The Best Beers of Czech Republic + Austria

Pilsner Urquell is one of the good old lagers and probably one of the best-known beers in the Czech Republic. First brewed in the small Bohemian town of Plzen in 1842, Pilsner Urquell became the model for brewing lagers in Czech and throughout Europe.

It is freshly bitter with unquestionable quality. One can say that with the Urquell, you always know what to expect, and it is always a good choice. Pilsner Urquell is best from the brewery itself, but if you can’t get it straight from the source, be sure you try it at a pub or restaurant where they have it in a tank and not a cask.

Sorry, America, but this is the real original Budweiser. Dating back to 1785, Budweiser Budvar Brewery is located in České Budějovice (Budweis in German), and the city of České Budějovice has had the right to brew since 1265 (a VERY important medieval town right). Budweiser Budvar is one of the highest selling exported beers in the Czech Republic, although you may not recognize it—in the US and some other parts of the world, it is marketed Czechvar so as not to be confused with the American Budweiser company.

A bit sweeter than most others lagers, Budweiser isn’t for everyone. But for those out there who are Budweiser lovers, you’ll be sure you’re tasting the original when you visit Czech Republic, and you can make a fully educated decision.

Shhh! I’m sneaking a German beer in here. Franziskaner is a wheat beer that dates back to the fourteenth century and is very big in Austria. The beer owes its name to the Franciscan monastery next door, also acknowledged with a monk holding a beer stein depicted on the label. Wheat beers, in my mind, are something different with their sharp yet tender taste and a nice change. Franziskaner beer is very light, but always full of life.

Břevnovský Benedict is brewed in the oldest monastery in the district of Břevnov in Prague. This all-male monastery boasts the oldest brewing tradition in the Czech Republic. Founded in 993, the monastery has been producing beer since the thirteenth century. Břevnovský Benedict is a full-flavored beer with a long-lasting taste, and in the end just a tiny bit bitter. It’s a bit darker in color, but still light and fresh. Visit the monastery for a taste of the abbey brews in the former Baroque stables.

The Bernard Brewery opened in 1991 when three friends purchased a bankrupt sixteenth-century brewery in Humpolec, Czech Republic. Quite a young brewery compared to its fellows, Bernard is well-known for experimentation, always trying new things like fruit beer, ale and so on. No matter which Bernard beer you try, it’s always a good choice and never lets you down. My favorites are the non-filtered and semi-dark brews. Visit the Bernard Brewery on the DuVine Czech Republic + Austria Bike Tour to try it for yourself!

Velen beer is brewed by Černá Hora Brewery in Žatec in west central Bohemia, the home of the best hops in the world. The first written record of the brewery dates back to 1530. It has survived two fires and has been passed between countless Bohemian dynasties and owners. Velen is heavy in hops, which makes it very bitter. A fantastic choice when looking for a bit of a different taste!

When Ottakringer Brewery was founded in 1837 by Henrich Plank, there were 44 breweries in Vienna. Today, Ottakringer is the last brewery remaining in Vienna, and the first on our list to represent Austria.

The brewery was purchased by the Kuffner family in 1850. However, Moriz von Kuffner was forced to sell his business because of his Jewish background during WWII. Today, Ottakringer is family-owned and upholds the German Purity law, using only spring water from their own fountain and barley only from Austria. One can say Ottakringer is a very typical member of the very light Austrian lager family. It is my beer of choice when in Vienna, and a nice, refreshing selection for anyone throughout the summer.

Brewed in a small town in east Bohemia with the same name, Polička is a very nice and full semi-dark lager. It’s absolutely fantastic with something like roasted duck. Mmmm! The history of the brewery dates back to the early sixteenth century, and it produces some of the best beers throughout the Czech Republic and Austria. Beer enthusiasts flock to this tiny medieval town each year to visit the brewery, taste the beer straight from the source and to visit the best preserved city walls in the country.

Following the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia, breweries across the country were shut down. Today there is a surging trend of reopening these historic breweries and creating new microbrews using traditional methods. Únětice, a small brewery just north of Prague, is one of them.

Únětický Pivovar Brewery was open from 1710-1949. The current owner reopened the brewery in 2011, and although it is much smaller than the larger Pilsner Urquell, they are now thriving and brewing at capacity to fulfill demand. The beer is usually non-filtered and nicely full with just a tiny bit of sour, lovely foam. If you’re lucky, you may get to try a taste of the Easter or Christmas semi-dark specials. Some of my favorites!

Brewed near the river Sázava since 1457, Hubertus combines updated and modern technologies with traditional processes, and the brewery produces eight different beers. Most of the beer produced here is supplied to the local community within just miles of the brewery, but Hubertus has recently started exporting to the United Kingdom. Hubertus beer has a very sharp taste. It’s non-filtered and unpasteurized for a full flavor with a bit of a plum taste.