We had an amazing time in the Czech Republic while in Europe in May of 2018. For two weeks we ran around Austria, Germany as well as the Czech Republic. However, we really enjoyed our time in Prague (Praha) and I loved seeing the Charles Bridge and the Czechoslovak Hussite Church of Our Lady in Old Town. Sadly we were only there a couple of days and headed south to Germany. However, on our way south we made a detour and visited the city of Pilsner (Pilsen) to tour the Pilsner Urquell Brewery.
We have been on quite a few brewery tours, but this one was quite unique. Above is a Youtube video I made about our tour. Hope you enjoy some pictures that are not here in the post.
It is designed to interest and also impress both beer fans, as well as history lovers. We knew that it has inspired more than two-thirds of all of the world’s beers, which still today are labeled as “Pils”, “Pilsner” or “Pilsener. However, we also learned that the now-famous Pilsner Urquell beer was born 175 years ago, and is still in the same location. I was impressed with the visitor’s center myself. It was really nice.
Eventually, we all got on a bus and went to the bottling facility building. The modern facility processes 120,000 bottles and 60,000 aluminum cans per hour. That was also quite impressive :). They shared with us the ingredients from which Pilsner Urquell beer is brewed.
No brewery tour is complete without a tour of the brewhouse. Happily, Pilsner Urquell did not disappoint. It was interesting to find out that they actually have three brewhouses from different centuries. Their tops are copper and very shiny. It was a warm day, and the brewhouses were very warm, thus we didn’t stay in there very long, lol. What I did think was cool was that we got to see the brewing kettle in which the first batch of Pilsner Urquell lager was brewed on 5 October 1842. It’s crazy, but wonderful that the historic way of brewing Pilsner Urquell beer remains the same today.
We made it to the end of the tour and what everyone was waiting for – FREE BEER, lol. This was the part of the tour that I found the most unique and different than any other tour we had been on before. They took us down into their historic cellars. We got to view the spillage tubs and learned the term “beer blanket”.
Now the fun part, the beer tasting. We got to taste unfiltered and unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell beer tapped directly from an oak lager cask. It was a HUGE cask and fun watching our beers be poured. We were then able to stand around and talk for a few minutes before we headed back up and back to the visitor’s center. I am so glad we made the time to do this side trip. Here is a link to their website with tour information and directions. It is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area or driving through. Kudos to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery for a great tour and a great visit.
Pilsner Urquell Brewery Visitor Information
Address:
U Prazdroje 64/7, Pilsen 301 00 Czech Republic
Phone:
+420 377 062 888
Tours:
PILSNER URQUELL BREWERY TOUR
This tour will impress beer fans and history lovers. You will view the original locations where the famous Pilsner Urquell beer was born 175 years ago, and whose story continues even today. You will learn about the ingredients from which Pilsner Urquell beer is brewed. We will also show you the heart of the brewery, three brew houses from different centuries. The culmination of the tour is a tasting of unfiltered Pilsner Urquell beer in the historical cellars.
Length: 80 Mins
Price: CZK 250
Gambrinus Brewery
Visit the Gambrinus Brewery and visit the brewhouse and brewery cellars, where you can try a beer that only our brewers get to taste. During the tour, you’ll learn interesting facts from the history of the brewery, discover more about the ingredients used to make Gambrinus and the actual brewing process. See the unique historical open fermentation room and see the cylindroconical tanks in which beer maturation takes place today.
At the end of the tour, an experienced bartender will present the principles of proper care for beer, after which we’ll teach you how to pour beer and treat you to a hearty tasting of Gambrinus beer. Cheers!
Length: 120 Mins
Price: CZK 200
Brewery Museum Tour
Brewery Museum in Plzeň is the only professional museum of this type in Bohemia and guards a beer-making legend. As far as the contents and the extent of the exposition is concerned, there is no other museum like it in the world. While on the tour they will introduce to you the history of pubs in the town of Plzeň and will show you the malt shop, malt kiln, and rollers, but also a laboratory and beer curiosities. Learn all about beer and the brewing industry!
Length: 60 Mins
Price: CZK 100
Pilsen Historical Underground Tour
On this tour, you will go through a labyrinth of passageways, cellars, and wells built below Pilsen as early as the 14th Century. You will get to see life below the town and uncover the secrets of authentic finds and nooks and crannies that are hidden underground. through several exhibits, you will be immersed in the history of the town and the everyday life of its citizens in the Middle Ages.
On the tour, you will receive a beer voucher, in exchange for which at select Pilsen restaurants you can taste 0.3l of Pilsner Urquell beer (only for those aged 18 or over).
Length: 60 Mins
Price: CZK 150
The story of Pilsner beer
Unveil the history of Pilsner Urquell and discover the story of this brand as it unfolded both at the brewery and in the historical centre of Pilsen City from its foundation. A guide will show you the most interesting places connected with the brewing industry:
- Tour of the Pilsner Urquell brewery, incl. a beer tasting in the brewery cellars
- Tour of the Pilsen city centre, including the following stops:- City water tower in Mlýnská strouha (Mill Ditch) park- Náměstí Republiky Square and St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral- Historical town hall, feat. a model of the city- Statue of General Patton – Great Synagogue- Monasteries and beer in Pilsen- Famous Pilsen restaurants
Length: 180 Mins
Price: CZK 390
Directions:
By car
If you are coming by car, just enter ‘Plzeňský Prazdroj’ in your satnav and you will arrive right at the brewery. After driving through the Jubilee Gate, please feel free to park your car in the visitor car park.
By bus
1. If you are coming by bus and get off at the Central Bus station, take tram no. 2 (direction Světovar). Get off at the Hlavní nádraží station and you are within 5-minute walking distance of the brewery.
2. If you are coming by bus and get off at the Hlavní nádraží bus station, you are within 5- minute walking distance of the brewery: go straight ahead and when you arrive at the main road, use the pedestrian bridge to get to the brewery gates.
By train
If you are coming by train, get off at Plzeň – Main Station (Hlavní Nádraží). You are within 5- minute walking distance of the brewery: go straight ahead and when you arrive at the main road, use the pedestrian bridge to get to the brewery gates.
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