Brewing in Moravia

In the footsteps of ancient beer

Brewing is an ancient activity with a history of several thousand years. In ancient Egypt, it was a popular drink among all social classes in the 5th millennium BC. According to their belief, beer was an invention of the god Osiris to make people’s lives happy. They made wheat beer, which was flavored with dates. It was also a very popular drink in Babylonia, which was flavored with honey and fruits. Laws related to beer also appeared in the Code of Hammurabi. For example, the amount of beer was distributed according to social status. Of course, beer also appeared in other civilizations, such as Aztec cocoa beer or Chinese rice beer.

Beer was also one of the most popular drinks among the Germans. Most often were used juniper berries, anise, cumin, saffron, etc. for flavoring. They also regulated the requirements for its quality. The Romans and Greeks, on the other hand, drank wine, but did not like beer. In those days, beer was unfiltered and brewed without hops, as they were not yet known in many places. In 1516, the Bavarian regulation stated that beer could be brewed from malt, hops, brewer’s yeast and water.

Egyptian tomb wall-painting
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

“Humankind was built on beer. From the world’s first writing to its first laws, in rituals social, religious, and political, civilization is soaked in beer.”
– William Bostwick

Czech beer then and now

The Czech Republic has a rich beer history and good beers. Brewing began in the early Middle Ages, with hops being grown as early as 859. The oldest brewing monastery was the Brevnov Monastery in Prague. According to surviving records, it was in operation in 993, but the first beer export took place only in the 11th century. Home brewing was common in the country. Real Czech beers contain minerals, vitamins B and E, and antioxidants. Today there are many active breweries operating throughout the country. Czech Republic consumes more beer per capita than any other nation in the world and their beers are definitely among the best in the world.

Starobrno is the largest brewery in Moravia what is operating since the middle of the 13th century. Of course you can find this brand in many of the city’s pubs and bars and clubs. In 2009 the brewery merged with the Royal Brewery of Kušovice and became a part of the Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V.

The famous green beer of the Starobrno brewery can be tasted every year on Maundy Thursday. The emerald green color of the beer is due to its secret herbal ingredient, and it is very popular. The green beer is made by bottom fermentation, and as a final step, liqueur is added – thanks to which it is stronger than a traditional beer. Although many people mistakenly assume, green beer has nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day. Green beer is brewed to celebrate the arrival of spring and the Easter holidays.

Microbreweries and craft beers

In Brno you can find many places with their own breweries with a very colorful selection of beers. I don’t really want to rank them, I think the places on the list below have the best beers in Brno. Brno’s beer culture has a lot to offer! Explore them and decide which one is your favorite!