Article Břevnov brewery
A modern brewery on the site of one of the oldest breweries in Bohemia
Beer has been brewed at Břevnov Monastery since its founding in 993, making it one of the oldest places with documented beer production in the Czech Republic. The brewery operated here, with several breaks, until 1889. This long tradition is continued by a new brewery built in 2011.
Břevnov Monastery Brewery of St. Adalbert
In 2011, the tradition of brewing beer at the Břevnov Monastery was revived with the establishment of the Břevnov Monastery Brewery of St. Adalbert. The current modern brewery, facilities, meeting room and offices are located in the Baroque building of the former stables on the monastery grounds.
Wide range
The brewery brews 6 permanent types of beer, which are occasionally supplemented with current seasonal specials.
The range is truly varied, from classic lagers to ALE-type beers, to real specialties, such as wood-aged beers or beer champagne.
Historical cellar
Under the building is an 11th-century Romanesque cellar, which houses a display of the historic brewing process and equipment.
Beer archive
There is also a beer archive in the cellar. Only certain beers can be archived, for example beers with an alcohol content of over 7%. In the dark and at a stable temperature of 10–15 degrees, interesting beers are stored here, some of them incredibly old. The record holder is Kings Ale from 1902.
Beer Glass Museum
In the attic of the building there is a museum of beer glass, containing more than 1000 glasses. The oldest specimen is from 1898. Among many other things, there is also a complete collection of glasses from the Břevnov Monastery Brewery.
Brewery Equipment Museum
In addition to the beer glass exhibition, there is also a small museum of historical brewing equipment in the attic.
Guided tours of the brewery
It is possible to book a guided tour of the brewery and museum. The tour includes a short film about the operation of the brewery, a lecture on the history of beer production and information about Czech brewing, followed by a tour of the historical premises and exhibitions and a tour of the modern operation of the current brewery.
Modern operation
The brewery is equipped with modern equipment and annually brews up to 40 different types of beer with a maximum total volume of 4,000 hl. Some of the beers are suitable for archiving or are matured in wooden barrels.
Bottling
Most of the production is distributed in barrels. Bottling is done manually.
Shop
The brewery also has a brewery shop where you can buy all bottled beer and promotional items. The entire range of beer is available in the nearby Klášterní sýpka pub or in the Klášterní šenk restaurant.
