Beer in Czechia: history, traditions and breweries
The home of Pilsner. For decades the Czechs have drunk more beer per person than any other country in the world.
History
In 1295 King Wenceslas II founded the town of Pilsen and gave 260 burghers the right to brew. In Bohemia beer became a matter for the towns, and every town defended its brewing rights against competition from the countryside.
Bohemia has brewed beer since the Middle Ages and has grown the famous Saaz hops for centuries. In 1838 the citizens of Pilsen poured 36 barrels of bad beer out in front of the town hall and founded a new citizens’ brewery.
There the Bavarian brewer Josef Groll brewed the first Pilsner on 5 October 1842: golden and clear, with Saaz hops and Pilsen’s very soft water. Today it is called Pilsner Urquell.
After 1948 the breweries were nationalised. After the Velvet Revolution of 1989 many were privatised, and today there are hundreds of small breweries again.
In the communist era there was no money for modern equipment. So many breweries kept using open fermenters and long lagering in cool cellars – methods that are valued again today.
Traditions and drinking culture
Beer is served fresh from the tap with different amounts of foam, for example as a “hladinka” with a classic head or as a “mlíko”, a glass that is almost all foam. Beers are often named by their gravity in degrees: a “desítka” has 10 degrees (SG 1.040), a “dvanáctka” 12 (SG 1.048).
Fun facts
- The name “Budweiser” simply means “from Budweis”. That is why Budvar and Anheuser-Busch have been fighting over the brand for more than a hundred years.
- Saaz hops are recognised in the EU as a protected designation of origin.
- For decades the Czech Republic has had the highest beer consumption per person in the world: well over 100 litres (about 26.4 gal) per person per year.
- In a Czech pub the waiter often brings a new beer unasked as soon as your glass is empty and makes a mark on a slip of paper on the table. If you have had enough, you put a beer mat on your glass.
- In Prague and in Chodová Planá you can bathe in beer: in the beer spas you lie in tubs with hops, malt and yeast.
- U Fleků in Prague has been brewing for over 500 years and today serves only one beer of its own: a dark lager.
Typical beer styles
Beer cities and their stories
Pilsen
Birthplace of Pilsner (1842). Under the brewery lie kilometres (miles) of rock cellars where the beer used to mature in oak barrels. A small part is still brewed this way for comparison.
České Budějovice (Budweis)
The town received brewing rights when it was founded in 1265. The Budějovický Budvar brewery (1895) has been in a dispute with Anheuser-Busch over the name “Budweiser” for more than a hundred years.
Prague
The U Fleků brewpub has been brewing since 1499 and still serves only its own dark lager. Strahov Monastery was already brewing in the 17th century; since 2000 it has had a small monastery brewery again.
Žatec (Saaz)
Centre of the Saaz hop region, with a hop and beer temple and a hop museum.
Krušovice
Emperor Rudolf II bought the brewery in 1583, which is why it is still called the Royal Brewery of Krušovice.
Velké Popovice
Kozel has been brewed here since 1874. The goat in the logo exists in real life too: the brewery keeps a billy goat as a mascot on its grounds.
Chodová Planá
This village in western Bohemia is known for its rock cellars carved deep into the stone. The Chodovar brewery runs a beer spa here.
Breweries and their stories
Pilsner Urquell
The citizens’ brewery brewed the first Pilsner in 1842. To this day a small part of the beer matures in oak barrels in the rock cellars for comparison, so that the taste stays the same.
Known for: Pilsner Urquell
Budějovický Budvar
State-owned brewery that lagers its beer for around 90 days and has been in a dispute with Anheuser-Busch over the Budweiser name for decades.
Known for: Budweiser Budvar Original
U Fleků
Brewery and tavern in Prague’s New Town that brews only a single dark lager.
Known for: Flekovský tmavý ležák
Kozel
Known for the dark Kozel and the goat in its logo.
Known for: Kozel Světlý, Kozel Černý
Krušovice
Royal brewery ever since Emperor Rudolf II bought it in 1583.
Known for: Krušovice Imperial, Černé
Bernard
Family brewery that took over an old brewery after the fall of communism and is known for unpasteurised beers.
Known for: Bernard Sváteční ležák
Staropramen
One of the largest breweries in Prague, in the Smíchov district.
Known for: Staropramen Premium
Timeline
- 1265České Budějovice (Budweis)
Budweis (České Budějovice) receives brewing rights as soon as it is founded.
- Middle AgesŽatec (Saaz)
Hops are grown around Žatec, called Saaz in German. Saaz hops are traded all over Europe.
- 1499Prague
The U Fleků brewhouse brews in Prague’s New Town. To this day it serves only its own dark lager.
- 1583Krušovice
Emperor Rudolf II buys the brewery in Krušovice – it has been called the Royal Brewery ever since.
- 1838Pilsen
The citizens of Pilsen pour 36 barrels of bad beer out in front of the town hall and decide to build their own brewery.
- 1842Pilsen
On 5 October Josef Groll brews the first Pilsner: golden and clear, with Saaz hops and Pilsen’s soft water.
- 1869Prague
The Staropramen brewery is founded in Prague’s Smíchov district.
- 1874Velké Popovice
The Kozel brewery starts brewing in Velké Popovice. The billy goat from its logo now also lives on the site in real life.
- 1895České Budějovice (Budweis)
Budějovický Budvar is founded. It has been fighting Anheuser-Busch over the name “Budweiser” for more than a hundred years.
- 1898Pilsen
The burghers’ brewery registers the name “Pilsner Urquell” as a trademark – “Urquell” means original source.
- 1991Humpolec
After the Velvet Revolution the Bernard family takes over an old brewery in Humpolec and brews unpasteurised beers.