Budvar (Original Czech Lager)
Budějovický Budvar, n.p.

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From:
Budějovický Budvar, n.p.
 
Czechia
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
Ranked #238
ABV:
5%
Score:
82
Ranked #25,305
Avg:
3.6 | pDev: 15.28%
Reviews:
874
Ratings:
1,738
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 12, 2024
Added:
Jun 22, 2001
Wants:
  77
Gots:
  287
Exported to the US as Czechvar.

Brewed using whole-cone, Saaz hops from Žatec, pristine water from an Ice Age aquifer, Moravian malting barley and our heritage lager yeast, this classic rich and full-flavoured lager sets the gold standard for Czech brewing across the world. The tradition of cold-conditioning in our brewery cellars for seven times longer than most other beers creates a pale lager with a sweet, deep golden body and an aromatic, hoppy foam. Bold in taste, yet refreshing and perfectly balanced.
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Ratings by Scoats:
Photo of Scoats
Reviewed by Scoats from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sometimes the world works in strange ways and I wind up tasting Czechvar and AB Budweiser practically side by side. Usually I would avoid both these beers though for different reasons.

I was at friend's house where we were meeting up to head down to the Eagles play-off game. I was offered a beer with canned Bud being the only choice; rather than being a snob I happily accepted. The review on that will be in the appropraite place.

The very next morning I was at another friend's house where he asked me if I ever tried Czechvar, replying negatively, he gave me a warm bottle to take with me. My reason for not ever buying this beer, either personally or professionally, is due to the green bottle. Why risk getting a skunky beer? The bottle I had was in good conditon with not even a hint of skunkiness.

Budwar aka Czechvar reminded me a lot of Victory Prima Pils, especially the ending tastes, which was definitely very hoppy but in a wet rather than dry way.

This is a very nice beer. It seems very much the epitomy of the style and rightly deserves to be the standard that other pilsners are measured against. If I was in the Czech Republic, I'd drink this all the time. But since I'm in the USA, I'll buy one of many equally good, locally produced pilsners.
Jan 14, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.68 by Mardinae from Texas

Mar 12, 2024
Photo of BurtonRed
Reviewed by BurtonRed from England

4.05/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Head dissipates very quickly, designed for the "Czech pour" of having 33-50% foam, in a glass from bottle looks unimpressive, taste is what matters though and it's a perfect crisp pilsner balancing bready maltiness with classic saaz hop bitterness. Urquell has it beaten for me however.
Mar 02, 2024
Photo of JRWTaiwan
Reviewed by JRWTaiwan from Taiwan

3.15/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Bought a four pack of cans on discount at the local grocery store here in Taiwan. I feel it is quite smooth, with a very smooth drinkable quality. Not anything amazing, but just a clean refreshing taste that doesn’t require anything special.
Feb 07, 2024
 
Rated: 3.85 by Kgharv from Sweden

Jan 16, 2024
 
Rated: 3.52 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jan 01, 2024
Photo of Mark-Leggett
Rated by Mark-Leggett from Missouri

3.82/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle. Golden with a white head. Smells of honey, hops and a slight skunk hint. Crisp, light and refreshing. Solid
Dec 23, 2023
Photo of Nath91
Reviewed by Nath91 from Australia

3.71/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Never had Budvar before, so when I found a single bottle of it at my local Bottlo, was keen to give it a try. I'm not sure if this is the 'Original Budweiser' or what the story behind this beer is, but it seems to be popular.

Purchased at Glenfield Bottleshop. Best before 1/8/24. Odd to find a beer in date from this bottleshop sometimes.

Vessel: Glass 330ml green bottle. Drunk out of my Coopers Tulip. I do appreciate the slightly dated, almost retro label.

Appearance: a lovely golden Appearance, soapy white head that's disappating leaving a ring of froth. Lots of champagne-esque bubbles racing to the top. Looks like a lager.

Smell: A beautiful bouquet of grassy floral hops, a slight graininess to the beer. The bitterness is slightly metallic but not in an unpleasant way. Lightly toasted malts and a hint of bread.

Taste: A very forward malty sweetness balances nicely with the floral hops, which finishes slight spicy. Bitterness is low but it does pop it's head out for a brief moment. Carbonation is sharp around the mouth.

Feel: Not watery or thin, it does hold some body. Nicely carbonated but not excessively so like some Euro lagers or Australian adjunct lagers. Drinkability and sessionability is extremely high.

Overall: A very enjoyable and well made lager beer. Good flavours, high drinkability, better than 95% of Australian lagers on the market and would choose this over those.

#️⃣6️⃣9️⃣
Nov 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.54 by ajdemma from New York

Nov 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.46 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

Nov 09, 2023
Photo of BillyNoonan
Reviewed by BillyNoonan from Ireland

3.45/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
From bottle, nice clear, amber gold pour. Decent carbonation, though slightly thin feel. Nice, malty and hoppy balance, a little tart and slight spice in the finish. It's a more than serviceable lager, though not sure it's particularly great value for money .
Nov 04, 2023
Photo of Kubishark
Reviewed by Kubishark from Maryland

3.73/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I haven't had this on tap yet, just from a skunky green bottle years ago in America and recently from a can in Germany. The German can was probably significantly fresher and therefore tasted significantly better.
Oct 26, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by JoshuaPerraton from Ireland

Oct 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.08 by JustLikeMyDad from Michigan

Oct 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Tylergodin from Massachusetts

Sep 14, 2023
Photo of KleinSchwein
Reviewed by KleinSchwein

4.13/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From notes.
Pours dark yellow , an inch think white head and light carbonation. The smell is mildly grassy and sweet and the taste follows with the addition of a good maltiness and refreshing bitterness. The mouthfeel is of good viscosity and bubbly. Overall, good , refreshing, crisp, tasty.
Aug 10, 2023
Photo of jjamadorphd
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

3.57/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I saw that Budweiser has it's greasy, little monkey fingers in this brewery, only after I picked this one up, and only after I cracked open the bottle, drank it, and came here for the review.

I liked the clear look to the lager - very clean looking but it did not have any head even though it was carbonated to a sufficient level. The smell is about what you would expect for a euro lager, but it had a malty twinge to it. Mouthfeel was, as I previously mentioned, carbonated just about right, and the taste was just as malty as I noted in my nose.

A decent lager, one I would not hesitate to reach for in the future...
Jul 31, 2023
 
Rated: 3.25 by DannyBaldoni from Canada (QC)

Jul 22, 2023
Photo of Manta200
Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky

3.61/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Gift from Daniel H. in Germany
Jul 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by TrojanRB from Texas

Jul 06, 2023
Budvar (Original Czech Lager) from Budějovický Budvar, n.p.
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 1738 ratings