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Pouring it on

First-time beer fest plans for 10,000 drinkers per day

By Dave Faries
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
May 21st, 2008 issue

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Czech Beer Festival



When: May 23-June 1
Where: Exhibition Grounds, Prague 7-Holešovice
Hours: Noon-midnight each day
Admission: 120 Kč
Beer: 39 Kč (purchased by token)
For more information, check www.pivnifestivalpraha.cz
A slew of brews




More than 30 brands of Czech beer will be available at the festival. Participating breweries include:
Braník (Prague)
Budějovický Budvar (České Budějovice)
Černá Hora (Černá Hora)
Gambrinus (Plzeň)
Janáček (Uherský Brod)
Jihlava (Jihlava)
Konrád (Vratislavice)
Ostravar (Ostrava)
Platan (Protivín)
Plzeňský Prazdroj (Plzeň)
Radegast (Nošovice)
Rakovník (Rakovník)
Rohozec (Turnov)
Staropramen (Prague)
Svijany (Příšovice)
Velkopopovický Kozel (Velké Popovice)
Beer in the Czech Republic? Who knew?
Just about everyone, actually. This country’s beer-swigging prowess has been well-documented. Czechs are the world’s leading consumers of beer (per capita) surpassing the Germans, the Irish and the patrons of Moe’s Tavern.
In addition to brands of international renown, such as Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser (Budvar), hundreds of local breweries fulfill the needs of a thirsty people. Yet many of these beers are familiar only to those who live in a particular region, or happen upon them on a trip through the Czech countryside.
The first annual Czech Beer Festival intends to celebrate it all, from the power brews to the small-town favorites. “The idea is to bring them all together in one big place,” explains festival director Jan Hübner. More than 30 different Czech beers will be represented at the Exhibition Grounds in Holešovice, along with regional food (all Czech), music (also all Czech) and other diversions in a tent city reminiscent of Munich’s Oktoberfest.
“It’s a thing no one has seen here before,” Hübner says. The festival organization purchased beer directly from the breweries and made arrangements with Kofola and other Czech companies for nonalcoholic beverages. “They [the breweries] bring beer, tap systems and tap masters,” he continues. “The rest is on us.”
The tents will be set up for full table service, allowing guests to place orders with wait staff rather than spend their time waiting in beer lines. “It’s the first time we’re offering restaurant-style service at a festival,” claims pub owner Max Munson, who has been retained by festival organizers to hire and train the wait staff. “Goal No. 1 is that nobody waits.”
The entry fee for the May 23–June 1 bash is set at 120 Kč ($7.50) per person, with young children free of charge. That amount gets you into the grounds and allows you to catch daily entertainment. Beer costs 39 Kč per glass — a festival mug, actually, which guests may keep or return for the deposit — purchased by tokens.
Organizers expect at least 10,000 visitors each day. Even for the Czech Republic, that’s a lot of suds.

Dave Faries can be reached at dfaries@praguepost.com


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Reader's comments:

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[14:27 22/05/2008] : This sounds like a lot of fun. I hope it catches on.
It's hard to believe that someone hasn't done this before now.
I would plan my next trip to the Czech Republic around this event.
Dave Dvergsten
Minneapolis
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