Kozel brought home 20th medal from an international beer competition

Thirty–four Australian and 13 international judges, included two female specialists from New Zealand and two from Australia, judged samples in 17 categories in the scope of two weeks. In the most watched category of Pilsner type beer, the most successful Czech beers were Velkopopovický Kozel Medium and Premium. Other beers from the Plzeňský Prazdroj family also did well – Gambrinus and Radegast. The main criteria that were evaluated were strong flavour, looks, aroma and drinkability of the beer.

„International beer competition AIBA first took place in 1993, when only beer from Australia and New Zealand took part in the competition. Today, a majority of samples in the competition come from around the world. That is why we are even happier that our lagers did well when competing with 241 breweries. This year’s  two medals brought our collection of medals to a total of 20 symbolic medals,“ Jaroslav Hacko, Manager of the Velké Popovice brewery, said of the success.

Czech lagers are gaining popularity around the world. People in 19 countries can savour Kozel Premium. Last year, a  total of more than 7,000 hectolitres of Kozel Medium was exported and it exported to only three countries. „Kozel Medium is characterised by its soft aroma and by its balanced flavour, which marries hints of roasted malt with a pleasant bitterness of hops,“ adds Vladimír Vaněk, Brand Manager of the Velkopopovický Kozel brand, about the points of the Czech 11% beer.

Australian International Beer Awards is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria in cooperation with the University of Ballarat. Over the past 18 years, it has become one of the most respected competitions in the world. This year saw a new category of hybrid beers which featured a strong, dark beer with a  vanilla–milk flavour from Thirsty Crow, an Australian brewery. The ultimate winning trophy went to a brewery from California, Moylan´s  Brewing Co.

Notes to editors:

• The first batch was brewed in the Velké Popovice brewery on December 15, 1874 and only a year later the brewery sold 18,000 hectolitres of beer. After only a few years, the brewery became the third largest brewery in the country. It was famous mainly for its production of strong, dark beer. In 2004, with its increase in production capacity to approximately 1.5 million hectoliters, the Velké Popovice brewery became the third largest in the Czech Republic.
• In 2010, more than 19,000 visitors came to the brewery, which represents a 40% increase in comparison with 2009.
• With total sales of close to 10 million hectolitres in the 2010 calendar year (including licensed production abroad) and with exports to more than 50 countries, Plzeňský Prazdroj a. s., is the leading producer of beer in the region and the biggest exporter of Czech beer.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s., is a member of the SABMiller PLC Company. Pilsner Urquell is an international flagship of SABMiller brands.

More information:
David Frodl, Ogilvy Public Relations, Ph. no: +420  221 998 410, +420 724 244 473, email:

Velké Popovice