The Hungarian Girl » Beer

BeerFest Slovenia

The Hungarian Girl — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:26:35 +0000

The 1st annual event of BeerFest Slovenia will be taking place from June 16th – June 20th in Ljubljana at their Exhibition and convention centre.

A wide range of beers from various Slovenian and European breweries will be represented at the festival. In addition, visitors can relax and enjoy live music and entertainment.

In cooperation with the City of Ljubljana, live public viewings of the World Cup in South Africa will be also be available.

Admission to the event is free.

For more information, visit the BeerFest Slovenia website.

German Beer Steins: An Introduction

The Hungarian Girl — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:47:13 +0000

The word "stein" is of German origin and dates back to the 14th century.

Definition of a Beer Stein

A beer stein is a traditional German beer tankard or mug, made of pewter, silver, wood, porcelain, earthenware or glass with a hinged lid and levered thumblift.

The word “stein” is of German origin. The etymology of the word is either from “Stein Krug” (meaning stone jug/mug) or from “Steingut” (meaning stone goods).

History of Steins

The origins of steins date back to the 14th century. As a result of the black plague and several invasions of flies throughout Europe shortly thereafter, Germany established several laws in the early 16th century requiring that all food and beverage containers be covered to protect their contents. By combining a lid, hinge, and thumblift, these “German” containers could easily be opened and closed with one hand. Later, it was discovered that the lids on steins was a great way to prevent the beer from being spilled while engaging in song and dance.

By the 16th century, ornamental beer steins were starting to be produced along the Rhine River. The abundant clay in Germany and river transport started a boom in beer stein art. Colored glazes, hand painting, ceramic art and carved decorations began to adorn the steins, and the personal beer stein soon became the most important status symbol and display piece for many Germans. Steins also began to be made in a variety of materials and sizes.

Today steins are still being manufactured, with antique beer steins being some of the most sought after collectibles on the market. Fancy or simple, steins can be found priced anywhere from a few to several thousands of dollars. An invention out of necessity ended up defining the hobby of drinking beer.

Stein Materials

In the early years, steins were traditionally made from stoneware, a material that proved to be highly resistant to chipping and cracking, as well as being more sanitary. During the 1700′s, other materials were used to make steins such as glass and porcelain. Nowadays, steins can be made from any type of material including sliver, ivory, pewter, wood, or even gold.

Stein Markings

Steins can have lots of different markings etched on them. This can vary from family coat of arms to images depicting nature such as animals or flowers. Some of the most sought after are traditional designs such as brewery emblems, Bavarian motifs such as Neuschwanstein or the Marienplatz Rathaus-Glockenspiel of Munich, and the colorful official annual Oktoberfest souvenir mug featuring the year’s winning poster design.

An authentic German beer stein will always have a Made in Germany label. Some steins may also have the artist’s name or the company’s name that manufactured the stein on them.

Just for Fun!

The world’s largest beer stein, which can hold a whopping 8.45 gallons of beer, can be found in St. Goar, Germany.
A Bavarian-born man set a new world record by carrying 20 steins of beer at once for 40 metres.

Best Czech Beers

The Hungarian Girl — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:33:08 +0000

The golden beer known as the "pilsner" was first brewed in the Czech Republic during the mid-19th century. Today, the beer is still made according to the original recipe. Photo courtesy of istockphoto.com.

The Czech Republic has a very long and distinguished history of brewing.

It was here that the first golden beer, pilsner was pioneered in the town of Plzen in the mid-19th century. As well, some of the world’s most prized hops are grown in the Žatec district.

There’s no doubt that the Czechs are truly passionate and proud of their beer heritage. In fact, the country leads the world in per capita beer consumption. Beer is served almost everywhere in the country especially in Prague, where there are a countless numbers of pubs and restaurants.

So, if you’re wondering what beers to try in the Czech Republic… here’s a list of some of their best beers.

Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell is the original lager that all others are based upon. This quality beer owes its crisp, hoppyflavor witha touch of bitterness and smooth finish, to the famous Saatz hops and soft water drawn from 1,000 feet deep artesian wells under the brewery.

Budvar

Budejovicky Budvaris a light lager with 5% volume alcohol content, best known as Budejovicky Budvar in the Czech Republic, Budweiser Budvar in the European Union, Czechvar in the United States and Canada, in the rest of the world either Budweiser Budvar or Budejovický Budvar. The beer matures in cellars for 90 days which gives it a pure, rounded and rich flavor. It has no relation to the American Budweiser.

Staropramen

Brewed in the Smichov district, Staropramen is both a local and international favorite. The beer is made with a special blend of Bohemian barley and Žatec hops. It is distinguished by its crisp and light, fruity flavor. Staropramen is owned by global giant InBev.

Krušovice

The Královský Pivovar Krušovice (the Royal Brewery of Krušovice) is one of the oldest breweries in the Czech Republic. It was originally founded in 1517 by Jií Birka in the village of Krušovice. The brewery gained a contract to provide beer to Emperor Rudolf II in 1581, allowing them to use the Imperial Crown of Austria as part of the company’s logo. One of it’s most famous brands is Krušovice Cerne, a dark lager with a sweet caramel taste and a light hop flavor.

Gambrinus

Gambrinus is one of the most popular beers in the Czech Republic. It was named after the legendary king of Flanders that was known for his mythical brewing abilities. This premium quality beer comes from the same brewery as Pilsner Urquell.

Rebel

Czech Rebel, founded in 1834, is a well-balanced, golden pilsner produced from a small brewery that dates back to 1673 in Luxembourg. The brewery is named after the town of Havlickuv Brod which in turn is named after a famous local Czech writer Karel Havlicek Borovsky (1821-1856), who was fighting against the powerful Habsburg monarchy by writing “revolutionary and rebellious” articles. Hence, the name “Rebel”.

Primator

Primator comes from the brewery town of Nachod where they’ve been perfecting their brewing technique for centuries. It draws its water from the Adršpach-Teplice protected landscape region. In 2006, the brewery launched a reconstruction of their cellar technology including an excess pressure transfer chamber and newly installed yeast farmstead, a promotional station and a classic beer-storage cellar. It is one of the most technically advanced breweries in the country. Primator has a strong, balanced flavour, sparkling gold colour and long-lasting head.

Radegast

Named after the mythical old Slavonic pagan god of fire, sun, harvest and hospitality called Radegast, this brewery has been around since the 1970′s. Stemming from the name for the beer is the slogan: “Život je horký: Bohudík”, a Czech phrase which translates into English as “Life is bitter: Thank God” (in reference to the beer’s “bitter” taste). The brewery is now owned by South African Breweries Ltd (SAB).

Holba

The Holba brewery is based in the picturesque Hanušovice region within the Jeseníky mountains foothills. Currently, the independent brewery is one of the ten largest in the country. It specializes in the production of light beers.

Bernard

On October 26, 1991 Stanislav Bernard, Josef Vávra and Rudolf Šmejkal launched the revival of a Humpolec brewery constructed in the 16th century. Today, the brand is well-known throughout the Czech Republic. It produces traditional unpasteurised light and dark lagers.

Czech Beer Festival Prague 2010

The Hungarian Girl — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:38:12 +0000

Czech Beer Festival in Prague, the largest gastronomic event in the Czech Republic.

For all the fans of great beer!

The largest gastronomic event in the Czech Republic is happening from May 14 – 30th in Prague.

The 17 day event features an extensive offering of the best products from Czech brewerers including over 50 brands of different beers, food, live music, and much more.

Visitors will be greeted and served by staff in traditional Czech folk costumes.

Admission to the event is free. The festival has its own currency, the “Tolar”, which is used for payment of food and drinks.

For more information, visit the official Czech Beer Festival website.

Czech Beer Festival Prague 2010
http://www.ceskypivnifestival.cz

German Beer Guide

The Hungarian Girl — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:27:31 +0000

Germany currently ranks as the 3rd largest consumers of beer per capita just after the Czech Republic and Ireland.

There’s no doubt that Germans love their beer!

The history of German beer dates back to the beginnings of the country when monks began to experiment with brewing around 1000 A.D. Eventually, brewing became very profitable for the monks and the country’s leaders began to implement laws surrounding the production of beer.

Today, there are over 1,300 breweries across the country along with more than 5,000 kinds of beer varieties. As well, Germany currently ranks as the 3rd largest consumers of beer per capita just after the Czech Republic and Ireland.

So if you’re interested in finding out more about German beers, here’s a brief guide to getting you started.

Prost!

Reinheitsgebot

The Reinheitsgebot also known as the “German Beer Purity Law” or the “Bavarian Purity Law” is a regulation on the production of beer in Germany. The Reinheitsgebot dates back to 1516 and is the oldest food regulation in the world. In the original text, the only ingredients that could be used in the production of beer were water, barley and hops. However, in recent years some breweries have decided to include other ingredients in their production as well.

Beer Styles & Varieties

The following below is a list of the most common German beer styles and varieties:

Altbier: A strong, dark, top fermented hoppy beer brewed around Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Berliner Weisse: A pale, very sour wheat beer brewed in the city of Berlin. It’s often served with fruit syrup.

Bockbier: Originally drunk by monks during the Lenten fast to assist in providing more protein and calories. Bockbier is an amber, heavy-bodied, bitter-sweet lager. It can have an alcohol content of up to 16% making it stronger than many wines.

Dortmunder: A full-bodied, moderately hopped beer of at least 5% alcohol by volume. The beer originated in Germany’s steel and coal district along the River Ruhr in the 19th century.

Dunkel: A dark, sweet beer containing roasted malt flavors. Dunkel is the German word for “dark.”

Helles: A full-bodied, bottom fermented, pale lager from Munich.

Oktoberfestbier: A well-aged, stronger lager brewed in March for consumption during and around Oktoberfest time.

Pilsner: One of the most well-known types of German beer, pilsner is a light-colored lager. It accounts for two-thirds of the German beer market share.

Märzen: Medium to full body texture with a malty flavor. Märzen can vary greatly in color from pale to dark varieties.

Schwarzbier: A bottom-fermented dark lager with chocolate or coffee flavor.

Spezial: A pale, full, bitter-sweet and delicately hopped lager.

Famous Brands and Breweries

There are over 1,300 different types of breweries across the country. The following is a list of the most famous brands and breweries:

Augustiner Bräu – Established in 1328, Augustiner Bräu is Munich’s oldest independent brewery and produces some of its most popular brands of beer.

Beck’s Brewery - The famous Beck’s beer is brewed on the riverbanks in Bremen, in the North of Germany. Slightly bitter and known around the world, Beck’s and its local version Haake Beck’s have been crafted since 1879.

Bitburger Brewery – The Bitburger Brewery is known internationally for its Premium Beer brewed according to the German Purity Law of 1516. Its popular, dry-finished, hoppy taste has secured Bitburger’s Premium Beer the position as Germany’s no. 1 draught beer.

Krombacher Brewery – The Krombacher Brewery was founded in 1803 by Bernhard Schadeberg and has continued to be in the hands of the Schadeberg family for generations. The company produces the most consumed Pilsener within Germany.

Warsteiner Brewery – Germany’s largest privately owned brewery dating back to 1753. It’s most popular brand of beer is Warsteiner Premium Verum.

Weihenstephan Brewery – The oldest working brewery in the world dating back to 1040 AD.

Beer Festivals

Germany has several large and well-known beer festivals. The most popular is the Munich Oktoberfest which is the world’s largest fair and has over six million people attending each year. Many other places in Germany and around the world have similar events called Oktoberfest, which were founded by German immigrants or their descendants.

The 2nd largest beer festival in Germany is the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart. In recent years, it’s popularity has increased and so too have the amount of people from around the world visiting the festival.

Beer boots range in size from a shot glass up to several liters.

Just for fun!

Germans may take brewing very seriously but they also like to have a lot of fun. Did you know the ”Beer Boot” is a uniquely German invention? Some believe the Beer Boot was originally invented in the 14 century where soldiers would pass around a leather boot filled with beer before engaging their enemy in battle.

In Deutschland they are called Bierstiefel and these boots are popular with tourists in Bavaria and Munich in particular. Beer boots have became increasingly popular in North America after being featured in Hollywood films and television shows.

Giant Mountain’s Beer Festival In Czech Republic

The Hungarian Girl — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:14:58 +0000

Vrchlabi Town Square Flag. The town has about 13,000 inhabitants.

The 12th annual Giant Mountain’s Beer Festival will be happening on August 8th 2009 in Vrchlabi Town Square, Czech Republic.

Breweries that will be available at the festival include Brewery Krakonoš Trutnov, Brewery Rychtár Hlinsko, Municipal brewery from Policka, Brewery Primátor Náchod, Brewery Svijany, Brewery Nová Paka, Brewery Cerná Hora, and Brewery Pivovarská Bašta Vrchlabí.

The festival also features entertaintment and music competitions throughout the day.

For more information, visit the Giant Mountain’s Beer Festival Website or the Vrchlabi Municipal Office Website.

Giant Mountain’s Beer Festival
http://www.kpivnislavnosti.cz

Vrchlabi Municipal Office Web site
http://www.muvrchlabi.cz/en/

Bitburger Premium

The Hungarian Girl — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:56:43 +0000

Introduction

Bitburger Premium Beer is ranked as Germany's no. 1 draught beer.

Drawing on almost 200 years of expertise, the full-bodied, light, Bitburger Premium Beer is brewed according to the German Purity Law of 1516. Its popular, dry-finished, hoppy taste has secured Bitburger Premium Beer position as Germany’s no. 1 draught beer.

History of Bitburger Brewery

The Bitburger Brewery traces its origins to 1817 when Johann Peter Wallenborn, then a 33-year-old brewer from the town of Kyllburg in the Eifel opened a brewery in Bitburg. Three years after Wallenborn’s death in 1839, Ludwig Bertrand Simon married into the family business and became owner of the brewery, naming it Simonbrau. His son, Theobald Simon, took over the brewery in 1876 at the age of twenty-nine.

Today, Bitburger still remains a family run business.

Taste Profile

A bottom-fermented beer that is light and mild. It has a clear golden colour with a dry-finished, crisp, hoppy taste. Contains in ABV of 4.8%.

Further Information

For more information about Bitburger Beer, you can visit the official Bitburger website.

Bitburger
http://www.bitburger.com

Staropramen Ležák – Czech Lager

The Hungarian Girl — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:52:33 +0000

Staropramen Premium Beer.

Overview

Staropramen Ležák is a premium lager from the Czech Republic.

History

The Staropramen Brewery was established on the left bank of the Vlata River in Smichov, Prague, in 1869. On May 1st, the completion of the first brew was celebrated and sales of beer commenced on 15 July 1871.

The Ostravar Brewery opened in 1898 followed a year later by the Braník brewery. These two breweries would later merge with Staropramen.

Staropramen Brewery is currently owned by Inbev and its products are exported to 30 countries around the world. It is the Czech Republic’s second largest beer producer with a 15.3 % share of the domestic market.

Taste Profile

Staropramen Ležák features a full-bodied, pleasantly balanced taste with a gently bitter “epilogue”, a rich white head of foam, and deep golden colour. It contains 5% abv.

Tours of the Staropramen Brewery

Tours of the Staropramen Brewery and the Ostravar brewery are open to the public. Visitors are introduced to the history of brewing beer in Bohemia and the Staropramen brewery along with its development from the year 1869 until the present day. Available in English, German or Czech. Reservations can be made online.

Staropramen Brewery Visitor’s Centre
http://navstevnicke-centrum.pivovarystaropramen.cz/eng/index.html

Further information

For more informationa about Staropramen and the brewey, you can visit these websites as listed below.

Official International Website of Staropramen
http://www.staropramen.com

Czech Website of Staropramen
http://www.staropramen.cz

2009 Oktoberfest In Munich

The Hungarian Girl — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:12:39 +0000

Oktoberfest in Munich is the world's largest fair. It attracts over six million people each year.

Get ready for the world’s largest fair!

The 2009 Oktoberfest will be happening from Septmber 19th – October 4th in Munich, Germany.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 12pm by the lord mayor of Munich who will have the honor of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer.

Highlights of the event include the Costume and Riflemen’s Parade which will take place on the first Wiesn Sunday and an open-air concert of all Oktoberfest bands with some 400 musicians the following week.

For more information about the festival, you can visit these Oktoberfest websites as listed below.

General Information

Official Munich Oktoberfest Website
http://www.oktoberfest.de

Official Oktoberfest Website (English)
http://www.muenchen.de/Tourismus/Oktoberfest/7548/index.html

Official Oktoberfest Website (German)
http://www.muenchen.de/oktoberfest

Beer Tents

Armbrustschützenzelt
http://www.armbrustschuetzenzelt.de

Bräurosl
http://www.braeurosl.de

Fischer-Vroni
http://www.fischer-vroni.de

Hacker-Festzelt
http://www.hacker-festzelt.de

Hippodrom
http://www.hippodrom-oktoberfest.de/en

Hofbräu
http://www.hb-festzelt.de

Käfers Wiesn Schänke
http://www.feinkost-kaefer.de

Ochsenbraterei
http://www.ochsenbraterei.de

Schützen-Festzelt
http://www.schuetzen-festhalle.de

Winzerer Fähndl
http://www.winzerer-faehndl.com

Fan Clubs

Oktoberfest Club
http://www.oktoberfest-club.com

Shopping & Gifts

The Oktoberfest Shop
http://www.wiesn.com

Beer Steins
http://www.steincenter.com

Northcote Imports
http://www.northcoteimports.com

Travel Companies

Ludus Oktoberfest Tours
http://www.oktoberfesttours.com

Baltika 3 Classic – Russian Lager

The Hungarian Girl — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:04:13 +0000

Baltika 3 Classic

It’s Beer Friday again, hooray!

Overview

Baltika 3 Classic is a pale lager from Russia. It is the leading Russian beer brand and the core brand of Baltic Beverages Holding. The beer was first introduced in 1992 and has made impressive progress throughout the Russian beer market.

History

Baltika Brewery is the largest brewery in Eastern Europe and the second-largest brewery in Europe (after Heineken Brewery). It began production in 1990 and is based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Baltika Brewery accounts for more than seven out of ten beer sales and exports to 46 countries. In April 29, 2008, the company was bought by Carlsberg Group.

Taste Profile

Baltika 3 Classic has a foamy, golden color with a delicate flavour of hops and the aroma of first-class malt. It contains 45 calories per 100 grams and a ABV of 4.8%.

Tours at the Brewery

Organzied tours are held on a daily basis at all the different breweries. Beer tastings are optional and can be included upon request. The tours consisit of highlights of the company’s history, beer production technology, and main production facilities.

Further Information

For more information about Baltika 3 Classic and the Baltika Brewery, please visit their official website as listed below.

The Official Website of Baltika Beer Russia
http://eng.baltika.ru