Questions & Answers

How long have gas mixtures been used on the Czech market?

Since approximately 2000 in mass.

Was the gas mixture invented at Plzensky Prazdroj or is it a general solution?

Plzensky Prazdroj initiated this solution in the Czech Republic. This gas mixture had already been used in Great Britain before.

How can a beer drinker tell what technology is used in the pub?

If you feel that the quality of draught beer in your pub fluctuates, it is better to ask the pub keeper or directly inform the brewery supplying beer to the pub. The clients of Plzensky Prazdroj who meet the necessary criteria receive quality certificates that are usually displayed in a place of honour.

In my experience, beer drawn using technical gases causes flatulence, air compressors are better...

This effect is usually caused by the beer tapping technique. When using the recommended mixture of technical gas, there is no such effect.

Why were air compressors sufficient in the past

There were two thirds fewer pubs than now and therefore the volume of tapped beer was also double or triple what it is today. The negative effects of air compressors didn’t have time to affect the quality of the beer. As it was in the past so it is today: there has been a national standard in place (from 1968) regulating the conditions for compressor use. Today, nobody really monitors the compliance with this standard. Pubs often use unsatisfactory equipment. Aiming at a stable top quality beer, Plzensky Prazdroj recommends using a mixture of technical gases.

What is the situation in Europe?

Air compressors are used only in our country and in Slovakia. In other European countries, technical gases are the standard.

What will happen with air compressors after accession to the EU. Will the EU prohibit the use of compressors?

The emphasis placed on compliance with hygienic standards might have an impact on the technologies used. However, today we cannot say whether air compressors will be directly prohibited or not. We believe that our study will improve the quality of beer in the Czech Republic.

Who conducted the research and when was it done?

Plzensky Prazdroj’s Technical Service in co-operation with the State Health Institute. The main measurements were taken at the beginning of this year. However, we used data obtained from beer quality monitoring for the last five years.

How many pubs were included in the research?

The most comprehensive sample database contained 2,500 measurements (for the last five years). We then monitored the individual areas of research based on a selected sample of pubs.

Did you monitor pubs throughout the entire market or only those tapping Plzensky Prazdroj?

We used measurements that Plzensky Prazdroj’s Technical Service conducted among its clients on a regular basis. This database covers restaurants tapping the Prazdroj brands exclusively but also pubs where Pilsner beer is sold together with its competitors.

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