Beverage Testing Institute: Pilsner Urquell earns highest taste rating of top selling imports in the USA

Beverage Testing Institute, a prestigious American institute producing independent expert reviews of beer, wine and spirits for consumers, has given the taste qualities of Pilsner Urquell a record score of 93 points, the highest rating ever given to a pilsner style larger. Czech lager Pilsner Urquell has thus beaten all famous imported beer brands.
 
The testing had a form of an expert panel consisting of experienced BTI panelists. „Under our well-established and industry-respected testing system, Pilsner Urquell was found to be the best tasting beer among the 10 sampled by our testing group,“ said Jerald O’Kennard, director of the Beverage Testing Institute’s tasting programmes and World Beer Championships.

„Pilsner Urquell is a classic representation of the pilsner lager style. From a flavour standpoint, Pilsner Urquell displayed richness and complexity in both flavour and body that the other beers could not compete with. Ninety-three points remains the highest score ever given to a pilsner. These results demonstrate and confirm that Pilsner Urquell is a taste and quality benchmark for the imported lager category,“ explained O’Kennard.

Beverage Testing Institute reviewed a total of 10 lagers each of which was submitted to three different qualitative evaluations. Samples of all brands have been purchased at a Chicago retail outlet, chilled at an optimal temperature and served blind in uniform glasses. In all three assessments Pilsner Urquell was the leading beer.

„We are very happy about the review. A year ago we launched a project in Plzensky Prazdroj aimed at improving the taste stability of Pilsner Urquell, especially in respect of being able to withstand the rigours of transportation to distant markets. The rating of American beer experts confirms that we were successful“ said Mike Short, the CEO of Plzensky Prazdroj.

Among other things the project involved the construction of the new packaging hall with the top modern technology for filtration and bottling, which ensures that pilsner beer made in a traditional way according to original recipes will reach even the farthest places in excellent shape.

Pilsner Urquell is quite popular among the US consumers. In 2006, 160,000 hl of Pilsner Urquell was sold in the USA. Only in New York about 500 restaurants offer Pilsner Urquell on tap, including Michael Jordan Restaurant or the club in the legendary Carnegie Hall.

Experts of the Beverage Testing Institute describe Pilsner Urquell as follows:

• A rich golden amber colour;
• Rich aromas of fresh baguette, caramelized nuts, citrus marmelade and earthy hops;
• A full body of honeyed nut toast and tart citrus flavours;
• Remarkably rich in flavour and body and thoroughly refreshing.

Other world famous brands that have been reviewed by the panel and left behind by Pilsner Urquell can be found at:
http://beeradvocate.com/news/stories_read/f-965566
http://www.brewblog.com/brew/2007/03/pilsner_urquell.html
http://www.thebarleyblog.com/2007/pilsner-urquell-tops-import-lagers-in-taste-test/

Beverage Testing Institute was founded in 1981 with the objective of producing fair and impartial wine reviews for consumers. Today, their reviews have grown to include beer and spirits. BTI´s buying guides have appeared in the Wine Enthusiast, Restaurant Hospitality, The New Yorker Magazine, Wine & Spirits, International Wine Review, Epicurlos.com, and many others. Since 1994 BTI has produced the buying guide for All About Beer, the leading US beer magazine for consumers.

For more information:
Vladimir Jurina, spokesperson of Plzensky Prazdroj, Phone: 257 287 209, 724 617 219
Radim Kovács, AMI Communications, Phone: 234 124 112, 724 012 617

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