Arches Brewing Head Brewer Justin Ramirez Talks Bohemian Riot

We spoke with Arches Brewing Head Brewer Justin Ramirez about Bohemian Riot.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
This beer was one that had been brewed for years in varying iterations since our co-founders were homebrewing. Over the years, it’s seen quite a few changes. I came up with the most recent version where we simplified it and created the current flavor profile.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
For this beer we partnered with Riverbend Malt house in Asheville, NC for the pilsner malt ,which makes up over 90% of the grain bill. We wanted a lightly kilned malt that was brimming with doughy, bready characteristics and this absolutely fit the bill. The result is a nice bread crust character to back up the Saazy notes in this beer.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The name comes from the long and turbulent history of pilsner in Bohemia. It points to the time when the people of town were outraged by the poor quality of beer being produced. The residents poured barrels of spoiled beer into the streets in a fury. In response the officials of the city took action – creating a government-run brewery to ensure quality and consistency – today known as Pilsner Urquell.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
Depends on which desert, and which island. But if it’s sunny and hot… then we think so.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Rich toasted bready character wrapped in spicy noble bliss.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
When our founders originally brewed this beer, it was basically a clone of Bitburger pils. Over the years it lost its way, becoming more Czech, then more German, then a bit of both with no real identity. To be honest, we didn’t really like it very much. After establishing the commercial brewery and developing the brand Bohemian Riot, we knew we had to adjust this recipe. Over the past two years, we’ve had to revamp the recipe, incorporating local malts and tuning the water profile and are proud of the way it’s turned out.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
This beer would go well with roast pork or chicken or a spicy food dish. My personal favorite is some hot wings or Nashville hot chicken.

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