A good time in Prague

While in Prague, it is a good guess that I sooner or later turn up at Zlý Časy. The great beer bar at Čestmírova street near the Náměstí Bratří Synků tram stop is a must for me, and I like having the possibility of drinking some of the draught beers from the 24 available taps. Many of them are from regional Czech breweries, which otherwise would be very difficult for a foreigner to find.

On this visit I ventured into Czech ales. First out was Jubiler Mild Stout. The beer was black, had a mediums sized head and no carbonation. I felt coffee aromas, and the beer tasted of burnt malts and coffee before a watery finish. This beer would be a fine session beer. but I found it average compared to for instance the excellent Czech stout from the Primátor brewery.

I then tasted Matuška Raptor IPA. This paleish beer had a medium sized head and nearly no carbonation. In the nose I felt grapefruit with a touch of orange. I felt citrus with a touch of peach in the mouth before a partly bitter finish. This was lovely!

I stayed on for a few more beers without taking notes. That was very enjoyable!

Back at the draught beer desert

I have told several times on this blog what I do not like about Oslo's airport Gardermoen. Beerwise it is a draught beer desert. Most beers available on tap are pale lagers with some Guinness and Kilkenny here and there. I find that boring and bad for tourists. If you go to Norway's main airport, you should at least find some Norwegian craft beers. But you will not, neither from tap nor from bottle.

During my last visit at Gardermoen I went through both the domestic and international terminal to see if there was something that would interest me before my flight. I found some bottled beers from Brooklyn brewery, but that was about it when it comes to what I consider interesting beers.

But that was before I visited Aquavit Bar in the international terminal. For some reason Aquavit Bar sells Frydenlund Bayer. The Bavarian styled beer is one of my favourite macro brewery beers in Norway, and I was delighted to have a 0.6 litre glass of it before I had to go to the gate.

As always Frydenlund Bayer was a treat. I enjoyed the burnt notes and the caramel touch. It was a fine beer to have before leaving Norway.

A touch of black beer

If you leave the tram at Olaf Ryes plass square in Oslo, there is just a short walk to Grünerløkka Brygghus. No, it is still not a proper brewpub, but it has several interesting beers on tap.

I started with a glass of the house beer, Kjell Pop Single Hop. This nice India Pale Ale brewed by Nøgne Ø was a good way to start the visit. I then looked at the beer menu and ended up ordering Løkka Svarthumle. This was another house beer. This time we talk about a Black IPA brewed by the Norwegian Kinn brewery of Florø.

I have said it before in discussions on the internet that I hate that term. Read it, please: Black India Pale Ale. You can not have a black beer that is pale. It is impossible! So any brewer reading this: Use another term! You can not sell liquid ice cubes, can you?

But I digress. Løkka Svarthumle was a black beer with a medium sized head and barely any carbonation. In the nose there was coffee and hops. The beer tasted of coffee and some grapefruit before a finish with assertive coffee. I liked this beer, and I went on to have another glass of it.

Grünerløkka Brygghus is one of the pubs a beer interested visitor to Oslo should check out. The atmosphere is fine, and there is a good draught beer selection where the house beers are the icing on the cake.