umm, your front page has turned me off food for life?

I hope you enjoy your remaining days...

Sir Gawain in Site Talk

WSJ: Czech beer tour

There's an article in today's WSJ about beer tourism in the Czech Republic, highlighting several small and microbreweries, notably Stramberk in North Moravia, one of my personal favorites.

The article, by Stan Sesser, is in the Weekend & Leisure section. (And yes, I did have something to do with it.)

Sir Gawain in Beer

Help me break free from Pilsner Urquell

You know Josh, the patriot in me (I'm Czech and from a family of beer FANATICS) doesn't like what you are saying, and frankly it seems to me that you don't 'get' pilsner. It is NOT "one of the least engaging varieties of beer" - that is only your opinion. I suspect that your palate simply prefers other kinds of beer and that's fine, but don't dismiss an entire style of beer based on your limited understanding and/or experience. Perhaps you have never had a good Czech (or German, whatever) pilsner - unpasteurized, fresh, at the source. And Czech pilsner being good is NOT just a matter of being better than the yellow water that Anheuser Busch sells, but then again I suspect you haven't had much experience with truly superb European pilsners, probably knowing just the bottled imported (old... improperly stored... skunked) or American stuff.

The OP wanted recommendations for another PILSNER (and he's not getting "tired" of Urquell - reread the post) but you gave him anything but, with one exception.

Personally, my favorite beers are Belgian trappist ales (Orval is my absolute favorite) and I really, really, really can't abide Guinness, but I don't go around telling people who like it that it's a boring beer (though to me, it sure is - might as well be drinking molasses) and they really need to move on to Chimay. 'Coz I realize that I just don't 'get' Guinness.

There should be an interesting article on Czech beers in the WSJ sometime in July, in case you get it. Written from a drinker's point of view.

Sir Gawain in Beer

mascarpone?

I've had the real-life version of this, and it's FANTASTIC.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/31/dining/312srex.html?ex=1151812800&en=0c35c8f7250c9123&ei=5070

Sir Gawain in Home Cooking

help me overcome by piephobia

Hear, hear! I agree 100% on Crisco evilness, trans fats or no trans fats, and use Plugrá too. The rest of the advice is sound too.

For a slightly richer crust that's easier to handle but still plenty flaky, I add an egg yolk. Oh and I add a tablespoon or so of sugar, as well. (Bittman says so...)

Sir Gawain in Home Cooking

Help me break free from Pilsner Urquell

For staying within the genre - and I am by no means a huge Pilsner fan, not my favorite style - I think you might want to try Czechvar first of all (from a good importer; it's slightly sweeter and lighter but definitely a pilsner), BrouCzech (brewed in Nova Paka and available in the US), Herold as others have said, and the Slovak beer, Zlaty bazant (although it was better pre-Heineken acquisition).

The problem with Pilsner Urquell in the US is that it skunks quickly. But if you're in the LA or NYC area, try to get yourself invited to Czech Consulate events and you'll have good fresh Czech beer - and for free! :-D

If you are EVER in the Czech Republic, the absolute best beer - yes, and that's the objective truth - comes from a little microbrewery in Moravia in a town called Stramberk. The beer, called Trubac/Troobacz (comes in light and dark) isn't bottled and is unpasteurized. THE BEST, and still a secret even to most Czechs.

Sir Gawain in Beer

Prague - What a Great Place in Vinorady

Now I noticed that I had indeed previously mentioned Aromi here. So I take the credit for first mention, hee hee!

Sir Gawain in International

Help me break free from Pilsner Urquell

Stella being better than Pilsner Urquell? Surely you must be joking.

Stella is the Bud of European beers.

Sir Gawain in Beer

Help me break free from Pilsner Urquell

Orval is my favorite beer in the world but is very sensitive to storage, as well as really expensive. From US beers, I love hennepin.

Sir Gawain in Beer