Czech beer is arguably the best in the world. The Czech Republic consumes more beer per capita than any other country, and Prague is its beating heart. Here’s what you should know before you visit.
Czech brewing dates back over 1,000 years. The Bohemian town of Žatec (Saaz) produces the world’s finest hops. In 1842, Pilsner Urquell was born in nearby Plzeň: the world’s first golden lager, which became the template for most beers brewed globally today.
The most common Czech beer. Light golden colour, bitter finish, served cold. Classic examples: Pilsner Urquell, Budvar, Kozel. Strength: typically 10–12° (4–5% ABV).
Deep brown, malty, slightly sweet. Less bitter than pale lager. Excellent food pairing. Often overlooked by tourists who don’t try it.
Between pale and dark: amber colour, balanced bitterness and maltiness. Rare outside Czech Republic. Worth trying when you find it.
Cloudy, hazy appearance. Richer flavour than filtered beer. Only available fresh at the brewery and can’t be bottled. Often the best beer you’ll drink in Prague.
Prague’s craft beer scene has grown rapidly over the past decade. IPAs, stouts, sours: the variety is impressive. Microbreweries like Dva Kohouti and Vinohradský Pivovar lead the scene.
Czech beer is measured in degrees (°). This refers to original gravity (the sugar content before fermentation), not alcohol content. A 10° beer is roughly 4% ABV, 12° is roughly 5%, 14° is roughly 6%.
Beer in Prague is cheap by Western standards, but prices vary a lot depending on where you are:
Reading about Czech beer is one thing. Tasting it in a working microbrewery is another. Our Prague Brewery Tour takes you to 3 local microbreweries where you’ll taste 9 different styles of Czech beer with an expert guide explaining the history, brewing process, and culture behind each one.
The best way to experience Czech beer culture? Join our Prague Beer Tour led by local guides, or go deeper with our Prague Brewery Tour.
Vinohrady Prague beer: why this neighbourhood deserves your attention Most visitors to Prague spend their evenings around the Old Town or Žižkov, and both are fine choices. But if you want to drink well, eat well, and do it somewhere that feels like an actual neighbourhood rather than a tourist corridor, Vinohrady is the place […]
Solo travel Prague beer: why a beer tour is one of the best things you can do alone Travelling solo in Prague is genuinely great. You go where you want, eat when you want, and nobody slows you down. But sitting in a pub alone, not knowing what to order or why, gets old fast. […]
Prague in December: beer tours during Christmas market season December is one of the best months to visit Prague. The Christmas markets are running, the city looks genuinely beautiful, and the cold gives you a very good reason to spend time in warm pubs drinking excellent Czech beer. A Prague beer tour in December combines […]
