Image by Deny_Hell from Pixabay

Thinking about a cold brew on a hot summer day? The coronavirus has hit the Czech Republic brewing industry hard! If you are into beer, consider supporting them and trying a Czech beer like Pilsner Urquell or Staropramen. According to the Associated Press, beer consumption in the Czech republic, the world’s largest per-capita consumer of the drink, was dramatically impacted in 2020 by the coronavirus. The Czech union of brewers said the amount consumed annually on average by each person in the country dropped by 7 liters, 14.8 pints or less than 2 gallons – the lowest since the 1960’s. If you host an in-person or virtual brew quaffing hour, here are some things to know about the beer capital of the world:

  1. Beer is so significant to Czech culture and national pride that some intercultural consultants (including us) recommend complimenting Czech beer as a way to start conversations with Czechs.
  2. The city of Plzeň (Pilsen) is hailed as the birthplace of the pilsner style of beer. This light, golden lager has inspired hundreds of varieties, including the sharper German pilsner and lighter pilsners that comprise much of the U.S. market.
  3. Whether bottled, canned, or on tap, Czech beer is sold by the half-liter, roughly 40% more volume than the U.S. American bottle.
  4. Popular brands in a Czech pub include Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen, Kozel, Radegast, Gambrinus, and Krušovice.  Many consumers say a high-quality Czech pilsner benefits from finer carbonation and creamier head than U.S. beer.
  5. Some brewers do offer darker beers and they are widely available but tend to be lighter in taste and body than typical dark beers.
  6. Many Czech pubs have a standard beer that they serve, indicated by a logo and sign above the door.  Czechs may not even look at a beer menu, opting instead to simply ask for one beer jedno pivo.
  7. One Czech beer costs roughly 20-50 Czech crowns, pricing it under $1-3 USD and making it less expensive than bottled water in most Czech pubs and restaurants.

Beer is finely intertwined with the Czech culture and experience, and deservingly so, given the delicious taste and affordable price! Not a fan of beer? Czech brewer Pilsner Urquell is now brewing Viper, a lime-flavored hard seltzer inspired by the hard seltzer boom in the U.S. market.

Remember these fun facts and enjoy a Czech beer the next time you have a brew!

Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., is a diversity and inclusion consultant, cross-cultural trainer, etiquette expert, and the founder of Access to Culture. In addition to her accreditation in intercultural management from the HOFSTEDE Centre, she is an attorney and mediator. Her Amazon #1 Best Selling book in International Business, Access to Asia, won a coveted Kirkus Star, and was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books. She’s a winner of numerous awards, including the British Airways International Trade Award at the Greater Austin Business Awards.

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