Have you ever had that moment when you found a reliable and honest friend worthy of being more than just a mute, frothy pub companion? A wave of affection washes over you, leaving you drenched in sweet bitterness and the conviction that an amber liquid deserves universal worship. That’s a sign that you and your beer are ready to take it to the next level: home brewing.
In switching your allegiance from comfortable consumerism to adventurous beer production, the brewing community lends a hand with Homebrewing.cz . The Web site, built, as Jan Kočka from Homebrewing.cz states, for “those who don’t just regard beer as a ‘cooled 10 degree in the fridge,’ ” offers recipes and details such as yeast and hops types to use. Once you get past beginners’ mistakes and the awkward moments with your pots, malt-grinders and thermometers, there awaits the possibility to attend various beer seminars.
Pivovarský klub
A September tasting course guarantees you a the title of beer-taster for a year and the ability to impress your mates by insightfully describing basic beer flavors and distinguishing beer types with closed eyes. The number of participants will range between 10 to 20 and the course will consist of 4 meetings (3 hours each) in the span of two months. The dates will soon be published online.
If money seems to flow into your pockets as easily as the beers into your mug you may prefer an experienced brewmaster at your side. Pivovarský klub near Florenc metro offers a self-brewing program. For 9,000 czk for the first and 1,500 czk for each additional participant a group can brew their own beer using professional equipment and guidance. While you decide on the style of beer, from Irish stout and German wheat beer to the traditional Czech lager, the course also includes beer sampling, an all-you-can -eat menu, brew equipment instruction and a brief history of the industry . After about 4 weeks you and your brew crew can return to taste 30 liters (8 gallons) of the result. “It is rather a new offer,” states Aleš Dočkal, partner and manager of Pivovarský klub, “and the average brewers have actually been corporate team-building groups.”
Pivovarský klub
In case the classroom atmosphere brings back memories of impatient teachers and stifling content, dive into Svetpiva.cz for a self study of pubs (including the beers each sells), ratings of more than 50 beers, links to beer-culture magazines and an online beer TV hailing the “silent wittiness” of beer ads—all to ensure a constant growth of drinkers’ knowledge and to avoid shallow and thoughtless beer-drinking habits. An all English site that offers all things beer, country by country, is Ratebeer.com . Perhaps the empirical approach suits you best. Pivovarský klub can help you along that path with over 200 bottled beers from around Europe available including a much needed, (in Prague), six rotating beers on tap. “This allows the beer [student] to criss-cross the country while remaining firmly on one bar stool,” muses Dočkal, “and taste beers I have chosen from top-end microbreweries in the Czech Republic.” The klub prides itself on educating beer enthusiasts that the Czech Republic offers more varieties than just Gambrinus, Pilsner, Budvar and Staropramen.
Don’t be shy—start exploring this golden-tinted universe with pen, paper, PC or pivo in hand.
Pivovarský klub Křižíkova 17 Prague 8, Karlin 222 315 777
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