After 200 days the time has come to taste the seasonal specialty BUD B: STRONG made from fresh hops

Selected restaurants around the Czech Republic are going to start drawing the seasonal specialty BUD B:STRONG from 15th March. The limited edition of this special beer with the gravity of 16 and the ABV of 7,5% was brewed on 26th August 2015 during the evening using fresh cones of Saaz “poloraný červeňák” hops. The hops was grown on the “Splav“ hop field, which belongs to the famous locality of “Golden Stream Valley” in the cadastre of the hop- growing municipality of Blšany. ARIX, joint-stock company supplied the hops, numbering amongst the leading Czech hop sellers and traders. Fresh hop cones rank amongst the rarest brewing ingredients, as they go bad extremely quickly, therefore must be processed on the same day they were picked. For that reason they are only used rarely in brewing. The limited beer edition made from fresh hops has been regularly brewed in Budweiser Budvar Brewery since August 2012.

The hopping of the seasonal specialty took place by hand-adding solely fresh hop cones directly into the mashing pot in three lots. No dried hops were used. “Fresh hops supply the beer with a higher amount of aromatic substances and a rather more distinct, yet fine bitterness compared to dried hops. Since we have used the hops from the same hop field for the fourth year, we can clearly see the differences in harvests caused by different weather conditions in the particular year in the final product. In each batch of our seasonal beer we can thus explore fine nuances especially in the aroma, character and intensity of the bitterness intensity,” explains Budweiser Budvar’s brewing master Adam Brož, Ph.D., MBA., adding: “Compared to last year, this year’s edition has a more delicate bitterness, while the typical harmonious aroma of Saaz poloraný červeňák is fully developed in the flavour profile.”

Yeast in its best condition is added to the matured unfiltered beer BUD B: STRONG just before racking. “The brewer's yeast underlines the taste experience of this beer with its very delicate yeasty flavour and a typical aroma as well as a distinctive haze. The limited edition will only be supplied to selected restaurants that are sure to store, treat and tap the beer duly as well as taking care of the taps’ perfect sanitation,” concludes Adam Brož. Unfiltered beer is in fact very susceptible to contamination. Since yeasts settle in the tap system, the tap must be daily flushed with water and cleaned thoroughly once a week with an alkaline agent. The yeasts also tend to settle in the bottom of the barrel, which may cause different turbidity during tapping. Therefore, the barrel should be stored neck down, being only turned up shortly before tapping. Storing at a higher temperature can also significantly impair the taste. BUD B: STRONG must be stored at a temperature of 8-12 °C.

Seasonal beer from fresh hops will be sold in Italy, Germany, Russia, Greece, the Slovak Republic and the United Kingdom this year as well. It will be supplied to restaurants solely in 20-litre barrels and served in 0.3 litre goblets.

Since the extraordinary flavour qualities of BUD B: STRONG can be rightly savoured only by experienced, responsible and more mature consumers, the brewery’s supporting communication points out that BUD B: STRONG is unsuitable for anyone under 21 years of age. At the same time, young people are warned of the higher alcohol content.

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