PILSNER URQUELL - A True Legend

    I arrived at number 10 Nguyen Bieu at noon on a sunny day and, as usual, ordered my favorite grilled chilly sturgeon. As I sat there contemplating and enjoying my meal, I noticed a familiar face which I quickly realized belonged to a regular visitor of this restaurant. The man looked up, his eyes caught my own, and a few moments later, I found him standing before my table offering me a drink. I immediately recognized that the beer in his hand was the famous Pilsner Urquell.
    Although I have known this legendary Czech lager for a long time, it was not until the talk with Mr. Hoang Thanh Chuong, the Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Czech Republic and a familiar stranger, that I finally learned about the tale behind this brand. Mr. Chuong commented, “Drinking this beer is a delightful experience. The Czech people count beer not by the number of glasses, but by the number of meters.” According to him, in the Czech Republic, beer plays a very important role, not far from that of food and water. It is no surprise that the people there refer to this premium drink as “liquid bread”. 
    Just as the name suggests, Pilsner Urquell carries with it an amazing history, one that not everyone knows. A brewing master of his time, Joseph Groll, realizing that the magical city of Pilsen is blessed with crystal clear water and supreme hops and barleys, began to make use of this perfect selection. Using his unique artisanal craftsmanship, Groll soon gave rise to a new line of fine brew. The superior quality of this golden beer was confirmed when the Bohemian King who, after the first taste, swore never to drink another beer except the very original Pilsner Urquell again. Today, the legend lives on; with its own Czech’s spirit, Pilsner Urquell has become one of the world’s most prestige lagers.
    The story of this great drink does not end here, however. Pilsner Urquell, besides its distinguished history and taste also makes a wonderful medicine. The high level of alkaline in Pilsner Urquell has made it an ideal remedy for various digestive problems including dyspepsia. Responding to the beer’s medical use, Mr. Chuong noted, “In fact, when I was hospitalized for stomach bleeding, my doctors recommended I add drinking Pilsner Urquell to my daily diet as part of the recovering process. It’s the only alkaline beer in the world!”
    The idea of Original restaurants was created as a way to celebrate the greatness of this unique lager. A competition to find the best architectural design was held soon after and Jiri Hanzlik’s design was chosen as the winner. The first Pilsner Urquell Original Restaurant was built and opened in Praha, the capital of Czech Republic, in 2000. As its popularity grew over the years, the Original restaurants have expanded to other countries such as Germany, Russia, Switzerland, and the Ukraine, with the most recent being opened in Hanoi, Vietnam in late 2011, the first of its kind in Asia.
    An ancient European legend right at the heart of one of Asia’s greatest capital cities, Pilsner Urquell Original Restaurant Hanoi offers a unique opportunity for those who want to taste best of both worlds. Come and experience the legend for yourself!