Bad Flash; Good Beer

It’s been a while since my last exploration of a craft microbrewery. Fingers crossed for an opportunity in Austria next week – we’re about to hike in the Alps. As my recent Italian adventure revealed, even a picturesque mountain village with a few hundred inhabitants can still have such a venue. Anyway, Bad Flash, formerly a nomad brewery, has recently acquired its own place in the suburbs of Prague, in the Kobylisy district to be precise. I met a friend there earlier this week – he asked me to suggest a place we hadn’t visited yet.

Od mé poslední návštěvy nějakého minipivovaru uteklo hodně vody. A protože @krakonos se k tomu nemá, vyrazil jsem tentokrát tak trochu náhodou do jeho revíru. Bad Flash býval létající pivovar, ale teď už má kromě dvou pivních barů i vlastní prostory. Na kraji Prahy, v Kobylisích.

Bad Flash isn’t exactly unknown to either of us – the brewery licenses two beer bars downtown, and we’ve been to the one in Karlín several times. Besides, during its nomad days, Bad Flash showcased its brews at various farmers' markets and beer festivals across Prague, selling seasonal specialties from their iconic black Beer Truck – and there are plenty of such events, as Praguers love tasty food paired with craft beer. Another pairing Czechs generally love is sports and beer. However strange it may seem to more health-conscious sports enthusiasts, we indeed consider a beer or two (or even five) the best electrolyte drink ever, and it's common to see entire teams downing several pints after training.

V karlínském baru občas posedím, provozuje ho jeden sympatický Švýcar. A Bad Flash samozřejmě znám z různých foodie festivalů i farmářských trhů - a ty se v Praze konají prakticky každý den. Ale tady jsem byl prvně, a tak trochu náhodou. Známý černý Beer Truck vyměnil pivovar za budovu v areálu Sokola Kobylisy, takže místní sportovci mají po tréninku kde posedět.

With that in mind, it shouldn’t be surprising where the brewery’s brand-new taproom is located – in a sports complex, nestled between tennis courts and a football pitch of a third-tier club. The courts get air domes for winter, but the only sign of that now is a revolving door, which looks hilariously out of place without the rest of the structure.

Being quite far from the touristy buzz, you’d be hard-pressed to run into anyone but locals there. Consider paying it a visit if you’re in Prague and want to avoid beer tourist traps – the staff speak English (as some of the regulars don’t speak Czech) and are far more knowledgeable about beer than the average waiter downtown, so you can discuss your tastes and opinions.

Místo je dost daleko od všech pražských turistických lákadel na to, abyste tu narazili na nějakého cizince. Tedy kromě těch, kteří v okolí žijí. Zaslechl jsem australský přízvuk, a taky velmi čistou mezinárodní angličtinu bez výraznějšího akcentu, což je obvyklé pro lidi ze Skandinávie nebo Portugalska. Každopádně obsluha mluví skvělou angličtinou, a navíc pivu opravdu rozumí, takže bych případnému pivomilnému turistovi rozhodně doporučil zavítat i do těchto končin.

The Beers

Prostě ležák 12° - Bohemian Lager

Surprisingly, this was the first time I’ve sampled the most typical Czech beer style from Bad Flash – no wonder it’s dubbed Simply Lager, Prostě ležák. I appreciate the different approach compared to most microbreweries, letting the malts excel in the scent and opening sip. The earthy hop tones are not left behind, though; they enter the stage and dominate in the aftertaste, yet the bitterness is noticeably lower than in most craft lagers I’ve sampled in recent years. Being fond of Saaz hops bitterness, I did not really fancy this one, but I liked the approach, as I said.

American Wheat – American Pale Wheat Ale

I guess you know I am really into wheat beers, and I couldn’t resist sampling this experimental brew, at least for European breweries. The combination of citric American hops with wheat malt was very refreshing on that hot day. The beer opens with cilantro scents blended with orange peel. The sip comes with a hint of banana and red oranges, while the pronounced bitterness dominates the aftertaste. All flavors work together, and its low alcohol content makes this brew a perfect summer drink.

Cascade 12° - American Pale Ale

So much for experimenting; here’s a proper single-hopped APA that showcases Cascade flavors from the first scent to the last bit of aftertaste. Soft floral tones take the lead, accompanied by a bit of zesty grapefruit that lingers on in the aftertaste. Malty tones are rather decent, letting the hops excel in this one. It’s not an outstanding beer, but still a proper one.

Fanatic 14° - New England India Pale Ale

NEIPAs are experiencing growing popularity here in the Czech Republic, and I feel like I am seeing hops like Sabro everywhere. This particular one accents the tropical flavors, with smooth coconut and pineapple taking the stage from beginning to end. I like bitter brews like common IPAs are, and NEIPAs are not really my pint of choice, so I abstain from evaluating this one. Besides, it was the fourth one on a hot day.

This is #BeerSaturday challenge post, and I would like to invite @storiesoferne to participate. I am sure there are brews he would find refreshing :) Write a post in any language about beer with at least 3 pictures. It does not have to be published on Saturday. Check the rules published by @detlev ;)

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