The Czechoslovakian Budweiser Budvar Brewery has stolen my heart. I normally avoid most draft beers here in the smoke because they're shit-tasting chemical compounds that give me an instant headache. However, I wish to let you all in on the marvel that is Budvar Dark. As you'd guess its the dunkelbier variant of Budvar. And it is deeee-lic-ious.

So far I've only found two pubs that serve it:

The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, NW3 7JJ

Indo, 133 Whitechapel Road, E1 1DT

My preference is for the latter bar as you can pop in to the Freedom Bookshop in nearby Angel Alley for some reading matter to accompany your pint. Helps keep the art students at bay too. The Spaniards isn't, despite being off Hampstead Heath, all that gentrified - well, there's always a few yuppie gonks there - but it does have a bad problem with mosquitos in the beer garden. And they seemed to like the Budvar Dark in my bloodstream as much as I did. Little winged bastards ate me alive.

Just thought I'd share that before this post became too much advertorial.

I love Czech dark lagers. Primovar is one which is great. There's another one that my local ASDA stocks, I think it's called Herold, surprisingly I've not had it yet. Can't get past the cheap Duvel and cheaper Grimbergen Blond. I'm also very partial to the red Viennese lagers. Sainsbury's do a 'taste the difference' own brand version which is a great summer drink.
Udo, you and I need to meet up on a St Pauli football trip to concentrate on drinking. I see you as a brother in alcohol.

I think that the Forth on Pink Lane in Newcastle used to sell Budvar Dark... or was it Tilly's that did? I'll have to check (har har!).

GeordieLes wrote:

Udo, you and I need to meet up on a St Pauli football trip to concentrate on drinking. I see you as a brother in alcohol.

Absolutely. Hopefully this past weekend of constant cava and limoncello hasn't exploded my right kidney 'cos it sure feels like it today.

You just post the dates you fancy when the fixtures are out and we'll chat. Will we require the AKs and the Magdeburian Pikes for our jaunt?

Waddock and Sir John were talking about the first home game of the season as a possible. I'd like a trip before the end of August certainly.
For Magdeburg I'd rather have a Swedish-made firelock musket with a plug bayonet. Maybe an English dog-lock cavalry pistol as back up. Don't fancy forming into a pike square while pissed.

GeordieLes wrote:

Waddock and Sir John

Elevated to lofty heights beyond my wildest dreams, Les.

Fortunately Roger is the only one with the bogus knighthood - I'm just a Ckhunt!!!

I have few plans for August so I'm not averse to popping over a couple of times. Chris is, likewise, keen on an early season jaunt (he'll be the one with the halberd!!)

John x

PS: We're in the wrong thread, aren't we? I drank a beer once! (That's better).

Get down on yer knees John and I'll do the business with my sword! Ooh er madam!

Halberds are a bit medieval for my tastes. It'll be morning stars and flails next!

Dark lager.... wasn't it?

Just received a case of Primovar Dark Czech lager. Had one last night to check it was ok. Delicious. I'll do a proper review when I've tasted it chilled and at room temperature.....

Have made many a trip to Eastern Europe over the last several years
Of course in Prague Staropramen Dark needs no introduction. The mind boggles as to how many lagers/beers that are on the tariff in Lithuania although my favourite was Utenos lager, around 5%.
Estonia is another place that produces some fine lagers/beers. Saku & A.le Coq are the two main breweries. Both produce a wide variety of smile inducing liquid.
Saku lagers, Originaal 4.7%, Saku on Ice 5% great in summer with a slice of lime! Beers, Saku Dark 7.5% is delicious stuff to warm the cockles of your heart Saku Tume 6.7% wow it tastes strong!!
A.le Coq lager 4.7% a very nice tasting effort for lager. Mind you legend has it that it originated in Belgium so that aint a bad start to life. Then there is the A.le Coq beers, Double Bock 8% phwoar! Porter 6.5% dark & must try. Saaremaa X 10% it blows your socks off!! Just the thing you need when its -20c outside in mid-winter
Oh, in Tallinn there is Hell Hunt Bar They produce there own tipples, Hell Hunt lager, dark & cider. The dark is quality stuff, but not sure of its potency.
Looking forward to going back there next month, I'm sure there are more gems waiting to be discovered

Interesting post Mr Ciderbiker. I like Staropramen pils - it's one of my favourite regular lagers but unfortunately I've not had the dark version. Like Udo, I really like dark lagers.
You've certainly caught my imagination regarding the beers of Lithuania and Estonia!
Cheers mate!

i love this beer as well, there are 1 or 2 other places in London that do it, but can't remember at the mo.

Staropramen pilsener is good stuff, but like all good euro drinks it is ruined when on draught here if you ever get the chance, the best tasting pilsener I have ever got wobbly on is Ringnes Its a Norwegian brew (bloody expensive on draught in Oslo), think its about 5%. A real treat, but not sure if its possible to get any of it in the UK
At Brownstock was chatting with anufc & he said about French cider!! that is something for the future & must give it a go

Only drink Staropramen in bottles! Had Ringnes in Norway. Can't say that it was that memorable mind you...... I think you can get it in cans in some specialist beer shops.
Although I'm not a cider (or cidre) drinker usually I do like the Normandy stuff. Once spent a summer in a gite next to a small rural cider factory and aquired a taste for it. It's light, sparkly and refreshing - not at all like some of the chewy West Country scrumpy!

had french cider at beer fests, very nice!!

Czech dark lager. I seem to be a bit confused with the name of this beauty... It's called Primator Premium Dark. The brewers are Nachod Brewery in Nachod, Czech Republic. Very 'St Pauli' looking brown and white label. 50cl bottle at 4.8% ABV.
I'm going to use a 33cl glass and employ the 'topping up' style of drinking bottled beer.
Pours with a reassuring glug. 4 hours in the fridge means that it's a cold one. Head dies down quickly leaving the beer fizzing naturally and vindicating the prefered 'topping up' style. The colour is a very deep reddish brown. The aroma is malty and the first sip is vanilla laden with a hint of coffee. The first swallow is surprisingly reminiscent of supermarket French lager, but the second one says a traditional North country dark mild. Not very hoppy compared to the likes of Staropramen pils or even Budvar. Clean tasting and malty. The coffee taste has developed more into a mocha. There's Bournville plain dark chocolate in the mouth as I 'chew' it before swallowing the next gulp. Good grief, this is going down quickly! Apparently this stuff has won sack fulls of medals at beer fairs and expositions and the like. I can see why!
Each top up reinvigorates the head and seems to bring out the coffee flavours. There's a tartness coming through at the expense of the sweetness. Don't get me wrong the sweetness was subtle not cloying but seems to be fading as I drink. Paraphrasing the words of Terry from the 'Likely Lads' tv series, 'I'd offer you one Bob but I've only got twenty'
This is lovely stuff.

aliceb wrote:

had french cider at beer fests, very nice!!

that s three of us now ! just waiting for truth to come out of everyone's mouth ...

By teh way Les , I haven t forgotten the pommeau , with a bit of luck my local publican should have one bottle of farmer's pommeau left in reserve for me otherwise it ll have to be a more commercial but still nice version