The other day I ran across a six pack of something called Czechvar at a local store. Sure enough investigation of the label showed it was brewed in Ceske Budejovice (AKA Budweis in the days of the Hapsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire). Well, finally, the real Budweiser had made it to the States, though without its infamous name. Anheuser-Busch (the world's largest brewer by volume) has spent the last century trying to eradicate or buy out the Budvar brewery in Budweis. In the Czech Republic, Budweiser is a German adjective describing the location that a product comes from. (The Czech version of this adjective is Budejovicky.) So, it's one big intellectual property battle similar to the problem that vintners in the French Champagne appellation have with with Californian sparkling wine producers calling theirs "champagne." Funny thing is there's an older brewery in Budweis. Budejovicky Pivovar (or Budvar, a portmanteau word) was founded in 1895, but Budweiser Bürgerbrau, founded in 1795, is also brewing a Budweiser beer called Samson. The verdict on the beer in the bottle was good, but I still must travel to Budweis some day and drink a glass of draft in situ.
Posted by jim at May 8, 2003 08:38 AMI seem to enjoy "bohemian style" beer, and given that it is usually cheap makes it all the better. I like both Stroh's and good ol' Natty Bo (National Bohemian) but I've often wondered, what make bohemian style beer bohemian style beer?
I get the idea that it's make quickly, which would suit the bohemian's gypsyesqe and nomadic lifestyle. It also seems to impart a slightly burnt, or roasted taste. Comments?
Well, the bohemian in bohemian-style refers to that part of the Czech Republic called Bohemia. Originally, as an adjective, I believe it just refered to Pilsner kinds of beer.
Posted by: jim on July 18, 2004 03:02 PM