Special Czech 7 pack - Pivní Galerie

This 7 pack brings the diversity of Czech beer, it is a weird number for a pack... I must say I am more used to packs with even numbers (6, 10, 20...).

The beers in the picture are, from left to right, Démon (5,2%), Rychtár (6,5%), Protivínský Granát (4,6%), Jihlanský Grand (8,0%), Janácek Comenius (6,0%), Zeloský Zacharíás (6,0%) and Práchenská Perla (6,0%).

This seven-pack was acquired in Prague, in a very unusual bar. Even though we got to the bar following the guide book's directions, the place is not very touristy, mainly because it doesn't have a fixed opening time.

One should always check the website beforehand to be sure of finding the doors opened, which usually does not happen on weekends. The bar has a huge variety of Czech beer (and also imported beer) and very nice wall art. The owner is a very helpull and nice person. He sat by the table and had a few beers with us, exchanging beer culture and stories untill the doors closed. Right before leaving, he still allowed me almost half an hour to look around the shop outside the bar for some beer I didn't have. That's when I got the seven-pack.

The name of the bar is Galerie Pivní, located at U Pruhonu 9, Prague. In this post, instead of the producer's link, I'll promote the bar's website, which might prove a lot more usefull if you ever go to Prague!

Link to the bar: www.pivnigalerie.cz

Cristal and Bucanero/Cubanero Fuerte

These bottles have (as most bottles in this blog) a peculiar story behind them.

The one at the left, labeled 'Cubanero Fuerte' was acquired in Germany.

About one year later, my sister Renata went with her husband Alexandre to Cuba, and brought me the two beers shown in the picture to the right. At first I thought the only new one would be the 'Cristal', but when I searched my catalogue for 'Bucanero Fuerte', no results were found.

That's when I realized the sutile exchange of the two first consonants in the label, and started searching the web for an explanation.

Cuba has only four self-produced brands of beer, all by the same brewery (Cerveceria Bucanero) and 'Cubanero' is not in the products list of the brewery's website, although is pointed in several other beer websites and virtual stores as a cuban beer produced by Cerveceria Bucanero.

All (including the lable and the alcoholic graduation of 5,4% in both beers) points to the fact that those two bottles contain the same beer, and I am led to believe that the name 'Cubanero' was chosen for exporting while 'Bucanero' was kept for the consumers of the communist island only.

Sad and last thing to be said in this post, is that the regular cuban citizen is offered only a minimal monthly ratio of this beer (something like a six-pack) and are not allowed to purchase more. At the same time, this beer is exported worldwide. It wouldn't be so sad if this would happen only to non-essential products, like beer.

Links to the producer/advertiser:
http://www.cuba-lounge.com/#!/content/products/show/2228038/beer
http://www.cerveceriabucanero.com/english.php?id=8

Ayinger - Six Pack

This six-pack includes six different kinds of beer, from the left to the right: Albairisch Dunkel (Old bavarian dark), Ur-Weisse, Kellerbier (Cellar beer), Helles (Clear), Jahrhundertbier (Centenary beer) and Bräu-Weisse.

The Ayinger brewery is located some 25km south to Munich, Germany. It's an internationally awarded brewery, receiving gold and silver prizes almost every year for at least one of its beers.

Although its located very close to Munich, it's out of the city limits, and therefore cannot take part of the Oktoberfest. As several other good breweries located slightly out of the borders of Munich (such as Erdinger, Weihenstephaner and Kloster Andechs), Ayinger has to promote its own beer festivals along the year.

Those festivals are not so famous and touristy, and tend to conserve a good deal of the old traditional ways.

For this six pack I thank Tai Asano, who heard about my collection through his daughter and made a valuable contribution towards its expansion.

Link to the producer: http://www.ayinger.de/?pid=262