After the formal interview was over Václav and I joined Pilsner Urquell Trade Quality Manager Bryan Panzica behind the bar to experience three different way to pour and service Pilsner Urquell…

Pour One: HLADINKA [SMOOTH]: A smooth, less carbonated serve, perfect for drinking on its own. The wet foam is poured first and the spout kept underneath it as the golden beer flows in to the glass. My experience: This is the way I prefer to drink most beers. For example, when I usually serve my home-brewed  beers a slightly less than average carbonation to increase drinkability. Hence, I enjoyed this pour the most.

Pour Two: NA DVAKRAT [CRISP]: A crisper, more carbonated experience which is ideal for drinking more slowly with food. The golden beer is poured first, then the wet form added on top. My experience: As its name implies this pour was indeed crisp upfront which opened up my palate and allowed me to picture pairing Pilsner Urquell with food.

Pour Three: MLIKO [MILK]: A surprisingly sweet all-foam specialty. Open the tap 10-20% and fill the glass with thick, creamy wet foam. My experience: This final pour is indeed a treat (or specialty) in that it showcases the malt backbone of the beer and introduces a sweetness that rounds out its bold hop character. If I ever invest in a nitrogen tap for my keezer I’ll definitely be putting a hop forward pilsner on it.

TBP Presents: Pilsner Urquell Wrap Up

As mentioned in my previous blog post; I’ve always had a lot of respect for Pilsner Urquell and its brewers. However, when thinking about brewmasters that I hope to interview someday, Vaclav Berka was not one that I ever expected to meet. Having done so my respect for Pilsner Urquell’s long and rich history and bold flavors has grown tremendously…In term of this experience’s effect on my home-brewing, I hope to brew an all Saaz hopped pilsner someday in order to hopefully capture the bold citrusy and floral notes of Pilsner Urquell. Though I will admit that it may take some time before I’m willing to give a triple decocted mash a try.

Special Thanks To: 

Vaclav Berka, Senior Trade Brewmaster

Danielle and Korina, Pilsner Urquell PR

Bryan Panzica  and James Zinkand,  Pilsner Urquell Trade Quality Managers