Introducing Czech Breweries Part 1 – Budweiser Budvar
Budweiser Budvar
Budweiser Budvar—also known internationally as “Czechvar” in some markets—is one of the Czech Republic’s most famous breweries and a symbol of traditional Czech brewing. Its story is closely tied to the historic brewing heritage of the city of České Budějovice (known in German as Budweis), where beer has been produced for centuries.
Medieval Brewing Roots (13th Century)
Brewing in Město České Budějovice dates back to 1265, when King Ottokar II of Bohemia founded the city and granted citizens the right to brew beer. Over time, “Budweiser” (meaning “from Budweis”) became a mark of quality beer across Central Europe.
Founding of the Brewery (1895)
Budweiser Budvar was officially established in 1895 as the Czech Joint-Stock Brewery (Český akciový pivovar). It was founded by Czech brewers to create a national brewery that would compete with German-owned breweries in the region, reflecting the strong Czech brewing identity of the time.
From the beginning, the brewery focused on producing a high-quality lager using:
Moravian malt
Žatec (Saaz) hops
Soft artesian water
Long maturation periods in cellars
This traditional process remains central to Budvar’s brewing philosophy today.
The Name Dispute
One of the most famous chapters in Budvar’s history is its long-running trademark dispute with Anheuser-Busch, the American producer of Budweiser. Both companies claim historical rights to the name “Budweiser”: Budvar argues the name refers geographically to beer from Budweis (České Budějovice). Anheuser-Busch has used the Budweiser name in the United States since 1876.
The legal battles have spanned more than a century and involve trademark rights in dozens of countries. As a result: In some countries, the Czech beer is sold as Budweiser Budvar. In others, such as Canada and the United States, it is labeled Czechvar. Meanwhile, the American Budweiser may use different branding in certain European markets.
Nationalization and Modern Era
After World War II, Budvar was nationalized under the Czechoslovak state. Despite political and economic changes during the communist era, the brewery maintained its traditional brewing methods and strong export presence.
Following the fall of communism in 1989 and the later split of Czechoslovakia, Budvar remained state-owned under the Czech government. Unlike many breweries that became part of multinational corporations, Budvar has continued to operate as a national enterprise.
Budvar today
Today, Budweiser Budvar exports to more than 70 countries and is recognized as one of the leading representatives of Czech lager worldwide. Its flagship beer, Budweiser Budvar Original Lager, is known for:
Rich malt character
Balanced bitterness
Long maturation (typically around 90 days)
The brewery’s current main offering includes:
Budvar 10 – Pale beer 4% abv. (Plato 10°)
Budvar 33 – Pale lager beer 4.6% (Plato 11°)
Budvar Original – Pale lager beer 5% abv. (Plato 12°)
Budvar tmavy lezak – Dark lager beer 4.7% abv (Plato 11°)
Budvar Nealko – Non-alcoholic beer max. 0.5% abv.
The brewery remains proud of its heritage, traditional brewing techniques, and independence.
