I love when I see articles about Prague in The New York Times! Today's article is about, what else, beer!
The 4th annual Czech Beer Festival to be exact. The festival begins on May 12th and ends on May 28th...that's a lot of beer!
The article from The Times is below, but for more information please visit
The Czech Beer Festival is Prague’s answer to Oktoberfest.
A celebratory moment from last year’s Czech Beer Festival in Prague
Thousands are expected to attend this 17-day drinking frenzy, which kicks off at the city’s expansive exhibition center (Beranovych 667) under three large-scale tents on May 12. Now in its fourth installment, the festival is a showcase of some of the very best Czech beer (and cuisine) on tap. This year’s menu boasts 80 beverage choices from a wide selection of large and small regional breweries.
“This is the biggest beer festival in our country,” said Jan Hubner, the event director. “We are expecting 180,000 visitors, 50 percent of them from abroad.”
Admission is free. In fact, regular currency will be of little value here. Instead, visitors will need to stock up on the festival’s own currency, the “tolar,” which can be bought from any of the traditional costumed wait staff. One tolar (44 koruna, or about $2.60) will get you a pint of pivo (beer), while a liter mug will cost two tolars. The festival runs daily, from noon to midnight.
The event has become such a hit that Mr. Hubner plans to host Czech beer festivals in Berlin, Frankfurt and Moscow over the summer. And he’s already eying New York and Chicago for next year.
