On the Czech beer scene, the Bernard Family Brewery from Humpolec is one of the most prominent and respected names. It combines more than four hundred years of brewing tradition with a modern and confident approach to business that is not lost in the world of large corporate breweries. If you want to know what is behind the taste of the beer you enjoy at the Bernard Family Brewery and its visitor center in Humpolec, this guide will take you through a story worth knowing.

1. History of the brewery: More than four centuries of beer brewing in Humpolec

The story of the Humpolec brewery is much older than the Bernard brand itself . It goes deep into history and is closely linked to the development of the city and the entire region. Understanding this long development means understanding why Bernard beer has such a depth of tradition that you can feel on the Czech beer scene today.

Key moments from the long history of the Humpolec brewery:

• In 1597, a brewery belonging to the owners of the Herálec estate began operating in Humpolec, ending the era of brewing burgher beer and beginning a long tradition of professional brewing in Humpolec.
• In the 1930s, the then owner, Marie Terezie Fügnerová, employed 40 permanent workers and the brewery's annual output was 20,000 hectoliters.
• Lager, light and dark draft beer were of excellent quality and were sold in the Humpolec, Havlíčko Brod, Ledeč and Pelhřimov regions.
• After World War II, the Humpolec brewery was incorporated into the national enterprises Horácké pivovary Jihlava and later South Bohemian Breweries České Budějovice, which meant a gradual loss of independence.
• At the end of the socialist period, the operation was neglected for a long time and was heading towards closure, the technology was outdated and the beer's reputation was deplorable.

The Humpolec Brewery has had a very eventful history, culminating in the early 1990s, when it was threatened with liquidation. But it was at that moment that the most interesting chapter of its story began .

2. The Modern Era: From Privatization to a Respected Brand

The true modern history of the Bernard brewery begins in October 1991, when three courageous entrepreneurs took over a brewery that was technologically literally “dead.” What followed is one of the most inspiring stories of Czech entrepreneurship after 1989 and proof that quality and your own path pay off .

Key milestones in the brewery's modern history:

• On October 26, 1991, Stanislav Bernard, Josef Vávra and Rudolf Šmejkal auctioned off the bankrupt Humpolec brewery in a small privatization for five times its book value, which was a very bold step into an uncertain future at the time.
• In 1993, Stanislav Bernard was behind the establishment of the Czech Association of Small Independent Breweries, of which he was president until 1999, and thus began to actively participate in shaping the Czech beer market even outside the walls of his own brewery.
• In 2000, the brewery in Rajhrad near Brno bought its own malting plant, and in 2001, the Belgian brewery Duvel Moortgat acquired 50 percent of the company, which made it possible to finance further necessary investments in development.
• In 2009, the brewery exceeded 200,000 hectoliters of beer for the first time, and the brewery grew from the category of small breweries to large producers, which was a symbolic milestone in a long period of growth.
• Today, the brewery exports beer to various corners of the world and in the record year of 2019, it produced over 400,000 hectoliters of beer, making it one of the most important Czech independent breweries.

The story of the Bernard brewery is today synonymous with the successful combination of tradition, quality and a confident approach to business . And yet, the brewery retains the atmosphere of a family business that is still setting out on its own path.

3. Brewery philosophy: Our own way

What makes Bernard Brewery truly exceptional is not just its beers, but also the way it approaches business . The “Our Own Way” philosophy is much more than a marketing slogan for the brewery, it is a life attitude that is reflected in every decision, whether it is about beer production, customer relations, or public engagement.

What is behind the philosophy of the Bernard brewery:

• The brewery first used the slogan "In its own way" in its communication and it became a symbol of its approach to brewing and business, which is today the unmistakable calling card of the Bernard brand.
• Stanislav Bernard's face appears in various stylized forms in the brewery's advertisements and, through a number of advertising campaigns, he makes it clear that he doesn't care what's happening around him, which is a completely unique approach in Czech beer marketing.
• The campaign "The world has gone crazy. Hold on..." earned a lot of attention, confirming Bernard's reputation as a brand with a strong voice and opinion.
• The brewery publishes the magazine Vlastní cestové (On Your Own Way) and awards the Bernard Award for exemplary and fair actions, thereby extending its philosophy beyond the field of brewing itself.
• The brewery successfully lobbied the Chamber of Deputies for a reduced excise tax on beer for small breweries, helping to create a better environment for the entire Czech independent brewing industry.

This confident and open approach is why Bernard has never been an anonymous beer brand and why it has built such a strong and personal relationship with its customers. Bernard beer is simply not just a beer, it is a statement about what the world could be .

4. Bernard brewery assortment: A varied offer for everyone

One of the great strengths of the Bernard brewery is the breadth of its range . Since its re-establishment in 1991, the brewery has not focused on just one type of beer, but has gradually built a portfolio that covers the tastes of every beer lover . From classic lagers to top-fermented specials to non-alcoholic and gluten-free beers, Bernard proves that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand.

What does the Bernard Family Brewery offer:

• The brewery produces 16 types of beers, including gluten-free beer, the attractive Black Avalanche, or the top-fermented Bohemian Ale, so there is always plenty to choose from.
• Classic lagers such as Bernard lager 12° and 11° are complemented by more special beer styles such as Bernard India Pale Ale, Black lager with fine yeast or Semi-dark lager Jantar, making the brewery appeal to both traditional beer drinkers and lovers of newer beer styles.
• Unfiltered beers, such as classic eleven and twelve, are bottom-fermented, unpasteurized, and offer a subtle hop aroma, full yeast flavor, and refreshing high-end bite, making them among the most popular choices among connoisseurs.
• Gluten-free lager with a maximum gluten content of 20 mg/kg is intended for celiacs and people suffering from gluten allergies and will appeal to them with its traditional taste with delicious fullness, balanced bitterness and thick foam, which is still a relatively rare offering among Czech breweries.
• The non-alcoholic "With a Clear Head" line includes classic Free and flavored variants such as Švestka, Višeň or Grep. Although these beers undergo gentle flash pasteurization, they are produced using a traditional production process and retain their original pleasantly bitter taste and wort aroma.

To this must be added seasonal specials and innovative new products , such as the Holiday Lager, the Spring Special or even a beer brandy aged in American oak barrels , which the brewery introduced as an original extension of its established offer. The Bernard range is thus proof that a family brewery can be as diverse as the world's largest brands , without losing its distinctive face.

5. What makes Bernard unique: Quality over quantity

The range is one thing, the approach to production and quality is another . And this is where the Bernard brewery has long stood out from many of its competitors. The brewery relies on a number of unique features and processes that make its beer what it is, and which you would hardly find in large-scale industrial producers.

What makes Bernard beer so special:

• Bernard Brewery was the first in the Czech Republic to introduce so-called microbiological filtration for its filtered beers. This process allows the beer to be thoroughly filtered and freed of yeast, so it retains its full flavor and natural properties without having to go through classic pasteurization, which could degrade the beer. The unfiltered beers on offer, of course, do not go through this filtration either, and thus retain their authentic yeast character.
• In 2000, the brewery in Rajhrad near Brno bought its own malting plant, thereby securing control over one of the most important raw materials and the ability to produce malt exactly according to its own quality requirements.
• The brewery has acquired a new source of excellent water for brewing beer, which is a crucial factor for Czech beer, as water makes up more than 90 percent of its volume and its quality directly affects the resulting taste.
• The brewery continues to refuse to package beer in non-returnable PET bottles and aluminum cans, which is a truly rare stance among large breweries today and proof that Bernard truly cares about quality and sustainability.
• The brewery even has its own hop garden in Humpolec at an altitude of 575 meters above sea level, which is much higher than the traditional Žatec hop gardens at an altitude of 230 meters, thus experimenting with growing hops in non-traditional conditions.

In addition, the emphasis is on unpasteurized production for the vast majority of production. The only exceptions, where gentle flash pasteurization is applied, are non-alcoholic beers from the "With a clean head" series, top-fermented specials (Bohemian Ale and India Pale Ale) and beers supplied in bottles with patent caps.

6. Visitor Center: Experience Bernard firsthand

If you really want to get to know Bernard Brewery, it’s not enough to just drink its beer . Shortly after celebrating its 30th anniversary in modern times, the brewery opened a brand new visitor center in Humpolec, transforming a simple excursion into a full-fledged tourist destination . The visitor center has quickly become one of the most interesting beer experiences in the Czech Republic and proof that Bernard thinks long-term when it comes to connecting with its customers.

What the visitor center offers:

• In 2022, the brewery opened a visitor center, which was created partly by using and modifying existing buildings on the brewery premises, thus preserving the authentic atmosphere of the historic brewery.
• The visitor center includes a brewery exhibition, tasting rooms, a restaurant, a shop, and social and conference spaces, so every visitor will find a way to enjoy their stay in their own way.
• The Bernard lookout tower, built around a former brewery chimney, became part of the project and offers a unique view of Humpolec and the surrounding landscape of the Vysočina.
• The visitor center won the title of Building of the Year in 2023, confirming its architectural and conceptual excellence.
• In the Construction of the Vysočina Region competition, it was awarded the Construction of the Year of the Vysočina Region 2022, which is further proof that the Bernard brewery approaches investments with the same honesty with which it brews beer.

A visit to the brewery in Humpolec is a great addition to any trip to the Vysočina region and an ideal experience for Czech beer lovers . But if you are not traveling to Humpolec, you can enjoy freshly tapped Bernard beer elsewhere, for example in the comfort of a wooden vat in one of the Prague branches of the Bernard beer spa.

Bernard Brewery: Tradition and innovation in one glass

The story of the Bernard brewery is one of the most inspiring stories of Czech brewing in the modern era . From a dilapidated operation that was threatened with liquidation, thanks to the courage and vision of its founders, a brand grew that is now a household name not only in the Czech Republic but also in the world. And yet, even after decades of success, Bernard has retained the most important things: its family character, its own path and an uncompromising approach to quality .

Today, Bernard beer is synonymous with honest Czech brewing combined with the courage to innovate . Whether you taste it in the form of a classic lager, an unfiltered eleven, a gluten-free variant or one of the specials, you will always find the same respect for tradition, quality ingredients and characteristic taste that sets Bernard apart from the competition. And if you taste it directly in Humpolec, in the modern visitor center awarded the title of Building of the Year, the experience will be even stronger.

If you're not heading to Humpolec, you can enjoy freshly tapped Bernard beer in Prague. At the Bernard Beer Spa, you will not only drink it, but also experience it in a way that you will not experience anywhere else, in the peace of a wooden tub with a glass in your hand and with the privacy that belongs to you . Take a look. Current price list and Book an appointment online. Bernard is waiting, whether in Humpolec or in the heart of Prague.

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