it often is over here. There is a difference of course between the Tankovna dispense (without CO2 touching the beer) and the dispense in Spezi and similar (where the CO2 is, as far as I'm aware, used to draw the beer into the glass). It alters the taste and texture so much - when i've had Spezial BA it's like a different beer. I also think that the lines in Spezial (and all over), could be cleaner - the best Czech pubs are almost obsessive about it, so this isn't a dig at Spezial. My Spezial lagerbier rarely keeps its head to the end these days (though the Maerzen is often better).  

Beer at the breweries in Czechia is far better than most pubs, clean lines, freshness, higher turnover and higher standards being the factors. As soon as beer leaves the brewery its list of enemies grows. Whatever it is, the beer is much softer, the head much firner, the bubbles finer and you get lovely rings around the glass - similar to real ale in top condition and some German beers (when served from gravity). You'd never get that when served keg in Germany or anywhere else, purely because of the CO2, the lines and the travel/care of the beer. The best non brewery pubs in Czechia have owners who do all they can to preserve the freshness and condition of the beer they buy. There are tapster competitions and some bartenders pride themselves on their tapping skills. They are in the minority though. An example of those who should know better is Zly Casy in Prague; too many beers and the condition of the delicate Sevtly styles they serve alongside the more robust new world styles really suffer. It's a bit like far too many real ale pubs in Britain, too many taps!

The traditional style Czech beers I've had in glass taste thin and ordinary. But the PET bottles are almost as from tap.

As for driving, it's a kind offer but there are very few decent breweries within a reasonable drive as far as I'm aware. Yes you could get Staropramen or Krusovice but as you allude to these aren't my thing. PET bottles keep great beer great, they don't perform miracles.       
 
Followups:
       Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Mosquit on  2016-10-05 06:35:25
         Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by jason on  2016-10-05 07:34:26
           Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Mosquit on  2016-10-05 07:49:01
             Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Nick B. on  2016-10-05 08:18:41
               Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Barry on  2016-10-05 08:27:26
               Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Mosquit on  2016-10-05 08:30:18
                 Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Nick B. on  2016-10-06 01:23:19
                 Video by Nick B. on  2016-10-06 01:24:27
                   Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Jason on  2016-10-06 03:34:11
                     Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Nick B. on  2016-10-06 11:32:16
                       Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Barry on  2016-10-06 16:31:11
                         Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Nick B. on  2016-10-06 23:56:46
                       Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Jason  on  2016-10-07 00:33:44
                           Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Barry on  2016-10-07 01:34:09
                         Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Nick B. on  2016-10-07 02:08:29
                           Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Jason  on  2016-10-07 04:29:58
                             Anyone know anyone that sends PET bottles from Czechia...?  by Nick B. on  2016-10-07 04:52:25