Beer Routes: Old Europe Vs Emerging Africa

Unlike wine, beer is not so commonly considered aowner, Jakub Flekovsky) you can drink a strong and
key to explore a city or a country. Nevertheless beerdark beer called Flekovske, quite different than the
has a very long history and is drunk and producedtypical Czech pilsener. Prague, magic, fascinating city
nearly everywhere in the world, even more thanat the heart of Europe, home of impressive gothic,
wine. And if you think of an area where beer hasbaroque and liberty architectures, has a very special
become part of drink tradition, probably you will firstrelation with beer. When Bill Clinton visited Prague, in
think of Central Europe and cities like London, Dublin,1994, Vlacav Havel, to let him taste the local colour,
Brussels, Munich, Copenhagen, Prague and what else.took him to U Zlateho tygra (The golden tiger). This
All of these cities and their surroundings offer morewas the pub preferred by Czech famous writer
or less touristic routes where an ideal beer travellerBohumil Hrabal and you can find there a set of artists
can discover ancient breweries and taste a wideand intellectuals. Surely, our ideal beer traveller will not
range of different beers. For example, you may wantmiss U Kalicha (The chalice), made famous by the
to experience the atmosphere of one of thousandspopular novel The Good Soldier Svejk, by Hasek. And
London pubs, may be on Friday when manyfinally he will cross the fields of hops of Czech
Londoners use to go out for drink, although satisticscountryside to go to Pilsen, where pilsener beer was
say that pub tradition is sadly declining. This pub mightfirst produced at mid-nineteenth century by Pilsner
be, at random, the elegant Salisbury at CoventUrquell brewery. 
Garden, magnificent demonstration of the VictorianSated of classic old Europe, the beer traveller may
age, with its extravagant interior Art Nouveau full ofalso look for some stronger emotion. Probably he
mirrors and lights, or perhaps the historical Georgedoesn't suspect he can find a well designed beer
Inn, near the London Bridge, the oldest pub inroute at the subtropical climate of a spectacular
London, rebuilt in 1676 after the tremendous fire ofprovince of South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal Tourism
1666. Here the beer traveller is really spoiled forAuthority has recently launched a beer route, on the
choice. But he should also know that a true Englishexample of the existing wine routes of Western
beer lover may have travelled for miles and miles andCape. The route start in Durban, the most important
drunk pints and pints to be proud to say how hecity in the province and one of the largest in
visited all the England pubs of his preferred brand.South-Africa, and provides stops at nine small
This could also be a challenging way to discoverbreweries, other than the big South African Brewers
England countryside. Probably, before landing in(SAB), the third largest beer company in the world. A
London, an ideal beer traveller has already drunkvisit to the Congella Brewery gives insight into the
Guinness spilled at the small Dawson Lounge in Dublin.production of sorghum beer, the traditional African
As he well knows, and every local brewer is ready tobeer made from wheat and maize. At Nottingham
ensure, beer comes at its best near the place whereRoad Brewery, the traveller will be delighted by some
it's produced. of the best beers in the region, all made using pure
The most ancient - and someone says most famousspring water. And passing through the Midlands
– European brewerie is U Fleku, in Prague. ThisMeander he will admire unforgettable sceneries, as
historical brewerie is reported to be founded in 1499,Howick Falls, and have a chance to merge into the
just a few years after the discovery of America!local art and culture. Here, another adventure may
Prague citizens consider and preserve it as a nationalstart.
monument. At U Fleku (from the name of its former