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8/17/2016

Czech Style Pilsner

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Perhaps no other beer is as iconically linked to its region of origin as the original pilsner beer, born in 1842 in Plzen, part of the current Czech Republic. The story goes that the locals were so excited by this tasty new golden beer that they forgot to trademark the name. Besides the slew of oh-so-insipid light lagers technically called pilsners, many examples are brewed throughout Germany and Austria.
 
Czech-style pilsners are noticeably distinct from German pilsners. The Czech versions are somewhat darker in color and fuller bodied. They are less bitter and typically more complex, with layers of spicy, floral, and grassy notes.
 
Czech and German pilsners appeared around the same time and both benefited from advanced kilning techniques pioneered in England. But Czech pilsners grew out of what was a regional emergency. Beer quality and consistency were notoriously unreliable, and the citizens of Plzen finally said, enough is enough. They created a state-of-the-art new brewery, including the new “English” kilns. From the brewery came a luscious golden beer with a beautiful white head. The locals quaffed it down and pronounced it most excellent.
 
Until then, most Czech beers were darker ales brewed with top-fermenting yeast strains. The new Pilsners were brewed with clean Bavarian-style lager yeast strains and lightly kilned Bohemian barley malt. They were roasted a bit more than German pilsner malts and so were darker and richer, with a hint of caramelization, and produced beers with greater body.
 
Besides the distinct malt used, Czech Pilsners are marked by two other important factors. Unilke their German counterparts, which are made from rather hard water, they are brewed using very soft sandstone filtered water. And they are hopped with Saaz, a delightful Czech variety with spicy, floral, and herbaceous characteristics.
 
At the Civil Life, we started by boiling the water for some time, driving off excessive minerality and softening it. The base malt is Bohemian Pilsner malt. Saaz hops are used for each addition. The resulting beer is a beautiful deep golden color with a round, bready malt character and good body. At a mere 35 IBUs, the beer is not especially bitter, though it is pleasantly crisp. Distinctive floral, spicy, and herbal hop notes come through. Some taste peppercorn, some hints of rosemary or lavender, or even an earthy tarragon-like note.
 
Drinking our delicious Czech Pilsner is like taking a trip to nineteenth century Bohemia. Come down and get a pint while it’s on tap. And as always, ask for it or any other Civil Life beer wherever fine ales and lagers are served.

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    The Civil Blog has returned.  It is predominantly authored by Civil Life Barman, Dr. Patrick Hurley, who can be found tending to our bar patrons on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  He is also responsible for tending to our draft lines, which is recognized as one of our most important tasks. Special guest writers will appear from time to time. We hope reading this blog will give you much insight about the Civil Life and most importantly help you understand a bit more about all of us that work here and the beers we put our hearts into.  

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Hours :
Due to COVID19 our Pub will remain closed until further notice.  We are now selling direct out of our online store at https://civil-life-online.square.site/ Until then, please look for our beer at St. Louis retailers and grocery.   If you have any further questions please use the email link below.  Thank you. 

Pickups are Fridays and Saturdays 2 to 6  & Sundays from 2 to 5 pm.  Orders will be only taken on line and will be paid prior to pick up.  

We appreciate your support. 
                                    Be Civil.    

NO PHONE NUMBER.  
  • Due to our small inside pub space we currently do not feel we could be safe to open for our staff and customers.  We currently are hoping to get our patios re-modeled during this shutdown and are hoping for an outdoor only opening in late September or early October. Hopefully.
  • Until then OUR PUB IS SADLY CLOSED FOR THE TIME BEING DUE TO COVID19.   WE WILL RETURN AND PROSPER.

PLEASE ALSO LOOK FOR OUR BEER AT LOCAL RETAILERS!
​
  •  Please access our online store by clicking the link above 
  • ​PLEASE ALSO LOOK FOR OUR BEER AT LOCAL RETAILERS
The Civil Life Brewing Co. 3714 Holt Ave. St. Louis, Mo 63116, USA, Planet Earth 
  • BEER TO GO
  • Civil Blog
  • About us
    • Contact us
    • Locating Us!
    • EMAIL LIST
    • Social Media Feeds
    • OUR LOGOS
    • Q & A
    • Who Are We?
    • The Civil Solar Panels
    • Employment
  • On Line Store