Karlsbad 1875. Marx draws a distinction between craft pilsner & big beer
In August 1875 Marx was in Karlsbad, for health reasons. It was and is a well-known spa town.
He wrote to Engels on 21st August 1875 that on the previous day he had been to the Hopfenstock (Hop poles) which he noted was ‘renowned for its beer’. Marx claimed that he drank mineral water.
He became involved in a conversation with some locals about ‘an ever lasting bone of contention.. the respective merits of the Old Pilsner, Burgerbrau and commercialised beer’. Marx reports that one drinker claimed that he could drink 15 glasses of the craft pilsner and be ‘none the worse’ while another said he drank either.
Marx records that the claim for Bohemia made by the regulars was that ‘its pilsner beer goes to every country in the world; Salzmann, the big brewer, has got a branch in Paris now, and it goes to America as well. A pity we cant also supply them with our big natural rock cellars for they’re part and parcel of Pilsner.
Clearly the journey from craft to big beer is not a new one.
Karlsbad, now Karlovy Vary is in the Czech Republic but I’m no historian of its brewing heritage. Comments welcome!
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