Late 19th century. The absinthe-soaked French are living their fin de siècle in pompous style, the U.S. Gilded Age is producing a tycoon a day, and the Czechs are gathering the courage to kick the Habsburgs' royal jewels. Except, of course, that we have never really been into kicking against the pricks—not since the Hussites scared the wits out of all Europe. So instead, in 1891, we held a local World's Fair, giving it an ambitiously grand title: the General Land Centennial Exhibition.
It wasn’t much of a global event—even Prague’s German minority boycotted it—but it did spur the city council to build its venues from scratch, and some have since become iconic Prague landmarks. Among these are the Petřín Lookout Tower and the Industrial Palace with the adjected Křižík's light fountain. And that’s where I am taking you for #beersaturday sampling.
Yet I prefer my beer well-earned, so let’s start with a walk around the exposition site. Sadly, the Industrial Palace was damaged by a fire in 2008 and left with a destroyed left wing. A dome stood for it temporarily, and the proper reconstruction only began two years ago. As you can see, it’s still far from finished.
Tour guides often claim the palace is an early Art Nouveau masterpiece, though it’s actually built in the Historicism style. The design combines Baroque elements with an iron framework, heavily inspired by the 1889 Paris Exposition venue. Baroque inspiration is evident at the Lapidarium of the National Museum in Prague, another building constructed for the 1891 event. Unlike the Industrial Palace, it wasn’t damaged by the fire but is also undergoing reconstruction.
Let’s pass around the construction site to reach Křižík's light fountain. Built by “Czech Edison” František Křižík, this complex fountain features 3,000 jets, some capable of propelling water up to 34 meters high. The most remarkable is the mechanism controlling the lights and colors, which makes the fountain an ideal stage for concerts or theater performances. I don’t have a photo of the fountain in action, so here’s an official one from a rehersal.
Via Magická Fontána
Well, that's how it looks off duty.
Are you getting thirsty yet? Hang on—we are almost there. We only need to walk past the burnt wing. It seems to consist of a lot more concrete and far less iron than the original.
You might be wondering why I’m blending the two topics. Well, first of all, I’m Czech, and for me, everything connects to beer in one way or another. Second, Kolkovna Brewery shares the same architectural style as the Industrial Palace—on a much smaller and cozier scale.
Its interior also reflects the atmosphere of the exposition grounds, and with a bit of imagination, you might feel as though you’re stepping back into the 1890s. The stove isn’t just for show—they light it on cold winter nights.
Like any proper brewery, Kolkovna offers a tasting set featuring all four regular beers and one seasonal special. Unfortunately, the last batch of APA didn’t turn out well, so it wasn’t on tap—these things happen with craft breweries. At least it’s one of the regular brews, so I’ll have a chance to sample it next time.
Pumpkin Ale
When it comes to coffee, it’s black only—I’m not one for experimenting with pumpkin spice lattes or anything similar. However, a good Pumpkin Ale is something I can’t pass up, especially since this style is still quite rare here. This beer opens with roasted malts, setting the stage for slightly acidic pumpkin notes. The mild acidity lingers, blending with hints of bitter spiciness. An interesting one!
Dark Lager 13°
This beer was remarkably creamy, almost reminiscent of a Stout. The roasted malt aroma was subtle but balanced by Rubin hops bitterness emerging in the middle of each sip. The finish was creamy again, with lingering sweet tones. For many Czechs, this would be a typical Christmas brew.
Pilsner Lager 12°
Even though the brewery is a bit off the typical tourist routes, this Pilsner is a model example of what I call a “touristy beer.” Don’t get me wrong—it’s far from the industrial brews; it’s a proper craft beer. But the master brewer seems to play it safe. There’s not much to elaborate on—a very drinkable, typical Bohemian lager with a decent range of flavors. It’s nothing particularly memorable, but I’d recommend it over the likes of Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen, Budvar, and the rest anytime.
Hefe Weizen 11°
Last but not least, my favorite brew of the day—I even ordered an extra glass. Clove dominates the aroma, followed by orange peel at the start. The banana notes are muted, letting the bread yeast take center stage in the middle of each sip, finishing with a slightly citrusy aftertaste. Oh yes, I’m definitely into wheat beers!
This is my #BeerSaturday challenge post, and I would like to invite 
