Czechvar -- B.B.N.P. (Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic)
The (in)famous beer that can't use its own name here in the U.S.,* Czechvar is everything that Pilsner Urquell wants to be -- rich yet refreshing, smooth but tangy, "yellow" but flavorful. Granted, Pilsner Urquell is a good beer, but it's often a little flat and skunky -- maybe SAB Miller needs to start brewing it in Milwaukee.
Characteristics: Warm, clear golden color, light body, crisp opening with a slighty toasted middle and hoppy, tangy finish.
Minor Gripes: None, except that it's a yellow lager -- meaning it can really only hold my attention in the summer.
Bottom Line: This is perhaps the finest traditional lager I've ever had -- with the disclaimer that I haven't been to central Europe to sample any at the source.
Rating: 7.25 / 10
(*) Short, very unofficial version -- The town "Budejovice" in Czech is known as "Budweis" in German. There's some little beer from St. Louis, MO that thinks it is using the same (or similar) recipe and made a claim to the same name. The silly midwesterners established trademark rights in the name in the US, while the Czechs have had more success on a "geographic designation of origin" claim in Europe.
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