Best Czech Beer Types
České pivo is a term that refers to a variety of beers produced throughout the whole Czech Republic that have a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) mark. The mark is used by fourteen breweries in the country for more than 80 brands of beer, which is about 65% of the total domestic market.
The first records of brewing beer of excellent quality in the country are connected to the Brevnov Monastery, where the monks produced beer all the way back in 993 AD. The beers are distinguished by the top-quality raw materials used in the process, the traditional methods of brewing, and the local know-how passed on from generation to generation.
Chodské pivo has been produced in the historic Chodsko region (Plzeň) since the 12th century. It is made from locally sourced water with low mineral content, hops, malt, and yeast. Only Žatecký poloraný červeňák, Sládek, and Premiant hop varieties can be used in its production.
Due to the two-stage fermentation process, lengthy maturation, and the choice of specific raw materials, Chodské pivo is golden, rich, and malty, while its flavor is slightly bitter and strong. This beer is held in high regard, and it was even supplied to the royal courts of Prague and Bavaria.
Pilsner is a beer style that originated in Pilsen (Plzeň), a city in western Bohemia. It was first brewed in 1842, making it one of the youngest beer styles to appear in modern brewing. The style originated when the citizens of Pilsen, who grew unhappy with the quality of the beer, decided to build Bürger Brauerei (Citizens’ Brewery), which would later become Pilsner Urquell.
They eventually brought a Bavarian brewmaster Josef Groll—who went to create the first pilsner brew. Although the initial idea was to create a Bavarian-style lager, the use of Czech ingredients influenced the emergence of a new style. The original pilsner, which was one of the first versions of a clear, light-colored beer, was made with light malted barley from Moravia and Saaz hops.
VARIATIONS OF Pilsner
THE BEST Pilsner Lagers
![Buckskin German Pilsner](/images/products/47de671f2cae448586d9245fab426cf5.png?w=234&h=140)
![Distelhäuser Pils](/images/products/2ea9fb5493894fedb1d9acd10bf780d4.png?w=234&h=140)
Černá Hora is produced in the namesake municipality and in the oldest brewery in Moravia that dates from 1530. The beer comes in several varieties, which are all produced with traditional techniques and methods that have been present in the area from the 13th century.
Two basic varieties include clean and hoppy light beers and moderately bitter dark beers. Specific styles include light lagers, light draught beer, unfiltered draught beer, dark lagers, and semi-dark draught beer. Caramel and coloring malt are used in the process to give the dark beers their typical caramel flavor and a delicate bitterness.
Českobudějovické pivo is a moderately bitter beer produced in the Czech Republic. The water used in the preparation process must come from the underground lake of the České Budějovice Basin, the hops come from the Žatec area, and the malting barley is grown in the Moravia region.
It comes as a lightly malty pale beer and as an intense dark version that has dominant roasted aromas. Due to the use of Žatec hops, the beer has a unique and pleasant taste, making it a very popular alcoholic drink in the country. The beer comes in five varieties: pale lager, Kräusened pale lager, pale draught, special beer, non-alcoholic beer, and dark lager.
Znojemské pivo is a beer produced in several varieties in the Znojmo area in the Czech Republic. It can be produced as a light or dark draught beer and a lager. Only three ingredients are used in the production process – barley malt, water, and hops.
The water is provided by the city's supply system, while the hops are of the Žatecký poloraný červeňák and Magnum Hallertau varieties. The alcohol content varies depending on the style; light draughts range from 3,2 to 4,0%, dark draughts from 3,8 to 4,0%, and lagers from 4,5 to 5,0% ABV.
Březnický ležák is a Czech-style pilsner that is produced in the Municipality of Březnice. It is a golden-colored beer with an alcohol content that ranges from 4.69 to 5.53% ABV. The taste is delicate and typically bitter, with a clean hoppy aroma and crisp flavor.
The beer is made from malt, granulated hops of the Žatecký poloraný červeňák variety, hop extract, sugar, and water from local natural wells. The only current producer of this beer is the company called Pivovar Herold Březnice, which has been brewing it since 1999.
Brněnské pivo, also known as Starobrněnské pivo, is a beer produced in the Czech Brno district. It comes as a non-alcoholic beer, light tap beer (světlé výčepní), dark beer (tmavé výčepní), and a lager.
These beers are made with Žatecký polorany červeňák and Magnum hop varieties, while the water is sourced from the town’s water supply system. The non-alcoholic type has a delicate hop aroma, and it can have up to 0,6 % ABV.
Best Czech Beer Producers
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/591011cff65c4944b154be4ad0f58263.png?w=160)
Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST Brewery Nachmelena Opice Beers (Styles and Brands)
BEST Dejf Brewery Beers (Styles and Brands)
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/5e4e27b03e7a4ed5a7477c5a8237fb6c.png?w=160)
International Brewing Awards - Gold
2017
BEST Plzensky Prazdroj a.s. Beers (Styles and Brands)
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/4b3716a4a3b941b4871ca8db2487a897.png?w=160)
Barcelona Beer Challenge - Gold
2024, 2021
BEST Bernard Family Brewery Beers (Styles and Brands)
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/86399f43ab6045cbb256e576aa9e140c.png?w=160)
Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2021
BEST Pivovar Petr Petružálek Beers (Styles and Brands)
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/5e7c29a60a0a4d90bbb0fb906f70ede3.png?w=160)
Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2023
BEST Minipivovar Zobak Beers (Styles and Brands)
Best Czech Beers (Styles and Brands)
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/5e7c29a60a0a4d90bbb0fb906f70ede3.png?w=160)
Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2023
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/b31e11bdd2db40cd9fa9c0fda8b45237.png?w=160)
European Beer Star - Gold
2023
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/5e4e27b03e7a4ed5a7477c5a8237fb6c.png?w=160)
International Brewing Awards - Gold
2017
AWARDS
![2 stars](/images/productawards/4b3716a4a3b941b4871ca8db2487a897.png?w=160)
Barcelona Beer Challenge - Gold
2021
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.