Velké Popovice Brewery celebrates 150 years since its founding
The first batch of Kozel beer was brewed 150 years ago in Velké Popovice. The brewery was established in 1874 by František Ringhoffer II, a notable industrialist, businessman, politician, mayor of Smíchov, and member of the Bohemian Provincial Assembly. The inaugural batch was brewed in December of that year, marking the beginning of an unbroken tradition of beer production in Velké Popovice.
Beer has been brewed in Velké Popovice, located about 25 kilometers from Prague, since the 14th century. The modern history of the brewery began 150 years ago when plans to construct a brewery with a malt house in Velké Popovice were officially approved. The first batch of beer was brewed by local brewers on December 15, 1874. The golden beverage quickly gained popularity, and within a year, 18,000 hectoliters of beer had been brewed and sold. In just a few years, the brewery became the third largest in the country, renowned particularly for its strong dark beer.
According to legend, the image of the goat, associated with the Kozel (“goat”) beer, originated from a wandering French painter. In reality, the explanation is more straightforward. In the past, the term “goat” was commonly used in Bohemia to refer to strong black beer, like the one brewed in Velké Popovice.
The earliest known depiction of a goat appeared around 1910 on the brewery's advertising board, accompanied by the inscription “Velko-Popovický KOZEL.” In the 1930s, the brewery's owners sought to enhance its appeal and strengthen its reputation by bringing a live goat from Uzhhorod to the brewery.
To this day, a live goat remains a fixture at the brewery and is traditionally named “Olda” after the first brewer in Popovice. This name has been passed down through generations of goats for decades.
Velké Popovice Brewery is now part of Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell Brewery). With exports to more than 50 countries around the world, the Czech brewery is the leader among beer producers in the region and the largest exporter of Czech beer.
