By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
The Czech beer will flow this weekend. And for the authentic brew, there is plenty of Pilsner Urquell found on the shelves at Joy’s Liquor Barrel, 12134 W. Reno Ave. at Czech Hall and Reno on the southeast corner.
Owner Joy Osterman has been keeping the shelves stocked for more than 32 years, and she has attended every Czech Festival in Yukon since she has had the business. She missed last year’s event with everyone else when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But she is happy to be back, and she said she plans to drop in to visit all her favorite places and see all her favorite faces.
Meanwhile, on the shelves with the Pilsner Urquell is another brand called Czechvar, a Czech lager.
Osterman opened her liquor store 32 years ago. It is just down the road from Czech Hall, and the Czech Festival weekend has been a busy one for many years for her.
“We’re getting ready for it,” Osterman said this week.
Pilsner Urquell and Czechvar that might be more popular this weekend, so she ordered extra stock.
“Czechvar is a brand that’s been around for a long time,” Osterman said.
The Pilsner Urquell Brewery is a Czech brewery opened in 1842 and headquarter in Plzen, Czech Republic.
The beers are in the import beer section. Czech beers are becoming a bit rare, she said.
“There is not much that is shipped out of there anymore,” Osterman said.
Joy’s Liqour Barrel, 12134 W. Reno Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. She remodeled the building during the pandemic shutdown last year.
She said she has plans to be at the Czech Festival Saturday.
“I’ve been going to that Czech Festival for so long, there was not a single year until last year that I missed it,” she said.
Joy’s can be found on Facebook and the telephone number for the store is 405-324-0347.
