Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

392: Zichovec Nods to Czech Tradition While Exploring Modern Craft Beer

Dec 20, 2024

In this discussion, Adam Huml, a marketing and design expert at Zichovec, shares insights into the innovative world of Czech craft brewing. He explores the brewery's daring approach, blending traditional methods with modern styles like hazy IPAs and pastry stouts. Adam delves into the use of experimental Czech hops, the impact of decoction techniques, and the significance of local ingredients. He also highlights the art of balancing historical brewing traditions with contemporary flavors, shedding light on how Zichovec is redefining Czech beer.

01:09:03

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Episode guests

Adam Huml

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Zikovets Brewery creatively blends traditional Czech lager techniques with modern craft beer styles, showcasing their innovative approach to brewing.

Utilizing experimental Czech hops, Zikovets distinguishes its beers while supporting sustainable practices and collaborating with local hop research institutions.

The brewery emphasizes a data-driven brewing process to ensure quality and consistency, including sensory evaluation for both core and experimental beers.

Deep dives

Overview of Zikovets Brewery

Zikovets Brewery began in 2012 as a small restaurant-based brewery amidst the rising Czech craft beer scene. Initially focusing on traditional lagers, the brewery quickly expanded its offerings in response to growing demand, especially for diverse craft styles in Prague. The shift happened when the original village location became too small, prompting a move to a larger industrial city. Currently, Zikovets produces around 13,000 hectoliters per year, splitting their production equally between lagers and progressive craft beers.

Intro

3min

The Journey of a Restaurant Brewery and Its Craft Beer Evolution

2min

From Tradition to Modern Craft: The Journey of Czech Brewing

2min

Crafting Innovation: The Czech Brewery Journey

6min

Czech Hops: Tradition Meets Innovation

9min

Brewing Traditions and Innovations

19min

Innovating with Fresh Hop Lagers: A Seasonal Brewing Tradition

4min

Harnessing Fresh Hops: Brewing Innovations

20min

Local Flavors and Craft Collaborations

4min

It’s easy for New World brewers to lump Czech beer into the “historical” category, but—while many prominent brewers there focus intently on the lagers we all love—a growing contingent are also tackling evolving styles such as hazy IPA, fruited sour, pastry stout, and more—and they’re often doing it in their own ways.

In Louny, a historic town about 40 miles northwest of Prague, Pivovar Zichovec is just such a brewery. Lager is their biggest category, but they’re not locked solely into traditional styles, and they’ve been exploring just how far they can go in making trendier styles such as hazy IPA, but using Czech ingredients and processes.

In this episode, Zichovec’s Martin Urban, Adam Huml, and Honzik Petru discuss:

brewing with experimental Czech hops
evaluating the impact of decoctions through triangle testing
adding barley flakes to mitigate higher modification in lager grain bills
favorite newer Saaz varieties for lager
brewing fresh-hopped Czech pale lager
why direct-fired kettles matter for decoction
hazy IPA with modern Czech varieties such as Ceres and Saturn
using enzymes to unlock thiols
brewing with help

And more, including this take from Huml: “When you’re doing a triple decoction and you don’t have [a direct-fired kettle], you’re just burning gas.”

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