In this edition of Stein Compares and Contrasts we have two pale lagers that both use the moniker “Czech style” on their packaging. Sojourn Fermentory’s Together is a “Czech-style Pale Lager” and Commonwealth Brewing Company labels One Night in Prague “Czech Style Premium Pale Lager.” One Night in Prague is our DC Beer beer of the month at Arlington’s Brew Shop.
In appearance Commonwealth’s One Night in Prague is a bit clearer. We drink with our eyes before our mouths; Together also has a bit more color than One Night in Prague, which comes across more as a German-style Pils at least in its paler color. One wonderful tidbit is the Czech-style pale lager from Sojourn is a collaboration with LaTreace Harris, the Beery Godmother.
Sojourn’s Together has a nice golden glow to it, though not as crystal in clarity as something like the Czech Pilsner Urquell. The color of Together is a bit richer with more depth of color than a Pils like Germany’s Bitburger. Observing a deeper golden color than the pale straw typically found in a Northern German Pils, still, One Night in Prague is more straw and pale golden than deep gold.
There’s a difference between how the two beers taste. Together strikes me as the overall fruitier of the two beers, whereas One Night in Prague comes down on the cleaner, more neutral malty/hoppy side. This is not to say One Night in Prague is particularly hoppy, though a perceived Czech Saaz hop character is detectable. To my palate, it is reminiscent of Troegs’ Sunshine Pils. Both Sojourn and Commonwealth pale lagers are more restrained than some of the more rustic beers I’ve sampled throughout the Czech Republic. I’m assuming neither is open fermented, though I’ve had some open fermented beers in Prague, as well as the beers Dovetail is brewing in Chicago, and both give off a wonderful depth which I chalk up to open fermentation. Sojourn’s Together strikes me as more full bodied, whereas Commonwealth’s One Night in Prague comes across to me as more medium bodied.
The difference between these two beers may not necessarily be obvious to folks who don’t often compare and contrast. But I would strongly recommend you to do so, and try these two beers side by side.
Commonwealth is localish in that they have a taproom in Fairfax. Their headquarters are in Virginia Beach, where they started in 2015. Sojourn is a bit closer to us, in DC, though not quite an hour from Commonwealth. If you get yourself down to Norfolk, you could do both in an afternoon, but please reach out first as we’d love to go with you!
For closer access to the beers in package, Commonwealth retails for $13.99 at Brew Shop whereas a four pack of Sojourn and Beery Godmother’s pale lager will run you $14.99. Na zdravi as the Pražák say. Pražák, technically a Czech surname, the word colloquially means ‘Praguer’ and both my father and his parents were born in Prague. So whether you’re Pražák or have never stepped foot in the city of Prague, you can enjoy these beers locally.
