Last updated: 3 September 2023
Pilsen, or Plzeň as it’s spelt in Czech, is located in the western part of Bohemia in the Czech Republic, about an hour south west of Prague and two and a half hours from Liberec. This town was, and still is, famous for beer. So rightly, a visit is just not complete without discovering at least one craft beer experience in Pilsen. Pick one of many experiences from sampling a perfectly poured Pilsener, tour a world famous brewery, relax in a beer spa, or simply wander the city streets and discover craft beer in Pilsen’s many microbreweries.
The world-renowned Pilsen larger gets its name, and derivations such as Pils, and Pilsener, from this city. Pilsen has been in the beer business almost as long as the city has existed!
The origins of beer in Pilsen date back to the 13th century, however it wasn’t until a Bavarian master brewer by the name of Josef Groll arrived in Pilsen in 1842 that everything changed.
Groll is responsible for utilising Pilsen’s soft water, hops acquired from Žatec known as the UNESCO-designated ‘Town of Hops’, combined with malt and yeast to create the necessary base for the light and golden bottom-fermented Pilsner lager which became the prototype for a new style of beer imitated around the world.
This post is produced in partnership with Visit Czech.
Map – Where to Find Craft Beer in Pilsen
How It All Began – Beer in Pilsen
The Pilsner Urquell brewery is the largest brewery, a landmark for visitors to the city, and one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
Beer lovers visiting Pilsen can take a tour around the brewery and discover the historical and current brewhouses, as well as the modern bottling room which can bottle an astonishing 120,000 bottles an hour.
A trip to the sensory exhibition to sample key ingredients of the famous lager, and ooh and aah at the 9km stretch of historic cellars. Of course, at the end of the tour, samples of freshly tapped beer straight from the barrel is your reward.
If a tour of the brewery isn’t enough, beer connoisseurs or the keen home-brewer might be interested in a three-hour workshop covering the principles of beer tapping.
While Pilsner Urquell Brewery might be world famous and a huge drawcard it’s not the only brewery in Pilsen. The city boasts several microbreweries which you can visit and discover original and craft beer in Pilsen.
Microbreweries and Craft Beer in Pilsen
Purkmistr Brewery
Located on the outskirts of Pilsen in a former 17th century farm, Purkmistr markets itself as a destination with a beer house and brewery, onsite restaurant, a hotel, and a spa and wellness centre.
If you can, time your visit for September to coincide with Sun in Glass, a festival of small scale breweries from across the country which takes place in the beer yard. Expect beer competitions, music performances, a programme of cultural events, and of course, a lot of beer.
Purkmistr brews its own beer under a brand of the same name, making unfiltered and unpasteurised beers giving them a slightly cloudy, appearance and ‘fresh’ taste. There is a wide variety of beers available, even some fruitier concoctions flavoured with fruit and herbs.
What to drink: The classic Pilsner style lager Purkmistr lager, or Purkmistr dark beer which is brewed from four malts with roasted coffee taste.
Find out more: Purkmistr
Beer Factory
Situated in the heart of Pilsen just a few steps away from the main square, Beer Factory is the largest brewery in Pilsen after the Pilsner Urquell and the only microbrewery within the city limits.
Founded in 2016, Beer Factory offers 10 types of their own beers and a large selection of bottled beers from the world’s best small breweries.
For the uninitiated, Beer Factory helpfully includes a number of factors about their beers in order to determine the one for your palette including EBC (European Brewery Convention) for determining colour, and IBU (International Bitterness Units) to a gauge of beer’s bitterness.
What to drink: Light lager 12 ° or something seasonal at the time of your visit like the GG Summer Ale.
Find out more: Beer Factory
Kalikovar Brewery
On the outskirts of Pilsen on the Mze river, lies this microbrewery on the site of the former Kalikovsky mill.
The 7.5 HL brewhouse makes beer in the traditional method using open fermentation vats with a long maturation time, using Satu Mare hops and Moravian malts in lager tanks resulting in unfiltered and unpasteurised beer.
What to drink: 12 degree light lager
Pivotečka
This centrally located bar offers eleven types of draft beers; a mixture of bottom and top fermented, non-alcoholic beers and ciders all on tap. If that’s not enough, there’s even more variety in bottles.
The atmosphere and clientele are lively, with regular events such as monthly rum tastings, Oktoberfest, quiz nights, Halloween, and St Patrick’s day, and the odd unplanned sing-a-long.
What to drink: Pivoztečky 11 °
Raven Brewery
Exclusively producing top-fermented ales, at Raven you can find 20 types of malt and an enormous variety of hops in stock. By combining them, Raven creates a wide range of beers to suit even the fussiest of palettes.
There are currently two pubs with the same name. The first is the brewery pub located directly in the brewery building at Mozartova 1 in Pilsen Bolevec. Offering six taps with Raven beers and a well-stocked fridge with bottles.
The second is in the city centre of Pilsen, just a short walk from the monument on Americká Street. Same as the first, you will find six taps with Raven beers and a well-stocked fridge with bottled beer.
What to drink: Black label – At the end of each year, Raven creates something special. One year it was a sub-zero double IPA, another year it was a winey Barley concoction sitting on oak barrique chips for two months. If you visit near the years start or end, sample the most recent black label.
Find out more: Raven Brewery
Francis – Beer Café
This beer cafe is situated right on Náměstí Republiky in the yard of the nearby house in the heart of Pilsen. Less of a microbrewery but rather a small local bar featuring local craft beer. Francis is a cosy bar with an equally snug garden covered with umbrellas, depending on the time of year you visit, there may also be a few tables outside.
What to drink: With only 4 taps you’ll have to take whatever is on offer!
Find out more: Francis
Microbreweries Outside Pilsen
If you’re prepared to venture outside the city and further into the Pilsen region you can discover than microbreweries are popping up all over Western Bohemia.
In Dobrany you can start in the Blue Star Brewery where you will find up to twelve types of beer.
In Chodove Plane, the family brewery of Chodovar is built over the ancient cellars carved out of granite rock, dating back to the 12th century. There’s an onsite hotel, restaurant, and beer spa so you can settle in and make a day or a weekend out of it.
Close to the German border, halfway between Pilsen and Cesky Krumlov is the town of Zhůř which is home to Zhůřák Brewery. Founded in 2013, mainly top-fermented beers are brewed here rather than the traditional lagers of the region. At the time of our visit, Zhůřák beers can be sampled in Pilsen at Francis.
Where to Stay in Pilsen
With all that craft beer in Pilsen, you’re going to need somewhere to stay. The good news is that there are plenty of places to stay for a city break in Pilsen.
For convenience to the action, we recommend staying in Pilsen’s city centre. It’s an entirely walkable city unless you want to head out to Purkmistr in which case you’ll need to jump on a bus.
Vienna House Easy Pilsen is a great option, a modern and stylish 4-star hotel in the centre of Pilsen, PLUS it’s located directly opposite the Pilsner Urquell brewery. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
If you like more personal space, an apartment in the city centre like Hotel Republika 24 Apartments can be a great option.
If you like to collect, or use, loyalty points, then the Courtyard by Marriott, or ibis for Accor are good options for hotels in Pilsen.
This post has been created as part of the #CzechIn2021 campaign, in partnership with Visit Czech Republic, the Czech tourism board.
The content, copy, and images including the one of yours truly in a beer bath, are all our own. To plan your own trip to Czechia, Zzech (see what I did there?) out our other posts, or pop over to Visit Czech for more content.
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I had not been aware of the Bavarian connection, how cool! (I’m Bavarian.) Great post.
Thanks guys!