Homebrewing in the Czech Republic

Thousands of years before there were big, computerized breweries with huge kettles and electric cooling and heating systems, ancient civilizations were making their own homebrews in clay pots with just a few key ingredients. Let this give you the confidence to brew your own beer at home.

It can be done with a relatively small amount of equipment, much of which can be found in your kitchen. Along with a few simple ingredients; water, malted barley or malted wheat, and hops. Yeast is also an essential part of brewing beer, though not everyone considers yeast one of beer’s ingredients, but that’s an argument for another day.

Brewing can be as simple or complex as you are willing to make it, so whether you are an experienced home brewer or are just getting started, there is a recipe and level of complexity that will fit your needs. Let’s take a look at where to find brewing information, how homebrewing in the Czech Republic is growing, and the equipment and ingredients you will need to get your own home brewery up and running.

There are many books, websites, blogs and forums to help you get started. It is always best to gain some knowledge before you put together your own home brewery. Other homebrewers and enthusiasts are maybe the best resource available, so get involved and talk to as many people as possible. Homebrewers are normally a friendly bunch, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Here are a few resources to get you going:

Small home breweries and the people who run them are becoming easier to find. Start talking to people at local beer festivals, bottle shops, and in your favorite pub; you are sure to find someone who is working on crafting their own beer.

I spoke with Evan Rail, Prague based beer writer, avid homebrewer, and panel judge at the 2012 Prague International Homebrew Awards (PIHA) to get his take on what is happing in the homebrewing scene. “Czech homebrewing seems to be taking off quite quickly. The surprising thing is the local interest in foreign beer styles, especially American and UK types of beer like pale ales and IPAs.” said Rail.

PIHA takes place in early December and is much more than just a competition. There are lectures and seminars given by people in the brewing industry along with local homebrewers; it’s also a great place to make new connections. So put together your best recipe and enter the 2013 PIHA.

Mr. Rail went on to say, “For local homebrewers, the hard part is finding quality ingredients. Czech malt is great, of course, but there’s not a lot of variety in terms of yeast strains and hops, and the foreign specialty malts that you need for some beer styles can be really hard to get. Most homebrewers I know order stuff from the Czech online shops, which are decent but limited. Unfortunately, we don’t have a dedicated homebrew shop in Prague that I know of. But Pivní Rozmanitost now stocks some yeasts, malts, and hops for homebrewers, in addition to their specialty beers.”

Now it’s time to make some decision. Do you want to start simple and inexpensive or are you looking to set up a permanent home brewery? Will you brew with extracts or use all-grain brewing?

Now it’s time to clean and sanitize your equipment, this is arguably the most important step in the brewing process, so take your time and familiarize yourself with whatever method you choose.

Feel free to post your brewing tips and tricks. We would also love to hear about what styles you are making and how they turn out.

Happy brewing!

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