Budweiser Budvar B:Original | Budějovický Budvar, n.p.
Brewed by:
Budějovický Budvar, n.p.
Czech Republic
budvar.cz
Style: Bohemian Pilsener
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Exported to the US as Czechvar.
Czechvar is the special name of the world famous beer produced by renowned brewery in České Budějovice, Czech Republic. Benefitting from over 700 years of brewing experience of the South Bohemian region, Czechvar is the golden original, acknowledged by many connoisseurs as one the best lagers in the world.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 1,612 | Reviews: 830
Reviews by jesseejames:
4.44/5 rDev +24%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is a true Pilsner beer second only to Pilsner Urquell tasted at the brewery. I really enjoy drinking this beer when I can. Too Bad it is not reeally available in America because of the trademark problem. American Budweiser has ruined the reputation of this brewery and its wonderful beer. I am looking forward to the time I can visit Budvar and taste this beer at the brewery. This beer is truely one of the best beers in its class in the world. When in Germany or the Czech Republic be sure to try one of these and you too will be a fan.
543 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is a true Pilsner beer second only to Pilsner Urquell tasted at the brewery. I really enjoy drinking this beer when I can. Too Bad it is not reeally available in America because of the trademark problem. American Budweiser has ruined the reputation of this brewery and its wonderful beer. I am looking forward to the time I can visit Budvar and taste this beer at the brewery. This beer is truely one of the best beers in its class in the world. When in Germany or the Czech Republic be sure to try one of these and you too will be a fan.
543 characters
More User Reviews:
4/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer was so good that a certain American Brewer stole its name. It is light, clean and crisp with light grain flavors. Straw gold, effervescent with a crisp hop accent.
173 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer was so good that a certain American Brewer stole its name. It is light, clean and crisp with light grain flavors. Straw gold, effervescent with a crisp hop accent.
173 characters
4/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Czechvar is the American iteration of the original Budejovice/Budweiser Budvar. As per American import regulations it has been pasteurized, which affects the quality. In the Czech Republic, it is sold as Budvar.
It is a light, clear gold with an effervescent whit head that doesn't stick around too long. Flowery, fruity smells coupled with a grainy taste. Better than American mass market brands, but not as good as back in the homeland.
443 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Czechvar is the American iteration of the original Budejovice/Budweiser Budvar. As per American import regulations it has been pasteurized, which affects the quality. In the Czech Republic, it is sold as Budvar.
It is a light, clear gold with an effervescent whit head that doesn't stick around too long. Flowery, fruity smells coupled with a grainy taste. Better than American mass market brands, but not as good as back in the homeland.
443 characters
2.96/5 rDev -17.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
L:
-pours a clear golden with a medium-big,quickly dissipating,white head
-medium carbonation visible
S:
-floral,honey,grassy,lemon,spices
T:
-sweet honey malt,faint tartness,lemon,sulfur,spice,decent hop bitterniss
F:
-medium carbonation,light body
O:
Decent Pils,but too watery in the middle of the palate
307 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
L:
-pours a clear golden with a medium-big,quickly dissipating,white head
-medium carbonation visible
S:
-floral,honey,grassy,lemon,spices
T:
-sweet honey malt,faint tartness,lemon,sulfur,spice,decent hop bitterniss
F:
-medium carbonation,light body
O:
Decent Pils,but too watery in the middle of the palate
307 characters
3.02/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
had this and pilsner urquell in prague and I thought pilsner urquell was much better. this was a decent substitute though
121 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
had this and pilsner urquell in prague and I thought pilsner urquell was much better. this was a decent substitute though
121 characters
3.63/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sold in Sweden as “Budějovický Budvar B:Original”.
The colour is pale gold; the liquid is clear. The finger thick head (I have had several bottles of this one, all with surprisingly low head) is white and airy, it sinks down to a thin lid leaving no lacing.
The smell is floral and buttery with some white bread and a touch of marzipan.
The taste is smooth with passing notes of butter, fresh flowers, sourdough wheat bread and a touch of caramel cookies. Medium body. The aftertaste brings clean bitterness, tree sap, more bread and some fine butter. Dry floral notes in the finish.
The carbonation is fresh, the many bubbles are mid-sized and long-lived. The liquid is semi-smooth.
A well-crafted classic Czech pils with more focus on the hops than the malts. Very drinkable.
792 characters
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sold in Sweden as “Budějovický Budvar B:Original”.
The colour is pale gold; the liquid is clear. The finger thick head (I have had several bottles of this one, all with surprisingly low head) is white and airy, it sinks down to a thin lid leaving no lacing.
The smell is floral and buttery with some white bread and a touch of marzipan.
The taste is smooth with passing notes of butter, fresh flowers, sourdough wheat bread and a touch of caramel cookies. Medium body. The aftertaste brings clean bitterness, tree sap, more bread and some fine butter. Dry floral notes in the finish.
The carbonation is fresh, the many bubbles are mid-sized and long-lived. The liquid is semi-smooth.
A well-crafted classic Czech pils with more focus on the hops than the malts. Very drinkable.
792 characters
3.43/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
With a golden color, it has a very, very musty aroma, possibly due to the distance traveled from the Czech Republic and the pasteurization requirements for imports to the US, but the taste is fresh, crisp cereal malt with a carbonating sting of grassy hops. The hops may or may not fit well with the malt, but it also has a creamy aftertaste that is very enjoyable. Although this style isn’t my forte, this tastes like one of THE best pilsners around, especially when enjoyed in the country it came from. This is the original Budweiser, straight from České Budějovice in the Czech Republic.
595 characters
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
With a golden color, it has a very, very musty aroma, possibly due to the distance traveled from the Czech Republic and the pasteurization requirements for imports to the US, but the taste is fresh, crisp cereal malt with a carbonating sting of grassy hops. The hops may or may not fit well with the malt, but it also has a creamy aftertaste that is very enjoyable. Although this style isn’t my forte, this tastes like one of THE best pilsners around, especially when enjoyed in the country it came from. This is the original Budweiser, straight from České Budějovice in the Czech Republic.
595 characters
3.75/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Good hop presence (Saaz?) herbal, floral and piney somewhat. Crisp. Not sweet at all. A good every day beer. Perfect on a hot summer day while cooking
150 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Good hop presence (Saaz?) herbal, floral and piney somewhat. Crisp. Not sweet at all. A good every day beer. Perfect on a hot summer day while cooking
150 characters
3.58/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a becker a very light golden with a nice looking fluffy white head atop.Aromas were grainy and lightly toasted,not much hop presence.A sturdy fuller feel with toasted grain flavors and mild sweetness.A classic Czech lager with pretty much no frills but it's better than most if not all American macro wanna be Czech lagers out there.
345 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a becker a very light golden with a nice looking fluffy white head atop.Aromas were grainy and lightly toasted,not much hop presence.A sturdy fuller feel with toasted grain flavors and mild sweetness.A classic Czech lager with pretty much no frills but it's better than most if not all American macro wanna be Czech lagers out there.
345 characters
3.41/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance This one is a pretty yellow in color with a terrific head. It also has some nice, lively carbonation going on inside the glass.
Smell Oh, this is some rank corn. The grain is rough on the olfactory bulb. Theres a light presence of hops here but mostly its all grain.
Taste It tastes better than it smells. Its on the verge of being harsh but comes out with a soft landing. The grain is very distinctive at the taste.
Mouthfeel This is a bit bigger than light-bodied with very little carbonation and maybe a hint or two of dryness at the finish.
Drinkability This isnt bad. It is so difficult to find a good, widely-available Czech Pilsner that Ill give this a cautious recommendation.
732 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance This one is a pretty yellow in color with a terrific head. It also has some nice, lively carbonation going on inside the glass.
Smell Oh, this is some rank corn. The grain is rough on the olfactory bulb. Theres a light presence of hops here but mostly its all grain.
Taste It tastes better than it smells. Its on the verge of being harsh but comes out with a soft landing. The grain is very distinctive at the taste.
Mouthfeel This is a bit bigger than light-bodied with very little carbonation and maybe a hint or two of dryness at the finish.
Drinkability This isnt bad. It is so difficult to find a good, widely-available Czech Pilsner that Ill give this a cautious recommendation.
732 characters
4.22/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L- Mid-gold. pours with 1Cm head clearing to lacing.
S- I could smell this as I poured it even at arms length. It has a distinctive and good aroma, slightly toasty. I reckon I could ID this beer blind-folded
T- Gorgeous. It has a good medium body into some malts. The flavour is also distinctive; I'm saying that from the perspective of this being one of my top-5 favourite beers - I could drink this until the cows come home, it's that all-around good and 'sessionable'.
M- Dry on the finish, beautiful balance, it is a very well constructed beer.
O- A fantastic high quality all-rounder. A perfect summer beer. If I'm on a session I'll often start with one of these as it is quite subtle [if you have congestion or are a smoker you might miss out on the intricacies of this beer]. The only thing I'm left wondering is how I've managed to drink 100's of these, but it's only today I realised I've never reviewed it!
BB 28/06/29. %00ml bottle bought from Waitrose, London.
ps. The 'Beer info' in the headers is confusing, it refers to this beer as 'Czechvar'. That is what it is sold as in the US. Reason being Anheuser Busch took the Czech brewery to court to stop them them branding this as Budweiser within the US. (Ironic since it was a member of the Budvar brewery family who emigrated long ago to the US, and started brewing what has now ended up as US Budwesier!
Also, looking through a few pages of reviews below, it seems some people might be mistaking this for the US imposter and hence (obviously) down-rating it. Shame!
1,532 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L- Mid-gold. pours with 1Cm head clearing to lacing.
S- I could smell this as I poured it even at arms length. It has a distinctive and good aroma, slightly toasty. I reckon I could ID this beer blind-folded
T- Gorgeous. It has a good medium body into some malts. The flavour is also distinctive; I'm saying that from the perspective of this being one of my top-5 favourite beers - I could drink this until the cows come home, it's that all-around good and 'sessionable'.
M- Dry on the finish, beautiful balance, it is a very well constructed beer.
O- A fantastic high quality all-rounder. A perfect summer beer. If I'm on a session I'll often start with one of these as it is quite subtle [if you have congestion or are a smoker you might miss out on the intricacies of this beer]. The only thing I'm left wondering is how I've managed to drink 100's of these, but it's only today I realised I've never reviewed it!
BB 28/06/29. %00ml bottle bought from Waitrose, London.
ps. The 'Beer info' in the headers is confusing, it refers to this beer as 'Czechvar'. That is what it is sold as in the US. Reason being Anheuser Busch took the Czech brewery to court to stop them them branding this as Budweiser within the US. (Ironic since it was a member of the Budvar brewery family who emigrated long ago to the US, and started brewing what has now ended up as US Budwesier!
Also, looking through a few pages of reviews below, it seems some people might be mistaking this for the US imposter and hence (obviously) down-rating it. Shame!
1,532 characters
4.42/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
A most enjoyable brew and definantly my new Pils of choice. This bad boy poured a nice copper color with a decent white head that faded quickly and did not leave much lace. The smell was quite fruity and malty with hardley any hint of hops. The taste was very fresh and smoothe with a very light airy maltiness to it and a great light hop flavor to round it out. The beer was very drinkable and would be a excelent warm weather brew. Try this one for sure!
456 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
A most enjoyable brew and definantly my new Pils of choice. This bad boy poured a nice copper color with a decent white head that faded quickly and did not leave much lace. The smell was quite fruity and malty with hardley any hint of hops. The taste was very fresh and smoothe with a very light airy maltiness to it and a great light hop flavor to round it out. The beer was very drinkable and would be a excelent warm weather brew. Try this one for sure!
456 characters
3.01/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Ahh ... the so-called "original Budweiser" had on-tap at "Ranke 2" in Berlin. Served in it's own 0.5l branded mug. A clear, bright golden pils with a quick to fall thin white foam lace -- some stick and stay. Aroma was ultra-clean.
Light-bodied with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Flavour was an odd mix of bready malts and herbal hops. Thin flavours overall, but all I could think of was drinking liquid crackers.
Excited to see this beer on-tap, and although it was clean and refreshing and went well with my brat and luke-warm German potato salad ... I was disappointed overall. A beer that, in my opinion, doesn't live up to the mega-hype created by the beer community.
680 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Ahh ... the so-called "original Budweiser" had on-tap at "Ranke 2" in Berlin. Served in it's own 0.5l branded mug. A clear, bright golden pils with a quick to fall thin white foam lace -- some stick and stay. Aroma was ultra-clean.
Light-bodied with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Flavour was an odd mix of bready malts and herbal hops. Thin flavours overall, but all I could think of was drinking liquid crackers.
Excited to see this beer on-tap, and although it was clean and refreshing and went well with my brat and luke-warm German potato salad ... I was disappointed overall. A beer that, in my opinion, doesn't live up to the mega-hype created by the beer community.
680 characters
3.95/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a dark gold large head with a rich malt hop aroma that you usually associate with European lagers. The taste was a nice blend of malt and hop It reminded me of when I went to Europe and drank the wonderful German lagers and realized that this was the way beer was meant to taste. I prefer this to Urquell
311 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a dark gold large head with a rich malt hop aroma that you usually associate with European lagers. The taste was a nice blend of malt and hop It reminded me of when I went to Europe and drank the wonderful German lagers and realized that this was the way beer was meant to taste. I prefer this to Urquell
311 characters
3.97/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500 ml can with a freshness date on the bottom of the can, “Budweiser” on the can … lots of controversy.
Appearance: Fast foam in the glass, decent lace leftover and the clarity is fine with a shiny golden colour.
Smell: Slight grassy grain with a thick pale malt sweetness and hints of spicy floral hop.
Taste & Mouthfeel: A one way maltiness pulls in grassy and grain flavours all the way through, good crispness within the moderate body. Lemon zest spicy hop goes a touch herbal and stings the tongue slowly with bitterness. A doughy malt hints middle to end underneath the spicy hop. Dry finish and clean at that.
Notes: This is clearly a different beer compared to our Czechvar, if not ingredients than something in the packaging? I’d say it is better but not by much. A very clean and spicy pils.
840 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500 ml can with a freshness date on the bottom of the can, “Budweiser” on the can … lots of controversy.
Appearance: Fast foam in the glass, decent lace leftover and the clarity is fine with a shiny golden colour.
Smell: Slight grassy grain with a thick pale malt sweetness and hints of spicy floral hop.
Taste & Mouthfeel: A one way maltiness pulls in grassy and grain flavours all the way through, good crispness within the moderate body. Lemon zest spicy hop goes a touch herbal and stings the tongue slowly with bitterness. A doughy malt hints middle to end underneath the spicy hop. Dry finish and clean at that.
Notes: This is clearly a different beer compared to our Czechvar, if not ingredients than something in the packaging? I’d say it is better but not by much. A very clean and spicy pils.
840 characters
3.73/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz green bottle, as pictured. Pours a clear, radiant, goldenrod yellow body with a minimal, offwhite head that quickly drops into a lasting collar with some sparse, patch lace.
Aroma is subtle, with grassy and lemony ctrus noble hops. No euroskunk aromas in this one.
Mouthfeel is clean and crisp, well carbonated, and has a mild, white pepper hops zing.
Taste has grassy hops in the beginning, with slightly sweet bready malt. Some husky grain and lemony hops emerge midway. The finish is clean, dry, and slightly bitter.
Clean and crisp, very refreshing. Glad I bought a few of these. Tastes more like a good pils than a lager, but what's the difference anyway? A nice summer brew to quench your thirst with a flavorful and well balanced, European classic.
773 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz green bottle, as pictured. Pours a clear, radiant, goldenrod yellow body with a minimal, offwhite head that quickly drops into a lasting collar with some sparse, patch lace.
Aroma is subtle, with grassy and lemony ctrus noble hops. No euroskunk aromas in this one.
Mouthfeel is clean and crisp, well carbonated, and has a mild, white pepper hops zing.
Taste has grassy hops in the beginning, with slightly sweet bready malt. Some husky grain and lemony hops emerge midway. The finish is clean, dry, and slightly bitter.
Clean and crisp, very refreshing. Glad I bought a few of these. Tastes more like a good pils than a lager, but what's the difference anyway? A nice summer brew to quench your thirst with a flavorful and well balanced, European classic.
773 characters
3.23/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 ounce, brown bottle, comes with best before dating. Pours very light almond and clear. Nose is moderatly grassy with a wiff of cabbadge. White head, minimal lacing left on the glass. Light bodied, minimal flavor also observed. Grassy lager, not much going on here, need more hoppy bite/crispness. Middle of the road macro/lager.
331 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 ounce, brown bottle, comes with best before dating. Pours very light almond and clear. Nose is moderatly grassy with a wiff of cabbadge. White head, minimal lacing left on the glass. Light bodied, minimal flavor also observed. Grassy lager, not much going on here, need more hoppy bite/crispness. Middle of the road macro/lager.
331 characters
4.07/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a crisp golden with a quickly disappearing head. Nice frothy lacing inside the glass.
Smells of light hops and tastes malty and hoppy (if those are even really words). Very gentle mouthfeel and so easy to drink it almost drinks itself. What a lager should taste like.
276 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a crisp golden with a quickly disappearing head. Nice frothy lacing inside the glass.
Smells of light hops and tastes malty and hoppy (if those are even really words). Very gentle mouthfeel and so easy to drink it almost drinks itself. What a lager should taste like.
276 characters
4.57/5 rDev +27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
3.58/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On draught at Kickoff in Waterloo.
Poured into a Czechvar tulip glass. Deep golden, a thin white head that stuck around for most of the session. Some lacing.
Smell is typical for the style: light hops, grass and grain, a bit of sweetness at the back.
Taste is fairly good, crisp and refreshing. Hard to say a whole lot, other than a better-than-average pilsner flavour.
Mouthfeel is well carbonated, not too thin.
Still not my favorite, but a nice, easy drinking pilsner. Usually fairly cheap at the LCBO, I say go for it!
528 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On draught at Kickoff in Waterloo.
Poured into a Czechvar tulip glass. Deep golden, a thin white head that stuck around for most of the session. Some lacing.
Smell is typical for the style: light hops, grass and grain, a bit of sweetness at the back.
Taste is fairly good, crisp and refreshing. Hard to say a whole lot, other than a better-than-average pilsner flavour.
Mouthfeel is well carbonated, not too thin.
Still not my favorite, but a nice, easy drinking pilsner. Usually fairly cheap at the LCBO, I say go for it!
528 characters
Budweiser Budvar B:Original from Budějovický Budvar, n.p.
Beer rating:
3.58 out of
5 with
1,612 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.