Good Beer from Pilsen: Raven

#BeerSaturday wouldn't be the same without Joseph Groll, the German who brewed the first Pilsner back in 1842. A bottom-fermented pale lager, a style that practically begs for mass production—that’s why pilsners are the backbone of most big-name brands. You name them—Heineken, Amstel, Stella Artois, Beck's, the American Budweiser (don’t you dare mix it up with the original one from Budweis), and of course, the Czech Budweiser… Despite being where Groll invented the recipe, Pilsner Urquell is by no means the best brewery in Pilsen—only the most famous.

In fact, their beer is mediocre at best. And quite overpriced given its quality. To make sure my judgment still holds up (I generally avoid industrial brews, they’re not worth the money anyway), I did visit Pilsner Urquell, and had a surprisingly good time, even taste-wise. I happened upon a burger festival and had an amazing burger. I also tasted their beer, and it is just as mediocre as I remember it, even at the source. Bland, lacking the distinct Saaz hop aroma, and served a few degrees colder than it should be—that’s a common trick for low-quality beers, as it masks flaws. Anyway, while the reputed brewery tour might be interesting, it’s better to book a table at one of the local microbreweries for some truly great brews.

Fortunately, Pilsen offers several great options, and I picked Raven for a couple of reasons. A big reason was @jjprac, who lives nearby. He’s one of the Czech OGs, he’s been around for 8 years or so (cheers to him!), although his activity dropped significantly after his babygirl was born. Despite the short notice (I texted him on a bus to Pilsen just a few hours ahead), @jjprac and his daughter stopped by Raven to accompany me before heading downtown for a festival of afterschool programs. We met years ago in Prague, on one of the Czech meetings, so it was an extremely pleasant chat after these years. Thanks again for making time for me, mate, much appreciated!

For that, I didn’t inquire with the staff about the brewery this time, so in a nutshell: Raven has been around for 10 years, making it one of the oldest "new" microbreweries—by that, I mean it wasn’t resurrected from ruins like many others you’ve read about on my blog. A group of locals simply wanted to brew beer they’d love to drink and open a nice, industria-style bar to hang out. As they’ve also been eager to experiment with beer styles and ingredients, they soon earned recognition within the Czech Republic, and even at beer festivals abroad. Definitely a place to visit if you’re in Pilsen! Even if you’re not accompanied by one of the local Hiveans, you can still enjoy the great brews.

Beers

Lemon Iced Tea; Tea Pale Ale
Did I mention the Raven gang loves to experiment? Well, here comes the tip from the waiter to prove me right. A pale ale infused with green tea and lemon juice, brewed with Citra hops. How does it sound? Perhaps worse than it actually tastes, depending on how adventurous a drinker you are. While Citra takes center stage in the aroma, presenting its bitterness and citric tones, the sip is heavily iced tea–like. The beer feels almost non-alcoholic (while the alcohol content is rather low anyway, just 3.5%). A great summer drink for those who seek flavors beyond the typical beery taste. A great brew indeed!

Oktoberfest; Märzen
As Oktoberfest, arguably the most famous beer festival in the world, officially started a week ago, I simply had to try the local Märzen out – this beer is brewed in March, as the name suggests, and then ages for about half a dozen months in barrels to be tapped around these days. This one was just perfect, with balanced caramely and mild herbal tones, and gingerbread showing up at the finish. Hats off to the brewer! Not sure if Raven dared to export this Märzen to Bavaria, but they definitely should give it a try (perhaps after rebranding it to Der Rabe to penetrate the German market more smoothly).

Chill Factor; Cold-hopped IPA
A robust West Coast–style IPA, with rice and corn in the malt. Just overwhelming, while not extremely bitter, yet still full of various tastes. I only assume there are hop varieties I am not quite familiar with. Raisins and citric notes dominate the aroma; ripe citrus and red orange come through in the sip. Rather dry, with pleasantly growing bitterness that lingers on at the end. But still, it’s not as ass-kicking as some IPAs with IBU over 70. A rich, proper beer that feels almost like a dish. Not for everyone, but connoisseurs should appreciate this experiment.

It’s been a while since I last challenged @steevc to participate in #BeerSaturday, so here it comes again!