Primátor Czech beers in the US?

[evanrail]

I just posted about beers from Primátor on the Beer Culture blog: Primátor is one of the most interesting Czech breweries, and they recently picked up some prizes at the World Beer Awards: best dark lager, best strong lager and best lager overall (for Primátor Exklusiv, a 7% ABV golden strong lager brewed at 16° Plato). They also got second place for their wheat beer, one of the first such brews to return to the Czech lands. You can read more about them here:

http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/08/19/primator-exklusiv-best-in-the-world/

http://www.praguemonitor.com/beer/2008/01/23/nachods-pivovar-primator/

I wanted to ask: are beers from Primátor ever seen in the US? Anywhere? If so, what kind of reputation do they have?

[Mill Rat]

I have yet to see their product in Illinois, but thanks for your post, your recommendation will give me confidence in buying it if I do see it. Brouczech (sp?) disappointed me as we discussed a while back, and I'd otherwise be cautious about buying another "mystery" Czech lager.

[steveh]

I can't recall for sure, but I believe I had the chance to try the Primator through the Beer Hunter Beer of the Month selections a few years ago. IIRC (if it really was the same beer) that we received a light and dark style that were both very good.

S.

[evanrail]

It's good to hear that Primátor was picked for Beer of the Month selections; it would be great if they could get even wider distributorship. Primátor's polotmavý ("half-dark," meaning amber) lager is quite possibly the best in the country, and with their Exklusiv strong lager winning the WBA, maybe someone'll pick them up soon.

Bernard is another Czech brewery that deserves more recognition. Herold, too, but they just got sold, so it remains to be seen if they'll change under new ownership. Vyškov makes what must be the hoppiest strong lager in the country (called "Jubiler") and many of the beers from Regent are just crackingly good.

[steveh]

Looked for it in the best local store in the area last night, no luck. Did see Zatec, that was good the last time I tried it.

S.