The symbiosis of large and small breweries on the domestic beer market has reached another level. The Proud mini-brewery started operating directly in the Plzeňský Prazdroj complex in the heart of the West Bohemian metropolis, specifically in the building of the plant’s former power plant. It uses, among other things, what is an essential part of “Pilsen” – the local water.
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The more than 100-year-old building of the original power plant stands at the confluence of the Mže and Radbuza rivers, and it was the energy of electricity and the power of the river that gave the new brewery its name.
The project is backed by former employees of Plzeňský Prazdroj – brewer Lenka Straková, who is in charge of recipes and supervising her own brewing and maturing of beers, and Michal Škoda, who manages the operation of the start-up brewery.
“Lenka and I met at the Brewers’ Choice project. We both always enjoyed discovering the diverse world of beer styles, Lenka in big batches, which enriched the menu of pubs, me while experimenting at home. We both like to try something new. And so, in fact, everything quite naturally led us to start a mini-brewery together, “says Michal Škoda.
So far, their company has seven employees. The total investment in the reconstruction of the historic building and the equipment of the brewery necessary for the start-up is in the order of tens of millions of crowns. Plzeňský Prazdroj also supports the whole project. “We support experimentation and cooperation with other breweries and breweries. Otherwise, however, Proud acts as independently and independently of us as possible, “says Zdeněk Kovář, a spokesman for Plzeňský Prazdroj.
They plan five stable beer specialties in Proud: four by the top fermentation method and one lager. Names such as TheMže or Soutock stick to the river theme.
“The current offer will be complemented by smaller batches. We want to experiment a lot, try and use different spices or fruits, for example, some beers will be matured in special oak barrels after whiskey or other distillates, “explains brewer Lenka Straková.
