Pivo Prosím

Bernard - a traditional Czech Beer

Beer is one of the things that defines the Czech Republic. A good Czech beer is a meal in itself, full of flavour and goodness. Bernard is a good example – a family brewery using traditional methods to produce a premium product. But others are always keen to muscle in on this profitable market.

Today’s Prague Monitor brings the news that the Dutch firm Heineken is negotiating to buy the Staropramen brand. This would further strengthen Heineken’s stake in the Czech beer market – they are currently in third place, owning the Krušovice, Hostan, Starobrno, Zlatopramen, Velké Březno, Louny and Kutná Hora brands already. The Staropramen group also includes the smaller Braník, Měšťan, Ostravar, Kelt, Velvet and Vratislav beers – and this takeover would doubtless increase the number of ‘zombie’ beers – small breweries being closed and all their beers brewed in Heineken’s large breweries.

~ by stockczech on April 8, 2009.