This article is about the brewery. For the beer it produces, see Pilsner Urquell.
Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s. (pronounced[ˈpl̩zɛɲskiːˈprazdrojaˈɛs]) (Pilsner Urquell Brewery) is a Czech brewery which opened in 1842 in Plzeň, Bohemia. It was the first brewery to produce a pale lager, branded as Pilsner Urquell,[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
The brewery was part of the SABMiller group of companies from 1999 to 2017. As part of agreements with regulators before Anheuser-Busch InBev was allowed to acquire SABMiller in 2016, Pilsner Urquell was sold to Japan-based Asahi Breweries in 2017.[5]
The brewery was founded in 1839 by both local Czech-speaking and German-speaking citizens in Bohemian city of Plzeň as Bürgerbrauerei (citizens' brewery, later translated to Měšťanský pivovar in Czech). The first beer was brewed here in 1842 by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll. In 1859, “Pilsner Bier”[6] 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 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 since 2000 when production surpassed that of Budějovický Budvar.[7]
Timelineedit
Pilsner Urquell historical cargo railroad car
Pilsner Urquell has been brewed in the same brewery using the same recipe and traditional methods, like triple decoction and parallel brewing in wooden lagering barrels for over 175 years.
1295 City of Pilsen established, beginnings of brewing.[8]
1307 First recorded mention of the existence of an actual brewery with malt house.[9]
1839 Burghers in Pilsen decide to found the Burgess' Brewery (Bürgerbrauerei, Měšťanský pivovar).[10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
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.
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.
21 December 2016, agreement of sale to Asahi Group Holdings was concluded in March 2017. As part of agreements with regulators before Anheuser-Busch InBev was allowed to acquire SABMiller in 2016, Pilsner Urquell was sold to Japan-based Asahi Breweries in 2017.[5]
Traditional fermenting building (center) and modern fermenting building (left) in Pilsner Urquell Brewery
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, urquell, brewery, this, article, about, brewery, beer, produces, pilsner, urquell, plzeňský, prazdroj, pronounced, ˈpl, zɛɲskiː, ˈprazdroj, ˈɛs, czech, brewery, which, opened, 1842, plzeň, bohemia, first, brewery, produce, pale, lager, branded, pilsne. This article is about the brewery For the beer it produces see Pilsner Urquell Plzensky Prazdroj a s pronounced ˈpl zɛɲskiː ˈprazdroj a ˈɛs Pilsner Urquell Brewery is a Czech brewery which opened in 1842 in Plzen Bohemia It was the first brewery to produce a pale lager branded as Pilsner Urquell 2 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 3 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 4 Plzensky prazdroj a s TypeSubsidiaryLocationPilsen Czech RepublicCoordinates49 44 48 N 13 23 14 E 49 74667 N 13 38722 E 49 74667 13 38722Opened1842Annual production volume9 7 million hectolitres 8 300 000 US bbl 2013 1 RevenueCZK 15 billion 2010 Owned byAsahi Group HoldingsWebsitepilsner urquell wbr czActive beersName TypePilsner Urquell PilsnerThe brewery was part of the SABMiller group of companies from 1999 to 2017 As part of agreements with regulators before Anheuser Busch InBev was allowed to acquire SABMiller in 2016 Pilsner Urquell was sold to Japan based Asahi Breweries in 2017 5 Contents 1 History 1 1 Timeline 2 Products 3 Gallery 4 Museum 5 Pilsner Fest 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory edit nbsp Pilsner Urquell Brewery main gateThe brewery was founded in 1839 by both local Czech speaking and German speaking citizens in Bohemian city of Plzen as Burgerbrauerei citizens brewery later translated to Mestansky pivovar in Czech The first beer was brewed here in 1842 by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll In 1859 Pilsner Bier 6 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 German trademark Urquell and Czech trademark Prazdroj were created to underline the claim of being the older original source of Pilsner beer In 1932 Mestansky pivovar merged with Plzenske akciove pivovary In 1946 the brewery was nationalized under the name Plzenske 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 Plzensky Prazdroj In 1999 they started to merge with Pivovar Radegast a s and Pivovar Velke Popovice a s The brewery has been the largest exporter of beer produced in the Czech Republic since 2000 when production surpassed that of Budejovicky Budvar 7 Timeline edit nbsp Pilsner Urquell historical cargo railroad carPilsner Urquell has been brewed in the same brewery using the same recipe and traditional methods like triple decoction and parallel brewing in wooden lagering barrels for over 175 years 1295 City of Pilsen established beginnings of brewing 8 1307 First recorded mention of the existence of an actual brewery with malt house 9 1839 Burghers in Pilsen decide to found the Burgess Brewery Burgerbrauerei Mestansky pivovar 10 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 11 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 12 1869 Competitor founded as First Stock Brewery Prvni akciovy pivovar today known as Gambrinus 1898 New Urquell Prazdroj trade mark created 1910 Svetovar Cesky Plzensky pivovar akciove spolecnosti 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 Mestansky pivovar and Plzenske akciove pivovary PAP with the majority of PAP shares being owned by Mestansky pivovar 1 June 1945 National administration for companies owned by Mestansky pivovar in Pilsen National administration took over management of the Mestansky pivovar afterwards known as Prazdroj and PAP Gambrinus 13 September 1946 Nationalization of both breweries and creation of a single national company Plzenske pivovary 1 Jun 1964 Formation of the company Zapadoceske pivovary with registered office in Pilsen Creation of the national company Plzensky 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 Plzenske 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 Plzensky Prazdroj 1999 Merger approved with the companies Pivovar RADEGAST a s and Pivovar Velke Popovice a s 1999 Plzensky Prazdroj a s becomes part of South African Breweries subsequently called SABMiller 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 Velke Popovice a s This resulted in the formation of a single joint stock company called Plzensky Prazdroj a s 21 December 2016 agreement of sale to Asahi Group Holdings was concluded in March 2017 As part of agreements with regulators before Anheuser Busch InBev was allowed to acquire SABMiller in 2016 Pilsner Urquell was sold to Japan based Asahi Breweries in 2017 5 Products edit nbsp A mug of Pilsner Urquell lagerPilsner Urquell pale lager and flagship of the brand has created new category of beer Pilsner Pils contains 4 4 ABV in Czech 11 or Lezak Gambrinus Original a pale draught beer with 4 3 ABV in Czech 10 or Vycepni Gambrinus Plna a pale lager with 5 2 ABV in Czech 12 or Lezak Gambrinus Unpasteurized 10 an unpasteurized draught beer with 4 3 ABV in Czech Nepasterizovana 10 Gambrinus Unpasteurized 12 an unpasteurized pale lager with 5 0 ABV in Czech Nepasterizovana 12 Gambrinus Unfiltered an unfiltered yeast pale lager with 4 95 ABV in Czech Nefiltrovane Velkopopovicky Kozel Radegast Birell a non alcoholic beer Excelent beer Frisco a flavored cider Kingswood Cider Master beer specialties Kopparberg Cider Klasik beer Primus beer Gallery edit nbsp Rear side of main gate nbsp Brewery complex nbsp On site water purification plant nbsp New brew house nbsp Old brew house nbsp Lagering caves nbsp New Packaging Hall Nova stacirna nbsp Overhead view of packaging linesMuseum edit nbsp Traditional fermenting building center and modern fermenting building left in Pilsner Urquell BreweryA brewery museum Pivovarske 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 13 Pilsner Fest editPilsner Fest is a two day beer festival held each year by the brewery with music by local bands on four stages in the town 14 nbsp Bottled Pilsner Urquell for sale in Hong KongSee also editBudweiser Budweiser Burgerbrau since 1795 Budejovicky Budvar since 1895 Beer in the Czech Republic Frisco soft drink product by Pilsner Pilsen FestReferences edit Plzensky Prazdroj a s zakladni informace PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2015 10 17 German Beer Institute PILS Archived 2011 10 19 at the Wayback Machine University of Economics Prague Brewery tour of Pilsner Urquell MAPA Komu patri pivovary v Cesku Ctyri piva z deseti jsou z Prazdroje iDNES cz 14 October 2015 a b Asahi Group to buy InBev beer brands for 7 8bn Financier Worldwide Financier Worldwide February 2017 Retrieved 1 February 2017 Plzensky Prazdroj a s Historie a s Plzensky Prazdroj Archived 2021 07 29 at the Wayback Machine www pivovary info in Czech Traces of the Pilsen History Official website of the City of Pilsen www pilsen eu Retrieved 2023 02 14 The History and Brewing Methods of Pilsner Urquell MoreBeer www morebeer com Retrieved 2023 02 14 Wander Ian Griffin Photography Retrieved 2023 02 14 Brewing tradition Official website of the City of Pilsen www pilsen eu Retrieved 2023 02 14 Matonoha Tomas 2013 12 08 Pilsner Urquell Celebrated 140 Years Since the First Export to American Pubs Prazdroj Retrieved 2023 02 14 ERIH Entry Pilsner Urquell Brewery European Route of Industrial Heritage 2014 Retrieved 15 January 2015 Pilsner Fest Pilsen czechtourism com Retrieved 2014 11 09 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pilsner Urquell 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 website The Plzensky Prazdroj brewery panoramic pictures of the brewery Alco pop fruit beer market starts to bubble The Prague Post Online 2005 07 06 Retrieved 2007 03 10 Malt based premix for beer loving Czechs FoodAndDrinkEurope com 2004 05 14 Retrieved 2007 03 10 Documents and clippings about Pilsner Urquell Brewery in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pilsner Urquell Brewery amp oldid 1191987617 Pilsner Fest, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
