A fresh Czech Pilsner, like Pilsner Urquell or Budweiser, is a stunning example of the level of refinement achievable in lager beer. Perfectly clean, crisp, and sparkling, these beers provide a venue to show off the two main flavor components of beer - malt and hops - with emphasis definitely on the hops. There are no traces of yeastiness, and fermentation by-products are kept to a minimum. The slow, cool fermentations, and even slower and cooler lagering produces a full flavored smoothness which can not be realized by any other means.
The pale lagers are always brilliantly clear and have a rich golden color. At 4 degrees Lovibond, they are a shade deeper in color than their Western European counterparts. They are typically served in tall, half-liter glasses, crowned with a white frothy head which extends well above the lip of the glass. The aroma, like the flavor, is purely that of malt and hops.
The prized hops of the Zatec region (Saaz in German) of Bohemia are renown the world over for their noble qualities, and Czech brewers use them liberally. The flavor profile is decidedly toward the hop end of the spectrum. The extremely soft waters of Plzen lend themselves to copious hopping rates, allowing a clean bitterness to come through in the finished product. Hop aroma is achieved exclusively by late kettle additions; dry hopping is not employed.
The full bodied character of these 12 degree Balling beers derives from pale Moravian and Bohemian malts. Some of the malt sugars are carmelized during the triple decoction mash and lengthy boil, which deepens the color slightly and adds depth to the beers' character. The only fermentation by-product present in perceptible amounts is diacetyl. The concentration is low enough that it is not distinguishable as a buttery note, but instead it gives the beer a fuller palate. Even though the malt charge is quite substantial, its role is essentially that of providing a foundation for the expression of hops, the dominant element of Czech beers.
While the beers of the Czech Republic may not be as diverse as those of other brewing nations, the beers that are produced there are classics. They are the most imitated beers in the world, but most imitators pale by comparison. There are no finer Pilsners to be found anywhere.