Vratislavice brewery

Vratislavice brewery (Czech: Pivovar Vratislavice, also known as Pivovar Konrad) is a Czech brewery located in the Vratislavice nad Nisou district of Liberec. Its origins date to 1872, when shares were issued for a new brewery and malthouse in Maffersdorf an der Neiße (now Vratislavice nad Nisou). Construction began in 1873 and the brewery was ceremonially opened on 24 January 1874. In its first production year it brewed 34,680 hectoliters of beer, exporting not only regionally but also to Vienna. Today the brewery sells its beer under the Konrad brand, named after the Přemyslid prince Konrad. The brewery produces traditional Czech lagers and specialty beers from selected ingredients and spring water from its own well. Its core range includes Czech lagers classified by original gravity (10°, 11°, 12°, 14°), as well as strong, dark, flavored, and non-alcoholic beers. The brewery has won numerous awards at national and international competitions. It operates a brewery pub (Pivovarská hospoda) and a brewery shop (Pivovarská prodejna) at its premises in Liberec 30. The brewery has a turbulent history: founded in 1872, it faced financial difficulties and a temporary shutdown in 1877, was taken over by the Ginzkey industrial family, and later became part of the state enterprise Severočeské pivovary in 1948. After the political changes of 1989, it was gradually privatized; in 1996 the British firm Bass International Brewers acquired 55% of shares. On 25 May 1998 the brewery was surprisingly closed. Between 1998 and 1999 the Czech company Hols acquired the real estate and technology and prepared to resume production. Because the trademark rights to the old name "Vratislav" were held by other breweries, the new beer brand Konrad was introduced. On 25 May 2000 the brewery resumed operations, and at its first public tasting over 3,000 visitors attended. Production grew continuously, reaching 155,000 hl of beer in 2010, a large part for export to Germany, France, Spain, Hungary, Italy, and Sweden. The brewery is based at Pivovarská 164, 463 11 Liberec 30, Czech Republic. It exports to Poland and Germany (as indicated on its website) and has historically exported to many other countries. Its website is pivo-konrad.cz.

The origins of the modern brewery date back to 1872, when shares were issued for the establishment of a new brewery operation. An advertisement appeared on Sunday, 21 July 1872, in the Reichenberger Zeitung: "The Gesellschaft der Reichenberger Brauerei und Mälzerei in Maffersdorf an der Neiße offers its shares on Monday, 22 July 1872, particularly at the Reichenberger Bank under the usual conditions." The brewery was founded in 1872 by the Gesellschaft der Reichenberger Brauerei und Mälzerei in Maffersdorf an der Neiße. Construction began in 1873, and the ceremonial opening took place on 24 January 1874. Already in its first production year, the brewery produced 34,680 hectoliters of beer, which was exported not only regionally but also to Vienna. In addition to production, the brewery opened an excursion restaurant directly at the facility. Despite initial success, economic difficulties soon arose: financial losses, poor hop harvests, and strong competition led to a temporary shutdown of production in 1877. After two years, the brewery resumed operations. The Maffersdorf industrial family Ginzkey took over the brewery, securing production. By 1887, production grew to over 77,000 hectoliters, half consumed locally and half exported, mainly to Vienna and Upper Lusatia. In 1891, Emperor Franz Joseph I visited the brewery. Around the turn of the century, it won numerous awards at national and international competitions, including a medal at the International Culinary Art Exhibition in Vienna in 1906. In 1908, the brewery merged with the Meddinger brewery to form a new joint-stock company (Reichenberg-Maffersdorfer und Gablonzer Brauereien). Production sites and sales areas remained independent. During this time, the malthouse was modernized, artificial cooling was installed, and in 1911 a company health insurance fund was established. After World War I, beer demand rose again. The brewery invested in modern fermentation and storage facilities, trucks, workshops, and new production equipment. In the 1930s, roads and access routes were improved, and the brewhouses were modernized. Despite the 1929 world economic crisis, the brewery continued production. During the separation of the Sudetenland, the brewery was treated preferentially as a German operation. Many German employees were drafted into the military, and prisoners of war replaced them. There was a shortage of raw materials, and low-gravity beers were produced, mainly for the Wehrmacht. In 1948, the brewery became part of the state enterprise Severočeské pivovary. From 1950, 10° beers were brewed regularly. In the 1960s–1980s, new production facilities were built, including a brewhouse with 500,000 hl capacity, a new fermentation hall, bottling lines, and a large facility for non-alcoholic beverages. Despite a fire in 1983, production continued. In 1989, output was 305,190 hl of beer and 141,872 hl of non-alcoholic beverages. After the political changes, the brewery was gradually privatized. In 1996, the British firm Bass International Brewers acquired 55% of the shares. Production rose to almost 400,000 hl, with exports to the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the USA. On 25 May 1998, the brewery was surprisingly closed. Between 1998 and 1999, the Czech company Hols acquired the real estate and technology and prepared to resume production. Because the trademark rights to the old name "Vratislav" were held by other breweries, the new beer brand Konrad was introduced, named after the Přemyslid prince Konrad. On 25 May 2000, the brewery resumed operations. At the first public tasting, over 3,000 visitors attended. Output grew continuously; in 2010, 155,000 hl of beer were produced, a large part for export to Germany, France, Spain, Hungary, Italy, and Sweden. Today the brewery produces ten types of beer under the Konrad brand, including pale draught beers, pale lagers, strong beers, dark and specialty beers, red beer, and the traditional "Svatopavelské" according to a recipe from the early 20th century, as well as seasonal and non-alcoholic beers. The beers are traditionally classified by original gravity (e.g., 10°, 11°, 12°, 14°) and regularly win awards at competitions.

• 2010

  Production reaches 155,000 hl of beer, largely for export to Germany, France, Spain, Hungary, Italy, and Sweden.

• 2000

  Brewery resumes operations on 25 May 2000; first public tasting attracts over 3,000 visitors.

• 1999

  Czech company Hols acquires real estate and technology; new brand Konrad introduced.

• 1998

  Brewery surprisingly closed on 25 May 1998.

• 1996

  British firm Bass International Brewers acquires 55% of shares; production rises to almost 400,000 hl.

• 1989

  Output reaches 305,190 hl of beer and 141,872 hl of non-alcoholic beverages.

• 1983

  Fire at the brewery; production continues.

• 1950

  Regular brewing of 10° beers begins.

• 1948

  Brewery becomes part of the state enterprise Severočeské pivovary.

• 1911

  Company health insurance fund established.

• 1908

  Merger with the Meddinger brewery to form Reichenberg-Maffersdorfer und Gablonzer Brauereien.

• 1906

  Awarded a medal at the International Culinary Art Exhibition in Vienna.

• 1891

  Emperor Franz Joseph I visits the brewery.

• 1887

  Production grows to over 77,000 hl, half exported mainly to Vienna and Upper Lusatia.

• 1879

  Production resumes after two years; Ginzkey family takes over the brewery.

• 1877

  Temporary shutdown of production due to financial losses, poor hop harvests, and competition.

• 1874

  Ceremonial opening on 24 January 1874; first production year yields 34,680 hl of beer.

• 1873

  Construction of the brewery begins.

• 1872

  Shares issued for the establishment of a new brewery in Maffersdorf an der Neiße; advertisement in Reichenberger Zeitung on 21 July 1872.

Traditional Czech brewery producing craft beer from selected ingredients and spring water from its own well, with a history dating back to 1872.

• Konrad 10° Světlé výčepní

  Pale draught beer, 10° original gravity.

• Konrad 11° Světlý ležák

  Pale lager, 11° original gravity.

• Konrad 12° Světlý ležák

  Pale lager, 12° original gravity.

• Konrad 14° Silné pivo

  Strong beer, 14° original gravity.

• Konrad 11° ALE

  Ale, 11° original gravity.

• Konrad 16° Silné pivo

  Strong beer, 16° original gravity.

• Konrad Pilot nealko

  Non-alcoholic beer.

• Konrad Pilot Citron

  Flavored non-alcoholic beer with lemon.

• Konrad Pilot Mango

  Flavored non-alcoholic beer with mango.

• Svatopavelské

  Traditional beer according to a recipe from the early 20th century.

1. 1Pivovar KONRADpivo-konrad.cz
2. 2Vratislavice brewery - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Reichenberger Aktienbrauerei - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org