The best beers of the year 2024 were selected in six categories of the competition. The announcement of the results of the tasting competition ČESKÉ PIVO 2024 took place at the Svatováclavské celebrations of Czech beer, a traditional gala evening for brewers and maltsters, held at the Prague Crossroads on September 24th. The Svatováclavské celebrations marked the start of Czech Beer Days with the tapping of the winning lager RADEGAST Ryze Hořká 12. This year's tasting competition saw a total of 26 breweries entering 101 competing samples.
In the single-round tasting competition, which has been organized since 2001 by the Czech Union of Breweries and Malt Houses in cooperation with the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting, the jury awarded the three best "medal-winning" beers in each category.
The winner of the main category of pale lager was RADEGAST Ryze Hořká 12, while PRIMÁTOR 11 Ležák triumphed among the eleven-degree lagers, and ZUBR Gold was declared the best pale draft beer by the experts.
The jury, composed of brewers, educators, and experts from the Hop Institute and the State Agricultural and Food Inspection, primarily evaluates the sensory properties of the beer, specifically appearance, color, taste, aroma, and texture. Under the supervision of a notary, they test samples in the categories: Pale Lager, 11% Pale Lager, Pale Draft Beer, Dark Beer, Non-Alcoholic Unflavored Beer, and Non-Alcoholic Flavored Beer.
“As part of the ČESKÉ PIVO tasting competition, we select the best from domestic production, which demonstrates the quality of Czech brewing. We celebrate the uniqueness and taste of Czech beer, which is an inseparable part of Czech beer culture and economy,” comments Tomáš Slunečko, Executive Director of the Czech Union of Breweries and Malt Houses.
The results of all categories can be found in the list below:
Pale Lagers
First place was awarded to RADEGAST Ryze Hořká 12 from the Radegast Brewery of Plzeňský Prazdroj, a.s., followed by Samson 12, a pale lager from Samson Brewery, s.r.o. in second place. Third place went to BRANÍK LEŽÁK from Staropramen Brewery, s.r.o., part of the Staropramen Brewery group.
11% Pale Lagers
The top spot among the eleven-degree beers was taken by PRIMÁTOR 11 Ležák from PRIMÁTOR, a.s. Second place went to Velkopopovický Kozel 11 from Velké Popovice Brewery of Plzeňský Prazdroj, a.s., which also ranked in this category last year. Third place belongs to RATAR from Radegast Brewery of Plzeňský Prazdroj, a.s.
Pale Draft Beers
The award for Best Pale Draft Beer went to ZUBR Gold from ZUBR Brewery of Pivovary CZ Group, a.s., which jumped from 3rd place last year to 1st this year. The second spot was taken by Rebel Brodská 10 from the Měšťanský Brewery in Havlíčkův Brod, a.s., and third place was secured by PRIMÁTOR Antonín from PRIMÁTOR Brewery, a.s.
Dark Beers
In the dark beer category, BERNARD ČERNÝ LEŽÁK 12 from the Family Brewery BERNARD won for the fourth time. Second place went to Kutnohorská Černá 12 from Kutná Hora Brewery of PIVOVAR CVIKOV, a.s., and third place was claimed by Postřižinské pivo Tmavý ležák from Nymburk Brewery, spol. s r.o.
Non-Alcoholic Unflavored Beers
Among non-alcoholic unflavored beers, BIRELL from Radegast Brewery of Plzeňský Prazdroj, a.s. took first place, moving up from last year's 2nd place. Second place went to Pito, a non-alcoholic beer from Samson Brewery, s.r.o. The third spot was filled by Rebel non-alcoholic from the Měšťanský Brewery in Havlíčkův Brod, a.s.
Non-Alcoholic Flavored Beers
This year, citrus flavors dominated the non-alcoholic flavored beers. The winner was Refresh Grapefruit from Protivín Brewery of Pivovary Lobkowicz Group, a.s., with PRIMÁTOR N – Non-Alcoholic Tropical Citrus Yuzu from PRIMÁTOR Brewery, a.s. in second place, and third place was held by Litovel Řezaný Citron from Litovel Brewery of Pivovary CZ Group, a.s., just like in previous years.
SOURCE: https://ceske-pivo.cz
