Pilsner Urquell is one of the world’s most famous beers and a symbol of the Czech Republic, the world’s first pale, golden lager.
Pilsner Urquell: The Original Beer Experience is an interactive tour located in the center of Prague, between Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
After passing through the entrance, you’ll pass through a series of corridors and rooms that literally come to life thanks to holograms, projections, light shows, and videos, with the audio guide automatically changing depending on the environment.
The tour begins in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where over 7.000 years ago, the first beer in history was distilled from a mixture of ground grains mixed with yeast and left to mature in jars filled with water.
In Europe, during the Middle Ages, beer became an important beverage thanks to the step-by-step documentation of monks in the numerous monasteries (approximately 600) across the continent.
The next room describes the main Bohemian rulers linked to the production and spread of beer throughout the region.
- Wenceslas Duke of Bohemia, patron saint not only of the Czech Republic but also of its beer
- King Wenceslas I, the man who convinced Pope Innocent IV to abolish the monasteries’ monopoly on beer production
- King Charles IV, the first King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, promulgated laws aimed at improving the quality of Czech hops and controlling their export by introducing a certificate of origin
- King Wenceslas II, who moved the core of Plzeň to the confluence of four rivers (Radbuza, Mže, Úslava, Úhlava) on the route between Prague and Bavaria, granting the “right to brew” to the 240 founding families
In 1838, Plzeň experienced a beer riot, with citizens taking to the streets to protest the poor quality of the beer being produced. The first controlled city brewery (Měšťanský pivovar) was opened, and on 5th October 1842, Pilsner Urquell was founded by Josef Groll, a brewer from Bavaria.
The final part of the Pilsner Urquell Experience focuses on the quality of the ingredients and the recipe that led to the creation of the world’s first lager.
Pure, lime-free local water, Moravian barley, and Žatec hops (also known as Saaz), considered among the world’s finest.
Low-temperature fermentation and triple decoction make Pilsner Urquell an aromatic, clear, and crystalline beer.
There are, in fact, three different ways to pour Pilsner Urquell: Hladinka, Šnyt, and Mlíko.
Hladinka is the classic and most popular method of pouring Pilsner Urquell, with a full mug of beer topped with a dense, creamy head about 3-4 cm high.
The Šnyt method is used for 2/6 beer, 3/6 foam, and 1/6 “air,” a combination that gives it a unique freshness and makes it perfect with slightly heavier dishes.
Mlìko (milk in Czech) is a mug of mostly foam that should be drunk quickly before the foam dissolves and returns to a liquid state.
At the end of the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to taste two Pilsner Urquell beers.
In addition, you can enjoy lunch directly at the upper floor with various options, and I personally tried the traditional two-course lunch inspired by authentic Czech flavors: Pilsner Urquell-style beef goulash with potato rosti and Bohemian pancakes with wild blueberries.
I would like to thank CEO Lidija, Dagmar, and the entire staff of Pilsner Urquell: The Original Beer Experience for their hospitality and helpfulness.
Book on www.pilsnerexperience.com and use my code VIAGGIDIMATT10 when booking to get a 10% discount on the Original tour, the Original tour + tapster Academy e the Original tour + Traditional Czech lunch.
Wow, very interesting article!
I love beer!
Thank you Edward!!