Czech Beer

The head of the Prague brewers' association says it's pointless to ask which Czech beer is best. It's like asking whether gentlemen prefer blondes, brunettes or redheads. Basically, it's down to individual preference - and they're all good anyway.

To help you sort out the major brands, we offer the following unbiased recommendations (all taste-tested by Time Out writers and editors).

The beers are divided into lighter beers (around 4% alcohol content) and stronger beers (more than 5% alcohol). We list our top five from each category. The degree, by the way, refers to the original gravity, which indicates the density of malt and sugars.

Light beers (10 degree)

Gambrinus
The surprising favourite among the Time Out staff. Lively, with a clean finish. Leaves a hint of an aftertaste, which is avoidable if you carry on drinking. From the makers of Pilsner Urquell.

Bernard
Earthy, flavourful and unique. From a small brewery that eschews modern methods. Tough to find on tap, but worth looking for.

Branik
Creamy and light, with a slight bitterness to the finish. The quality on tap can vary as the brewery is little-changed from communist times.

Velkopopovicky Kozel
Tongue-numbingly strong in both its light and heavier varieties. The beer for people who love the taste of beer. Relatively easy to find in pubs. Kozel means 'goat' (there's one on the label).

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A light beer that can hold its own with stronger brews. Amber coloured and slightly sour. Goes well with pretzels.

Heavier beers (12 degree)
Samson Premium An all-round great beer. Difficult to find on tap, but widely available in bottles. Hoppy and light - what you'd expect from a classic pilsner.

Staropramen
Owned by the folks who churn out Bass, but still a good beer. Surprisingly fragrant and fruity- even possibly overpowering. Made by Prague's biggest brewery and found in pubs all over town.

Bernard
Most people prefer the light beer, but still a great choice. Light, smooth and a little cloudy.

Gambrinus
This beer outsells all others in the Czech Republic. A solid choice, with a strong bite and a weak finish.

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A perennial blue-ribbon at best beer contests, this Moravian label is still a little hard to find in Prague. Crisp with a strong bite. Best drunk very cold.