Budějovický měšťanský brewery gained over the past 200 years a good reputation for producing various kinds of quality beers. Among them dominates B.B. Budweiser Bier lager and the whole beer range presented under the brandname Samson Budweiser Bier. Our beer is recognized by its golden colour, deep fermentation and a touch of bitterness giving it a unique taste.
The origins of brewing in České Budějovice (Budweis) fall into the time of foundation of this town by Czech King Přemysl Otakar II. in 1265. All the lawfull Czech and German citizens inside the walls of the town had the right to brew. The "Mile law" granted by the Kings Charles IV. and Wenceslav II. ensured that in the vicinity of the brewery town could not be located another brewery or its pub or malthouse. This law had been firmly kept.
In 1464 the burgers of Budweis decided to abolish all malthouses and breweries in the surrounding area of their privilliged "Mile law" land, no matter who had owned them and had sent armed men to undertake this order. The Rosenberg settlements and villages belonging to the Vyšší Brod monastery had been affected. In 1619 the mining town of Rudolfov and its brewery was also destroyed.
Besides the privately owned burger breweries a new municipal brewery producing "white beer" from wheat malt was built by town council after negotiations and with financial support of burgers with licence to brew. They were only allowed to brew "dark beer" using the barley malt.
In 1722 the burgers had bought the house of the brewer Mr Matěj Konvička with all brewing equipment (at present Hotel Malý pivovar). The town council later proclaimed it its property. The disputes over the proprietory rights had lasted to 1795 when both municipal brewery and former house of Matěj Konvička had to be given back to the burgers. To maintain the breweries a company called "Administration Budweiser Bürgerbräu" was established the same year. In 1871 its successor became a private trading company that accepted in 1894 the official name "Die Budweiser Bräuberechtigten - Bürgerliches Bräuhaus-Gegründet 1795 - Budweis (The Budweis burgers licenced to brew - Burger brewery - founded in 1795 - Budweis).