Czech beer comes with a national pedigree that few countries can match. Back
in 993 AD, the Prague archbishop banned the Benedictine monastery from brewing
– the monks were making too much of a good thing. But the significance of Czech
beer is about more than just history. The derivatives of two city names Pilsen
and Ceské Budejovice are pasted on beer bottles around the globe under the Pilsner
and Budweiser banners. But unfortunately for the country’s two most famous breweries,
that heritage is no longer the sole property of their beers.
Czech Beer – Selling the pedigree
Czech beer is among the oldest beverages in the world and its export potential is quickly being appreciated by the world's modern beer giants. Lyle Frink reports on the country's two leading brands, Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar - their past, their potential, and the battle for a legal identity.
September 28, 2001