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Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s. (, known in English as the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, is a Czech brewery opened in 1842 and headquartered in
Plzeň Plzeň (; German and English: Pilsen, in German ) is a city in the Czech Republic. About west of Prague in western Bohemia, it is the Statutory city (Czech Republic), fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 169,000 inhabita ...
,
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
. It was the first brewery to produce
pale lager Pale lager is a very pale-to-golden-colored lager beer with a well- attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid-19th century, when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing ...
, branded as Pilsner Urquell, which became so popular and was so much copied that more than two-thirds of the beer produced in the world today is pale lager, sometimes named ''pils'', ''pilsner'' and ''pilsener'' after Pilsner Urquell. The brewery name, ''Pilsner Urquell'', which can be roughly translated into English as "the original source at Pilsen", was adopted as a trademark in 1898. Pilsner Urquell is the largest producer and exporter of beer in the Czech Republic. The brewery was part of the
SABMiller SABMiller plc was a South African multinational brewing and beverage company headquartered in Woking, England on the outskirts of London until 10 October 2016 when it was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Prior to that date, it was the world's ...
group of companies (at first South African Breweries) from 1999 to 2017. As part of the agreements made with regulators before
Anheuser-Busch InBev Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, commonly known as AB InBev, is an American-Belgian multinational drink and brewing company based in Leuven, Belgium. AB InBev has a global functional management office in New York City, and regional headquarters ...
was allowed to acquire SABMiller in October 2016, Pilsner Urquell (excluding certain geographical areas) was sold to
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
-based
Asahi Breweries is a Japanese global beer, spirits, soft drinks and food business group headquartered in Sumida, Tokyo. In 2019, the group had revenue of JPY 2.1 trillion. Asahi's business portfolio can be segmented as follows: alcoholic beverage business (4 ...
in March 2017.


History

The brewery was founded in 1839 by both local Czech-speaking and
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...
-speaking citizens in
Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
n city of
Plzeň Plzeň (; German and English: Pilsen, in German ) is a city in the Czech Republic. About west of Prague in western Bohemia, it is the Statutory city (Czech Republic), fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 169,000 inhabita ...
as (citizens' brewery, later translated to ''Měšťanský pivovar'' in Czech). The first beer was brewed here in 1842 by
Bavaria Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
n brewer Josef Groll. In 1859, “Pilsner Bier” was registered as a brand name at the local Chamber of Commerce and Trade. In 1869, a competitor was founded as a joint stock company, later known as
Gambrinus Gambrinus ( ) is a legendary European culture hero celebrated as an icon of beer, brewing, joviality, and ''joie de vivre''. Typical representations in the visual arts depict him as a rotund, bearded duke or king, holding a tankard or mug, ...
. In 1898 the German trademark ''Urquell'' and Czech trademark ''Prazdroj'' were created, to underline the claim of being the older, original source of Pilsner beer. In 1932 ''Měšťanský pivovar'' merged with ''Plzeňské akciové pivovary''. In 1946, the brewery was nationalized under the name ''Plzeňské pivovary'' (Pilsen breweries). After the fall of communism in late 1989, the brewery was turned into a public share company, then renamed in 1994 after the Czech name of their famous beer, ''Plzeňský Prazdroj''. In 1999, they started to merge with '' Pivovar Radegast a.s.'' and '' Pivovar Velké Popovice a. s.''. The brewery has been the largest exporter of beer produced in the
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
since 2000 when production surpassed that of
Budějovický Budvar Budweiser Budvar ( ) is a brewery in the Czech Republic, Czech city of České Budějovice (german: Budweis), best known for its original Budweiser or Budweiser Budvar pale lager brewed using Artesian aquifer, artesian water, Moravian barley and ...
.


Timeline

* 1295 City of Pilsen established, beginnings of brewing. * 1307 First recorded mention of the existence of an actual brewery with malt house. * 1839 Burghers in Pilsen decide to found the Burgess' Brewery (Bürgerbrauerei, Měšťanský pivovar) * 15 September 1839 – autumn 1840 Construction of the Burgess' Brewery, forerunner of today's brewery. * 5 October 1842 First brew of Bavarian type beer, bottom-fermented beer, so-called pale lager. * 1 March 1859 "Pilsner Bier" brand name registered at the Chamber of Commerce and Trade in Pilsen. * 2nd half of 19th century Brewery expands in Europe, first exports from Pilsen to America. * 1869 Competitor founded as First Stock Brewery (''První akciový pivovar''), today known as Gambrinus. * 1898 New ''Urquell'' - ''Prazdroj'' trade mark created. * 1910 ''Světovar'' - ''Český Plzeňský pivovar akciové společnosti v Plzni''. * 1913 Output over 100 million litres of beer, commercial representation in 34 countries. * 1925 - 1933 Merger of several Pilsen breweries. * 1933 Two breweries remain in Pilsen: ''Měšťanský pivovar'' and ''Plzeňské akciové pivovary'' (PAP), with the majority of PAP shares being owned by ''Měšťanský pivovar''. * 1 June 1945 National administration for companies owned by ''Měšťanský pivovar'' in Pilsen . National administration took over management of the ''Měšťanský pivovar'' (afterwards known as ''Prazdroj'') and PAP (''Gambrinus''). * 13 September 1946 Nationalization of both breweries and creation of a single national company, ''Plzeňské pivovary''. * 1 Jun 1964 Formation of the company ''Západočeské pivovary'' with registered office in Pilsen. Creation of the national company ''Plzeňský Prazdroj'' with regard to ownership of trademarks and contact with customers abroad. * November 1989 Fundamental changes initiated for the company's entire organisation. * 1 May 1992 Following privatization the joint stock company ''Plzeňské pivovary, a.s.'' is established. Major investment, technological development, rise in output and exports, development of business and distribution network, marketing. * 1994 Formation of joint stock company ''Plzeňský Prazdroj''. * 1999 Merger approved with the companies ''Pivovar RADEGAST a. s.'', and ''Pivovar Velké Popovice a. s.'' * 1999 ''Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s.'' becomes part of
South African Breweries South African Breweries (officially The South African Breweries Limited, informally SAB) is a major brewery headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa and was a wholly owned subsidiary of SABMiller until its interests were sold to Anheuser-Bus ...
, subsequently called
SABMiller SABMiller plc was a South African multinational brewing and beverage company headquartered in Woking, England on the outskirts of London until 10 October 2016 when it was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Prior to that date, it was the world's ...
. * Apr 2002 Pilsner Urquell was voted beer of the year at the
Helsinki Beer Festival Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...
. * 30 September 2002 merger completed with the companies ''Pivovar RADEGAST a. s.'', and ''Pivovar Velké Popovice a. s.'' This resulted in the formation of a single joint stock company called ''Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s.'' * 21 December 2016, agreement of sale to Asahi Group Holdings was concluded in March 2017.


Products

* Pilsner Urquell,
pale lager Pale lager is a very pale-to-golden-colored lager beer with a well- attenuated body and a varying degree of noble hop bitterness. The brewing process for this beer developed in the mid-19th century, when Gabriel Sedlmayr took pale ale brewing ...
and flagship of the brand, has created new category of beer ( Pilsner, Pils), contains 4.4% ABV (in Czech: 11° or ''Ležák''). *
Gambrinus Gambrinus ( ) is a legendary European culture hero celebrated as an icon of beer, brewing, joviality, and ''joie de vivre''. Typical representations in the visual arts depict him as a rotund, bearded duke or king, holding a tankard or mug, ...
Original, a pale draught beer with 4.3% ABV (in Czech: 10° or ''Výčepní''). * Gambrinus Plná, a pale lager with 5.2% ABV (in Czech: 12° or ''Ležák''). * Gambrinus Unpasteurized 10°, an unpasteurized draught beer with 4.3% ABV (in Czech: ''Nepasterizovaná 10°''). * Gambrinus Unpasteurized 12°, an unpasteurized pale lager with 5.0% ABV (in Czech: ''Nepasterizovaná 12°''). * Gambrinus Unfiltered, an unfiltered yeast pale lager with 4.95% ABV (in Czech: ''Nefiltrované''). * Velkopopovický Kozel *
Radegast Radegast () is a small town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is the smallest town in Saxony-Anhalt and is located about 13 km south of the district capital of Köthen. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of th ...
* Birell, a non-alcoholic beer * Excelent (beer) * Frisco, a flavored cider *
Kingswood Cider Kingswood may refer to: Places Australia *Kingswood, New South Wales *Kingswood (Tamworth), New South Wales * Kingswood Park, New South Wales *Kingswood, South Australia Canada *Kingswood Music Theatre *Kingswood Drive Public School, an elementar ...
* Master, beer specialties * Kopparberg Cider *
Klasik (beer) The classical music of Afghanistan is called klasik, which includes both instrumental (rāgas, naghmehs) and vocal forms (ghazals).Doubleday, pg. 3 Many ''ustad'', or professional musicians, are descended from Indian artists who emigrated to the ...
*
Primus (beer) Primus (Latin, 'first') may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Primus (DC Comics), a character in the Omega Men team * Primus (Marvel Comics), a character created by Arnim Zola * Primus, a character in the novel '' Stard ...


Gallery

File:Pilsner-Urquell-Main-Gate-Rear-Side.jpg, Rear side of main gate File:Brewery Plzen 159.JPG, Brewery complex File:Pilsner-Urquell-Water-Treatment-Plant.jpg, On site water purification plant File:Plzensky Prazdroj brewery tour 01.jpg, New brew house File:Plzensky Prazdroj brewery tour 02.jpg, Old brew house File:061013-142403.jpg, Lagering caves File:Pilsner-Urquell-New-Packaging-Hall-2.jpg, New Packaging Hall (''Nová stáčírna'') File:Plzensky Prazdroj brewery tour 04.jpg, Overhead view of packaging lines


Museum

A brewery museum ("Pivovarské muzeum") has been set up near the brewery in the authentic medieval brewing house with malt house, which has been declared a cultural monument. It includes the late Gothic malt house, kiln, original drying shed and two-level laying-down cellars with ice-cellar, which are hewn from the Pilsen substrata. The exhibition covers Pilsen's most ancient history, the development of crafts, the emergence and growth of the guilds, the beginnings and development of brewing, malting, the craft of cooper, haulage and catering. The tour includes a replica of a pub from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and a laboratory from the second half of the 19th century. The city walls have been opened with an example of the cultivation of barley and hops. The museum has become an anchor for the European Route of Industrial Heritage.


Pilsner Fest

Pilsner Fest is a two-day beer festival held each year by the brewery, with music by local bands on four stages in the town.


See also

* Budweiser * Budweiser Bürgerbräu (since 1795) *
Budějovický Budvar Budweiser Budvar ( ) is a brewery in the Czech Republic, Czech city of České Budějovice (german: Budweis), best known for its original Budweiser or Budweiser Budvar pale lager brewed using Artesian aquifer, artesian water, Moravian barley and ...
(since 1895) * Beer in the Czech Republic *
Frisco (soft drink) Frisco is a flavored cider by the Pilsner Urquell Brewery that is available in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country ...
- product by Pilsner *
Pilsen Fest Pilsen Fest is an annual weekend festival in Pilsen, Chicago showcasing "musicians, chefs, mixologists, poets, muralists, painters, writers, documentarians, and photographers." It is also known as Pilsen Arts and Music Festival, and had an estimat ...


References


External links


www.prazdroj.cz
— the company web site *
the museum website

Pilsner Urquell
— article at the University of West Bohemia website
Plzensky Prazdroj (SABMiller)
— at
RateBeer Beer rating is assessing and evaluating beer using a point system. The process is similar to that used in beer judging competitions, such as those organised by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) in America, though the participants are cons ...
website
The Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery
— panoramic pictures of the brewery * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pilsner Urquell Brewery Breweries in the Czech Republic Companies of Czechoslovakia Buildings and structures in Plzeň SABMiller Asahi Breweries