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Water, hops and yeast: Discover the magic of beer

Kaltenecker Láger 11°

Bottom-fermented beer brewed from different kinds of hops with the right bitterness, sparkle and fresh taste.

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Bernard Jantarový Cut Lager

Light, refreshing top-fermented beer with a strong undertone of hops and citrus.

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Pilsner Urquell light lager

Fine beer with a distinctly bitter and full flavor. Brewed from Saaz hops.

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Zlatý Bažant Hurban Legend

Pleasantly sweet with tones of roasted malt and caramel alongside balanced bitterness. Enjoy the magnificent aroma and flavor crowned with a creamy head.

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Topvar Light Beer 12%

Slovakia’s flagship beer made from a traditional recipe. Pleasantly bitter taste and a rich head are typical for Pilsner brewed beers.

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Miniature encyclopedia of beer: What’s the difference between a lager and draft beer?

Beer is one of the oldest and most widespread alcoholic beverages in the world. The word “beer” is derived from the word “drink” and means “the most broadest and ordinary drink”. Beer’s popularity in Slovakia is growing. Although nowhere near the neighboring Czech Republic, Slovaks still drink an average of 84 liters per person each year, ranking the country 11th in the world. Even as several types of beer are currently brewed around the world, the basic raw materials do not change. What’s needed is water, yeast, malt and hops.

Slovakia consumes draft beer and lager the most. Traditional bottom-fermented beers are called lagers. Lagers are where the sucrose percentage by weight reaches past eleven or twelve degrees Brix. Multi-brewed beer has a fuller flavor with a distinct taste of hops. Draft beers are lighter and more refreshing. Beers seven to ten degrees Brix carry the draft beer name. Beer degrees indicate the concentration of processed malt, especially sugars, in the wort (an intermediate product used to produce beer).

The number of mini-breweries in Slovakia has been rising.

In 2009, there were only seven small breweries in the country. Thanks to the efforts of the Association of Small Independent Breweries, the number increased in subsequent years and by 2018 had exceeded 70. Even today, customers in Slovakia can enjoy a great variety of beer flavors brewed in the classic way.

Did you know that…

That now you can choose from a wide variety of non-alcoholic beers?

As of now, many popular brands produce non-alcoholic beer. They include Birell, Cool Nealko, Zlatý Bažant, Staroprameň and many others. You can get refreshed with light or dark beers as well as with a variety of fruit-flavored beers, such as pomelo and grapefruit, raspberry and lime, or cucumber and lime.

How do you serve beer? The right way is cold

Let the beer first cool down. The ideal temperature for serving lagers and draft beer is 5–7 °C. With specialty beers, keep the temperature around 10–12 °C, while beers with a stronger flavor and aroma stand out better at higher temperatures. Rinse the glass with cold water before pouring the beer. You can get a good beer head by pouring a little beer at the bottom of the glass. Then pour the rest gently down the glass.

Classic lagers are best enjoyed in classic half-liter mugs, while the flavor and aroma of wheat beer stands out better in a tall slim glass. Specialty beers are poured into smaller glasses with a stem. This lets their deeper color stand out and all the flavors develop

The best-known ways for pouring beer from the tap

Hladinka (flat head)

The most common way to pour beer from the tap. It is poured until the glass is full and a thick creamy head has formed. Beer poured this way has a strong, sharp taste.

Mlieko (milk)

Ideal for people who love a sweet taste. The mug is full of a thick, creamy beer head.

Schnyt

A smaller amount of beer is poured with a thick layer creamy foam as a head. This is ideal for tasting or as a “quick” beer

Beer as a gift

Give the unmistakable, traditional taste of hops and malt.

Select from classic lagers, draft beers and specialties.

Something interesting to entertain friends and family

Do you know about the morbid fear of an empty half-liter mug? Technically, this is called cenosillicaphobia. But the cure’s just to refill it. Take a look at some of the other intriguing things about beer you never knew.