Ambiente's beer lovers share their favourite pints
Lucie Janečková, head bartender at Ambiente and lecturer at PIVO Institute
Although Lucie is devoted to the iconic Czech lager Pilsner, she also enjoys fruity sours in the summer. Which breweries are among her favourites?
"For me, definitely anything from Obora, or I'll occasionally reach for Antoš sour because it's fresh, and I like that in the summer."
Tereza Pospíšilová, General Manager of Pult
The general manager of the Pult beer bar, on the other hand, is dedicated to various beer styles. At Pult, you'll find six lagers on tap, carefully selected by the tasting board, plus a few specials. So it's no wonder that even in her spare time, Terka's beer tastes are colourful:
"For my thirst, I'll definitely have a fair lager, but at the moment the winner for me is Únětická 12. It's perfectly drinkable with just the right amount of bitterness. But if I want to enjoy something and just sip lightly, maybe even on a special occasion, it'll be a perfectly balanced Tears of St. Laurent by Wild Creatures."
The name of the spontaneously fermented beer Tears of Saint Laurent is derived from the variety of St. Laurent grapes that brewer Jitka lets ferment in the beer, and also from Perseids, which are said to be called Tears of St. Laurent in Moravia.
Ivona Nedúchalová, bartender at Lokál Dlouhááá
Ivona Nedúchalová, finalist in the competition Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender and one of the great bartenders at Lokal Dlouhááá, is clear:
"I can't get enough of Pilsner Urquell, the beer from Pilsen. I like it because it's the best lager in the world and also because it has been brewed in the same way for more than 180 years. I prefer to enjoy Prazdroj where it is served properly treated and, most importantly, sufficiently chilled, like at Ambiente. In my opinion, it suits every meal and occasion. Personally, I also like to have it with dessert because it brings out both the sweet taste of the dessert and the bitter taste of the beer."
Magdalena Hoppová, Pult bartender
Like her colleague Tereza, bartender Magda Hoppová is well versed in classic and wilder beer styles. But when she's free from work, she likes to quench her thirst and her appetite with Czech lager.
Specifically Desítka from Matuška brewery. "It's quite complex beer, a ten-step, so it's a good choice in the summer. I enjoy the drinkability and fullness while still having a nice higher bitterness, which is what I generally look for in beers. It's always a little harder to hit and brew a really good ten and here I think it's been done. It goes with everything."
Extra Tip: Barbara Kytkova, editor of Food and Joy & beer lover
Beer lovers can be found everywhere at Ambiente, including marketing. A great beer tourist is editor Barbara Kytková, who prefers to travel by off-road bicycle in search of her favourite drink. After a climb up a hill is the biggest reward for her:
"For several years now, I've never missed a beer from the brewery Zichovec. I recommend them wherever I go, whether it's a fragrant NEIPU Juicy Lucy, or my favourite Mosaic twelve American Pale Ale. I like the same style from Pottstein Brewery, which also excels in non-alcoholic beers - I love their Krystus which you can cool down with at the Dva kohouti pub.
From my home town of Břevnov, I often go for a draft eight at the monastery granary, or an honest Pilsner at Kuchyně.
And finally, a secret tip: Strawberry porter from the German brewery Bergquell-Brauerei Löbau. It is brewed in Kocourov in Varnsdorf and is definitely worth a trip. You have to try it!"
