There's a new kid in town!

Well, it's been a while since I last posted a blog, what with the festive season and the seriously wintry weather we've been having. First I'd like to wish all our readers and drinkers a Happy New Year and toast them with a pint of our new brew fresh out in the pubs from the conditioning tank - Duncan's Inspirational Pale Ale! That is a picture of my first pint of the brew in a pub. I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to it...

As you can see it's a scrumptious beer, inspired by the India Pale Ales of yesteryear - hoppy, bitter and golden. At 4.4% it has a good quaffing strength and with a spicy hoppy bouquet from Czech Saaz hops together with gentle floral notes from the noble Goldings, there's plenty to keep hopheads happy. Malty in the mouth and finishing with a goodly drying bitterness, it's tip-top to push the boat out on a journey into the Wonderful World of Beer.

I hope you all enjoy Duncan's IPA, I know I will!
Slàinte, Ken

Bohemian Rhapsody

On a cycling holiday in South Bohemia recently I came across some fine beer. Here's me in the lovely town of Český Krumlov toasting its Eggenberg Brewery with its very nice pale lager.

Every brewer loves hops and what could be more fitting for a brewery than to have its own hop garden. This one is in front of the Zvikov Castle Brewery . The hops are the noble aromatic Saaz variety, which we use in our Independence Ale and Sunburst Pilsner. Great to see them in their native land!

They have a beautiful copper brewhouse with an amazing mural with the traditional Czech brewer's motto - Dej Bůh štěstí (May God give happiness). The brewery is also an inn with rooms above the brewhouse. Very comfy beds.

Brewmaster Michal Voldrich brews a wonderful selection of classic Czech beers, including this very special dark lager at a stunning 12% abv. He insisted on giving us a tasting finishing up with this glorious bottle-conditioned brew, called the Port amongst Beers, aged for 18 months and served in a chilled chalice. Perfect at 9 o'clock in the morning. Na zdraví or slàinte!