Budweiser Bier Bürgerbräu
Encyclopedia
or was the name for the beer and the administration of the "" (German
for "Civic Brewhouse Budweis"), which in 1795 was founded by the German
-speaking burghers of the Bohemia
n city of Budweis in the Kingdom of Bohemia
). In 1894, the official company name was "".
As early as 1875, beer was being exported to the United States
where Budweiser
(like Pilsner) was already being copied by local brewers like Anheuser-Busch
. In 1895, when Budweiser Bürgerbräu became official court supplier to the King of Württemberg, the growing Czech population founded local competition as a joint stock company, today called Budějovický Budvar
. In the Budweiser trademark dispute, the three companies divided the rights to use the name, with the Europe-based companies giving up the Northern American rights to Budweiser
.
Bohemia
constituted part of the new Republic of Czechoslovakia
founded following the breakup of the Habsburg Empire at the end of World War I
in 1918. In 1945, all Germans were expelled
and both breweries expropriated. The German-sounding names of the company and its products were not welcome, and all rights had to be dropped or were otherwise lost, with beer being sold as "Crystal" or "Samson". Accordingly in 1960 and 1989 the company was renamed, to "První budějovický pivovar Samson" (First Budweiser brewery Samson).
After the fall of communism
, the company owned rights to "Crystal", "Czech Beer Crystal", "Biere Tcheque Crystal" and "Samson", but soon reacquired national naming rights and international Protected Geographical Indication
, in 1991 to "" and "", and in 1993 to "", "", "Biere de Budweis" and "Budweis Beer".
Since July 2001 the company is called (Budweiser citizens brewery), which corresponds to the original German name. The company uses German naming like "" also in Czech and English context, also stating that the hops
comes from the "Czech city of Saaz (Zatec)" despite this city also has an old Czech name (Žatec
).
Since 2005, due to the legal situation, the brewery offers its beer in the USA as "B.B. Bürgerbräu - since 1795", described as "Budweis City Bier"
rather than "Budweiser beer".
Since 2007 they have sold 1795 Budweiser under the name Boheme 1795 in the UK through Tesco
supermarkets.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for "Civic Brewhouse Budweis"), which in 1795 was founded by the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
-speaking burghers of the Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
n city of Budweis in the Kingdom of Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
). In 1894, the official company name was "".
As early as 1875, beer was being exported to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
(like Pilsner) was already being copied by local brewers like Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
. In 1895, when Budweiser Bürgerbräu became official court supplier to the King of Württemberg, the growing Czech population founded local competition as a joint stock company, today called Budějovický Budvar
Budejovický Budvar
Budweiser Budvar Brewery is a brewery in the city of České Budějovice , Czech Republic, that is best known for brewing a beer known as Budweiser Budvar in the European Union, Czechvar in the United States and Canada, and either Budweiser Budvar or Budějovický Budvar in the rest of the world.-...
. In the Budweiser trademark dispute, the three companies divided the rights to use the name, with the Europe-based companies giving up the Northern American rights to Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
.
Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
constituted part of the new Republic of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
founded following the breakup of the Habsburg Empire at the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1918. In 1945, all Germans were expelled
Expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia
The expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia after World War II was part of a series of evacuations and expulsions of Germans from Central and Eastern Europe during and after World War II....
and both breweries expropriated. The German-sounding names of the company and its products were not welcome, and all rights had to be dropped or were otherwise lost, with beer being sold as "Crystal" or "Samson". Accordingly in 1960 and 1989 the company was renamed, to "První budějovický pivovar Samson" (First Budweiser brewery Samson).
After the fall of communism
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, the company owned rights to "Crystal", "Czech Beer Crystal", "Biere Tcheque Crystal" and "Samson", but soon reacquired national naming rights and international Protected Geographical Indication
Protected designation of origin
Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
, in 1991 to "" and "", and in 1993 to "", "", "Biere de Budweis" and "Budweis Beer".
Since July 2001 the company is called (Budweiser citizens brewery), which corresponds to the original German name. The company uses German naming like "" also in Czech and English context, also stating that the hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
comes from the "Czech city of Saaz (Zatec)" despite this city also has an old Czech name (Žatec
Žatec
Žatec is an old town in the Czech Republic, in Louny District, Ústí nad Labem Region. It has a population of 19,813 .The earliest historical reference to Sacz is in the Latin chronicle of Thietmar of Merseburg of 1004. During the 11th century it belonged to the Vršovci - a powerful Czech...
).
Since 2005, due to the legal situation, the brewery offers its beer in the USA as "B.B. Bürgerbräu - since 1795", described as "Budweis City Bier"
rather than "Budweiser beer".
Brands
Except for the USA, where it has to be sold as "B. B. Bürgerbräu", the company marks its beers with "Budweiser Bier" (in German).Since 2007 they have sold 1795 Budweiser under the name Boheme 1795 in the UK through Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
supermarkets.
- B.B. Budweiser Bier
- 1795 Budweiser Bier
- Boheme 1795 (Uk branding)
- Samson Budweiser Bier
- Pito Budweiser Bier (alcohol free)
- Dianello Budweiser Bier (low sugar)