h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The beer I enjoy the most is Budweiser Budvar. Now, you Anheuser-Bush aficionados don't get excited for not having heard of it. This is the original Budweiser, brewed in the Czech republic. (I'm told there is a legal/trademark battle going on over EU recognition of which company may use the label.) You can get it in several European countries; I first had it in Germany. This lager is full-bodied but not heavy. Delicious. My next favorite is Holstein Pils. And since this is for the record, the worst I've had is (South) Korea's O.B., which, ironically, is brewed by the same company that has Anheuser-Bush's exclusive rights to brewing Budweiser in Korea!

There's a pub near me that's speciality is obscure eastern european beers which does Budvar draught. And I agree, it is something special.

I agree, an absolutly superb lager

I am a big fan of these Bohemian (or thereabouts) brews like pilsner, etc. There are a bunch of Czech beers sold here in Canada - and I also like German Pils, although it is a little different. I feel fortunate to have at the local "Liquor Control Board of Ontario" outlet (an instituation that keeps Ontario from declining in social disorder by allowing anyone but the govt. to sell alcohol - it would otherwise be like in Quebec where anyone can buy alcohol at all strange times and from the guy with the little shop on the corner) a wide selection of beer like this - at a good price - my daily brew! Pilsner Urquell is very nice, and sells here for 20% more than Canadian Budweiser (ie. Labatt lager with not too much beer flavour and brewed to 5% alc. to a recipe from AB)

Having made a fine pilsner or two (ahem), it is the bouquet of the Saaz hops that gives the beer part of it's unique pleasue. If it is well hopped and balanced with a good, fairly heavy, not too pale malt then it is wonderful. You can make it at home, but it is not easy to get right the first time - making lager means you have to "lager" it - derived from a German word to store - ie. in the cold - like in a cellar at low temperatures (I have found many weeks at 5-10oC works great - but this can not be in your kitchen or living room unless you have a habit of wearing a parka indoors - In Canada this means brewing in Winter and leaving a basement window open, or living in an apartment where the neighbours underneath have been evicted and have smashed all the windows while the landlord goes to Portugal for 4 months - and you make pilsner).

Forgot to mention that it's also known as Budejovicky Budvar within the Czech Republic and in some other parts of Eastern Europe. (After Ceske Budejovice, the Czech city that it's brewed in.)

Budvar - Top Drink. Far superior to that strange, flavourless, "Bud" stuff (It's made with rice as you'll see if you care to read the label)

Most beers are "cleared" with isinglass which is made from fish bladders (just an excuse to use a fish.....) Disgusting, go for the good old organic Scrumpy from down Somerset way, it's guaranteed to give you a hangover to last the week...


Dr Goof Lithium

OOH aarrrh... Ever been to Busch gardens? You can walk inside a "Bud" barrel. It is full of wood chips which apparently give the "beer" it's flavour - as there is little else beery otherwise to do so (wood?). And besides, it makes a nice decorative surface for guests to walk on. They give you a couple of freebies at the end too. Don't worry you have no chance of getting remotely drunk, even if you can wrangle more than your quota from other visitors.