Pilsner Urquell Brewery

This article is for the brewery, for the beer it produces, see Pilsner Urquell
Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský prazdroj)
Type Corporation
Industry Alcoholic beverage
Founded 1842
Headquarters Pilsen, Czech Republic
Products Beer
Revenue CZK 15 billion (2010)
Owner(s) SABMiller
Website http://www.pilsner-urquell.com

Pilsner Urquell Brewery (Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s.) is a brewery in Plzeň, the Bohemian city which is known as the birthplace of the Pilsener beer style in general, and for Pilsner Urquell, since 1898 the name of the main product of this brewery. Both Plzeňský Prazdroj and Pilsner Urquell can be roughly translated into English as "the Fountainhead at Pilsen" or "the original source of Pilsner".

Contents

History

The brewery was founded in 1839 by both local German-speaking and Czech-speaking citizens as Bürgerbrauerei (citizens' brewery, later translated to Měšťanský pivovar in Czech). The first beer was brewed in 1842 by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll. In 1859, “Pilsner Bier”[1] 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. In 1898 the Urquell (Prazdroj) trade mark was created, to underline the claim of being the older, original source of Pilsner beer. In 1918, when the Austrian Empire ceased to exist, Czechs took over control, renaming cities, companies and products alike. In 1946, communists took over, nationalising the remaining two breweries, Měšťansky pivovar (the Citizens' brewery), and Plzeňské akciové pivovary (PAP, the stock company), merging them into the single 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 part of the SABMiller group of companies (at the time South African Breweries) since 1999.[2] It has been the largest exporter of beer produced in the Czech Republic since 2000 when production surpassed that of Budějovický Budvar.[3]

Timeline

Gallery

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.

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.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s
  2. ^ History of Plzensky Prazdroj, www.prazdroj.cz
  3. ^ Historie a.s. Plzeňský Prazdroj, www.pivovary.info (Czech)
  4. ^ "PILSNER FEST 2009". www.pilsnerfest.cz. http://www.pilsnerfest.cz/2009/eng/index.html. Retrieved 2010-07-08. 

External links