Did you know it was Charles IV who named Saint Wenceslas the patron of brewers and maltsters? The largest brewing association, the “Association for the Brewing Industry in the Kingdom of Bohemia,” whose successor today is the Czech Beer and Malt Association, has a 150-year tradition in our country! The magical Prague Crossroads provided the perfect backdrop for the gala evening — the St. Wenceslas Celebrations.
Guests were welcomed by Ing. Roman Havlík, Chairman of the Association. The Minister of Agriculture, Mgr. Marek Výborný, assured attendees of continued support for Czech brewing. The evening was hosted by the charismatic presenter — and great lover of beer — Adéla Gondíková. Everyone eagerly awaited the results of the CZECH BEER 2023 tasting competition. Beers were judged in six categories, from the increasingly popular non-alcoholic beers to dark, draught, and lager styles. The overall winner was the pale lager ZUBR Gradus — don’t miss it! For their extraordinary contribution to the field, Ing. Pavel Čejka, CSc., and Ing. Pavel Kutmon were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The awards were presented in an unconventional way by the Losers Cirque Company acrobats, who delivered a stunning show combining dance and new circus.
With the ceremonial tapping of a keg of the winning lager, the Days of Czech Beer were officially launched. There’s nothing left to do but, with the traditional greeting “Dej Bůh štěstí,” call out: Rise up — we’re off for a beer!
