Budweiser Budvar Lager

Budweiser Budvar is a premium Czech lager brewed exclusively in the city of České Budějovice. Unlike many global beer brands that have expanded production to international facilities, Budvar is protected by a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from the European Union, meaning it must be produced within its historical city using specific local ingredients like Saaz hops, Moravian malting barley, and water from 300-meter deep artesian wells.

The brewery's history is marked by a long-standing legal dispute with the American company Anheuser-Busch over the 'Budweiser' trademark. Because the name refers to the city's inhabitants (Budweisers), the Czech state-owned brewery maintains the rights to the name in most of Europe. In the United States and Canada, the product is sold under the brand name 'Czechvar' to avoid trademark infringement with the American namesake.

Remarkably, the brewery remains a state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. This unique ownership structure has allowed the brand to resist privatization and maintain traditional long-term lagering processes that many private corporations might shorten for cost-efficiency. It stands as a symbol of Czech national pride and brewing tradition.