Ok, so this place has moved. Word is that they had some problems with the landlord and were forced out after having made a substantial improvement to a space that was in rough shape prior.
You can now find them in the passage way at the Hotel Slovan. Pretty much the same place just a 100 meters down the street from the previous location. Also, same ol’ good Chotěboř and this time the establishment has gone entirely non-smoking. My issue with U Jeníka is purely aesthetic, I prefer a more convivial environment when seeking out a few beers, the new location is kind of somber in atmosphere and tucked away into a strange passageway (which in itself is quite interesting) between Lidicka and Kounicova Streets. As a result, I tend to not go here much but that’s just me. If you’re looking for a quality Chotěboř in all its variants (10 degree, 11 degree, 12 degree filter/non-filter) this is the place to go.
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Alright, let me get my love letter to Chotěboř out of the way. For just over three years now, Chotěboř 12 degree lager (typically in bottled form) has been one of my favorite beers, and at times, my absolute favorite. I have laid to waste countless cases of this stuff over the past several years. I suppose it was about two years ago that it started popping up on tap in a few places around Brno. The first place I ever had it on tap was at U Proutníka, but I always felt a disconnect from the crisp and tasty lager I knew so well in bottled form and the half-liter I held in my hand outside of Proutník while I watched bunnies, hipsters and the rest of the city stroll by on Veveří. Not that it was bad, but rather I was expecting a more elevated experience with this Vysočinian lager I had come to love. It wasn’t until I had the opportunity to try it under the astute care of the tapmasters at Boženka that the taste of Chotěboř finally paired with that of the glorious beverage I knew so well in bottled form. And while we are on the subject of bottles, one thing I have always loved about Chotěboř is that the 12 degree bottles come in mixed green and brown bottles. Love that shit…
And by the way, tasty lager is not the only thing to come from the town of Chotěboř, can you say, yum?
So now, on to U Jeníka… I think these guys opened up in March 2013, I remember riding by on the 1 tram and getting all excited as I peeped the Chotěboř sign. Mental note taken, I would soon be paying a visit. Cousin Rusty had taken notice as well and a few days later, we paid our first visit to U Jeníka.
I have since been many times and the beer, whether it’s 12 degree lager or the tasty more session-oriented 11 degree unfiltered lager, is fantastic. No doubts about that. My only knock on U Jeníka, which I’ll get out of the way now, is that the back room is smoking. And while I respectfully appreciate that in order to run a business you have to appeal to a broad set of clientele, I’m the kind of heavy-drinking/dýško dropping/sometimes causal-smoking dude who ain’t going to roll up to your joint as frequently as I otherwise might because I hate smoke in pubs. Go fucking smoke outside! But alas, you can’t base your business model on cats like me. People like to smoke and drink beer, I get it.
Other than that, there is really nothing else to take issue with at U Jeníka. The interior is new and clean. It does feel a little minimal and cold but there’s certainly nothing to dislike about it. The two-top right at the window is a nice spot to sit. The taps are situated front and center, all the glasses and equipment is right there for you to see (inspect). I appreciate this approach; nothing to hide, just good beer…
I’ve sampled the finger foods that typically accompany beer in the Czech Republic, pickled (Czechie) Camembert, cheese balls and smoked pork, and I found it all to be tasty stuff with an aspiration at exceeding the quality of what you might find at one of the other bazillion pivníci across the Czech lands. On their Facebook page you can see that they offer roasted pork knuckle, however I am not sure how often they venture beyond the basic offering of finger foods.
So what does my drunkard ass have to conclude about U Jeníka? A fine place to enjoy one of the superior beers to arise from the attack of the Czech micro-industrials. They serve a great Chotěboř, which is enough to get me in the door. Although the smoke smell coming from the backroom usually only compels me to stay for one/two beers max… If you smoke, well shit, saddle in and get to work! If you have never really explored Chotěboř or are just looking for a good place to find a proper one, I recommend stopping by for a visit.
I’ll be back for better photos.
Street view from two-top windowside.
Shitty photo of taps.
Non-smoking section with view to back areas (smoking).
U Jeníka
Lidická 5a, Brno 602 00
Opening Hours
Mon – Fri: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sat: 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sun: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Brno Me Later 
