> Beyond the retailer/wholesaler, I think there is a serious issue with
> exporting Euro beer to the US. I have yet to have a Pilsner Urquell
> that was not slightly skunky. Has anyone seen their brewery? Are
> their bottles stored hot similar to the Slovenian brewers I saw? My
> guess is most Eastern European beers, and probably some western brewers
> too, just never paid much attention to quality control needed to keep
> their bottles fresh during export.
>
I live in Australia and suffer the same fate with PU. Luckily, one of the
mega liquor stores stocks PU and their turnover is high. I always buy it by
the un-opened case, from their cool room, and check that its well inside the
best by date - usually by 6 months. Thus so far, the beer has been fresh
without any off flavours or skunking.
Steve W.