Throughout the year there are numerous festivals, across the Czech land, celebrating their favourite drink. Among others there are: The International Beer Festival, The Czech Beer Festival, The AleFestivale or The Pilsner Fest. Every single one of them hosts masses of people and the climax of the event is when the beer of the year is selected. The country is home to over 300 breweries, with many vibrant microbreweries. There’s no way into real understanding of the Czech vibe without visiting at least one of them. So here’s a list of top 5 breweries we recommend visiting. Or you might just try one of their products while on tour. Hop on!
5 recommended breweries in The Czech Republic
The Štramberk Brewery
Štramberk is an incredibly picturesque historical town nearby Ostrava. It is tucked on a side of a hill with the ruins of a medieval castle on its top. It’s only been a few years since the City Brewery has been reopened after 150 years of closure. Currently they brew here a pilsner type of beer, unfiltered lager, which is called Trubač, and gingerbread – caramel flavoured, dark beer called Ušak. If you feel peckish before or after sightseeing of this beautiful little town, come to the diner in the brewery building, they’ll treat you!
The Litovel Brewery
The Litovel beer has been brewed since 1893. Quality of the beer originating from the brewery located nearby Olomouc is exquisite. That’s been confirmed by many experts in the field, among the most prestigious competitions and international fairs.
The beverage from Litovel Brewery is one of a few in The Czech Republic that’s been brewed in a conventional method and with the use of the local traditional recipe. The brewery itself is open for visitors so you can actually track manufacturing cycle and take part in tasting of the end products. What’s really cool about this place, is that you can use a microbrewery located in the building and make your own brew – with your own recipe!
The beverage from Litovel Brewery is one of a few in The Czech Republic that’s been brewed in a conventional method and with the use of the local traditional recipe. The brewery itself is open for visitors so you can actually track manufacturing cycle and take part in tasting of the end products.
The Staropramen Brewery
Staropramen is the most Prague-style among the Bohemian beers. Located in the Smichov district of the capital city, the famous Brewery has been actively producing their popular golden beverage since 1869. The speciality has even been metioned on the pages of a well-read comedy novel by Jaroslav Hašek – Good Soldier Švejk. However, Staropramen is not only history but also a contemporary exhibition featuring the Prague’s breweries.
In the old headquarters you can find a digital representation of traditional beer brewing in the Czech Republic. Your virtual tourguide on this interactive journey will be a character based on Josef Pasp, the antebellum brewer who modernised the facility in Smichov. Visually, the trip is very attractive, especially when you visit the interiors faithfully representing the atmosphere of the long gone years.
The Svijany Brewery
This is one of the oldest and possibly the most intrestingly located brewery in the Czech Republic. It was founded in the mid sixteenth century and it’s located beside the newly renovated Svijany Castle. The history of this brewery is long and captivating, full of twists and turns such as owner changes or even threats of a ruin.
Luckily by the end of the nineties and thanks to the undergone renovation of the brewery, Svijany grew famously from a small local brand into well known beer producer countrywide. Today, this former monastery facility is the biggest independent brewery in the Czech Republic. So, when in Svijany, go visit not only the castle, but also pop into the brewery, see how the local beer is made and have sip during degustation.
The Gambrinus Brewery in Pilsen
The historical brewery located in the beer capital city of the Czech Republic – Pilsen, was founded in 1869. For years, the Gambrinus produce had been competing on the local market with other beers of the city. This was the reason to the numerous occasions on which Gambrinus almost closed down his business. In the 20th century many smaller local breweries have merged to create a stronger brand.
That way they created a contemporarily known beer manufacturer called Plzeňský Prazdroj. Gambrinus, right beside Pilsner Urquell and Radegast is the most common brand of the company and because of its active support of the Czech football, it’s often present in the media. If you walk around Pilsen and love to do some sightseeing on the beer trail, you’ll be in for a treat! Visiting the Gambrinus Brewery you’ll learn not only the production technology but also the history of the Pilsen brewing.
