Bernard is a brand of Czech beer. The foamy drink is produced by a private brewery in the town of Humpolec, located between Prague and Brno. The brand was named after one of the founders, Stanislav Bernard. The company’s products are popular in their homeland and are exported to 35 countries around the world. The official representative of the company in Russia is the Moscow Brewing Company.
Historical information
In 1991, a group of Czech entrepreneurs led by Stanislav Bernard bought the bankrupt Humpolec brewery at an auction. The old enterprise, founded in the 10th century, was in a state of disrepair and required a thorough overhaul. The first XNUMX years of the company’s existence had to literally fight for life.
The owners set the task of creating a traditional Czech drink of high quality with a well-recognized taste. Over time, Bernard beer became popular throughout the country. In 2001, the Belgian company Duvel Moortgat acquired half of the company’s shares. Thanks to financial investments, the brand managed to gain a foothold in the national market and export products outside the Czech Republic.
Production features
Beer at the enterprise is brewed according to traditional Czech technologies. Cereals for the production of malt are grown by their own farm in Brno. The water comes from springs in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Yeast is cultivated directly at the enterprise in special installations. The company buys high-quality hops that give the right bitterness from Czech suppliers.
Primary fermentation takes place in the fermentation chambers. Then the beer matures for several weeks in cellars at a temperature not exceeding +2°C. The cold drink passes through a special antimicrobial filter that traps microorganisms. Pasteurization is not used at the factory, so Bernard retains the rich taste of real Czech beer.
Awards
Beer Bernard – winner of many awards at national and international competitions. Among recent achievements:
- World Beer Awards 2015, London – bronze medal;
- World Beer Challenge 2015, Portugal – silver medal;
- Meiningers International Craft Beer Awards 2017, Neustadt – silver medal;
- Australian International Beer Awards 2017, Melbourne – bronze medal;
- Frankfurt International Trophy 2018, Frankfurt – gold medal;
- Barcelona Beer Challenge 2019, Barcelona – gold medal;
- PIVEX Gold CUP 2019, Brno – gold medal;
- Concours International De Lyon 2019, Lyon – silver and gold medals.
Interesting Facts
The Bernard malthouse is one of the few in the Czech Republic that has preserved the old traditions of production. The plant, which has been operating since the end of the 2000th century, was acquired by the company in 6700. Annually, XNUMX tons of pilsner malt is produced here, which is used to make their own beer, and is also sold to other enterprises in the country.
In 2018, the company published a social media post featuring Soviet actor Georgy Millyar as Baba Yaga, tagging the image with the #MeToo hashtag used by anti-sexual harassment campaigners. Feminist organizations did not appreciate the joke, and the firm was at the center of a huge scandal.
Types of beer Bernard
Bernard Svatecni Lezak, 5%
Lager with a pronounced taste of natural malt without bitterness. There are hints of hops in the aftertaste. The beer undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, so it may be slightly hazy.
Bernard Cerny Lezak, 5%
Unpasteurized black lager is made from four types of malt with the addition of a special culture of yeast. A drink with a full taste and subtle bitterness is very popular on the Czech market.
Bernard Jantarovy Lezak, 5%
An unfiltered lager of rich amber color with a slight bitterness. In production, caramelized malt is used, due to which the beer acquires a natural sweetness.
Bernard Bohemian Ale, 8,2%
A strong Czech ale with a fruity aroma and malty flavor. Coriander is added to the beer, so spicy notes are felt in the aftertaste. The drink warms well on a cool day.
Bernard India Pale Ale, 5,6%
Ale was created on the basis of the recipe of an ancient drink, which was brought from the metropolis to British India. A beer with a deep fruity aroma that contrasts with the pronounced bitterness that is characteristic of this species. The variety took first place in the Czech competition Cerevisia Specialis in the nomination “Special Beer of the Year 2018”.
Bernard Kvasnicova Desitka, 4,2%
Light beer with a bright and full taste and a delicate aroma of hops. When tasting, sharp notes and pleasant bitterness are felt. The drink has a very dense rich foam, which lasts a long time in the glass.
Bernard Svetle Beer, 3,8%
An unpasteurized, low-alcohol variety with a rich hop aroma. A pleasant refreshing drink with a rich flavor range, dominated by spicy tones.
Bernard Oneactka Lezak, 4,5%
Light unpasteurized lager is a traditional Czech beer with a harmonious bitter taste, rich hop aroma and lush foam. The product won first place in the Czech competition “Beer of the Year – 2018”.
Bernard Kvasnicovy Lezak, 4,5%
A kind of weak Bohemian lager with a refreshing taste, in which yeasty notes are felt. Aged in bottles, so may be slightly hazy.
The company’s assortment includes 4 types of non-alcoholic beer, as well as a foamy drink with a strength of 4,9%, addressed to consumers with gluten intolerance. The original zero-alcohol Bernard Free Sour Cherry, based on malt, hops and natural berry syrup, won third place in the Czech Special Beer of the Year competition in 2018.
