Plzeňský Prazdroj

:"This article is for the brewery, for the famous beer it produces, see Pilsner Urquell"Infobox Brewery
name = Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s.


caption =
location = flagicon|Czech Republic Pilsen, Czech Republic
owner = SABMiller
opened = 1842
production = 10 million hectolitres
active_beers = brewbox_beer|name=Pilsner Urquell|style=Pilsener brewbox_beer|name=Gambrinus|style=Pale lager brewbox_beer|name=Radegast|style=Pale lager brewbox_beer|name=Birell|style=Pale lager, non-alcoholic beer brewbox_beer|name=Velkopopovický Kozel Premium|style=Pale lager brewbox_beer|name=Velkopopovický Kozel Světlý|style=Pale lager brewbox_beer|name=Velkopopovický Kozel Černý|style=Dark beer brewbox_beer|name=Velkopopovický Kozel 11° Medium|style=Pale lager brewbox_beer|name=Primus, Klasik|style=Pilsener brewbox_beer|name=Frisco|style=Flavoured malt drink brewbox_beer|name=Miller Genuine Draft|style=Pale lager brewbox_beer|name=Šariš|style=Pilsener brewbox_beer|name=Smädný mních|style=Pilsener

seasonal_beers =
other_beers =

Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s. is a brewery in Pilsen, the Bohemian town 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".

History

It was founded in 1839 by local German-speaking citizens as _de. "Bürgerbrauerei" (citizens' brewery, later translated to "Měšťansky pivovar" in Czech). The first beer was brewed in 1842 by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll. In 1859, “Pilsner Bier” [ [http://www.prazdroj.cz/en/about-the-company/history Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s ] ] was registered as 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 to be 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 Burghers brewery), and "Plzeňské akciové pivovary" (PAP, the stock company), merging them into the single "Plzeňské pivovary" (brewery of Pilsen).

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. [ [http://www.plzenskyprazdroj.cz/en/about-the-company/history History of Plzensky Prazdroj] , www.prazdroj.cz] It has been the largest exporter of beer produced in the Czech Republic since 2000 when it got ahead of Budějovický Budvar. [ [http://www.pivovary.info/prehled/prazdroj/prazdrojfuze_h.htm Historie a.s. Plzeňský Prazdroj] , www.pivovary.info cs icon]

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".
* 1912 Pilsner Urquell was the only beer available commercially on the RMS Titanic.
* 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.
* Apr 2002 Pilsner Urquell was voted beer of the year at the Helsinki Beer Festival.
* 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."

Museum

A Brewery Museum is located near the Pilsner Urquell brewery. Locally it is called "Pivovarské muzeum".

The Brewery Museum is located in the authentic medieval brewing house with malt house, which has been declared a cultural monument.

The Museum 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.

Notes and references

* cite news
title = Alco-pop, fruit beer market starts to bubble
publisher = The Prague Post Online
date = 2005-07-06
url = http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2005/07/06/alco-pop-fruit-beer-market-starts-to-bubble.php
accessdate = 2007-03-10
* cite news
title = Malt-based premix for beer-loving Czechs
publisher = FoodAndDrinkEurope.com
date = 2004-05-14
url = http://www.foodanddrinkeurope.com/news/ng.asp?id=52135-malt-based-premix
accessdate = 2007-03-10

See also

* Pilsner Fest (beer festival of the brewery)
* Budweiser
* Budweiser Bürgerbräu (since 1795)
* Budějovický Budvar (since 1895)

External links

* [http://www.prazdroj.cz/en/ www.prazdroj.cz] — the company web site
** [http://www.prazdroj.cz/en/come-and-visit/pilsen-brewery/brewery-museum-tour the museum website]
* [http://www.zcu.cz/plzen/com/brewery/ Pilsner Urquell] — article at the University of West Bohemia website
* [http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/plzensky-prazdroj-(sabmiller)/115/ Plzensky Prazdroj (SABMiller)] — at RateBeer website
* [http://virtualtravel.cz/czech/en/galeries.php?g=44 The Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery] — panoramic pictures of the brewery