Velkopopovický Kozel
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| Type | Beer |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Czech Republic |
| Introduced | 1874 |
| Website | http://www.kozelbeer.com |
Velkopopovický Kozel is a Czech lager produced since 1874. The brewery was founded by František Ringhoffer in Velké Popovice, a town 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Prague. Their symbol is a goat (Kozel means "male goat" in Czech). The company was bought by SABMiller in 2002 and sold to Asahi Breweries in 2016.
Kozel is available as a 10° Pale, 11°, 12° Premium, and as a dark variant.
Kozel has won many different awards including the Australian Beer Award, the Czech Beer of the Year, the World Beer Cup and more. Kozel Premium won awards at the World Beer Championships in Chicago in 1995, 1996 and 1997. It is now sold in 38 countries worldwide.
The first historical mention of the brewery dates back to the 14th century. The brewery in Velke Popovice, as we know it today, has its origins in the 19th century. After years of disagreements and the gradual decline of the brewery, it was bought by a rich industrial tycoon, František Ringhoffer, who was the Mayor of Smíchov and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Czech history.
The brewery was built in 1875, though the first batch of Kozel beer was brewed in the previous year. The brewery, thanks to its owner, introduced new technologies, giving rise to its modern history. At the turn of the 20th century the brewery passed through its second major reconstruction and its production capacity was increased to 90,000 hectoliters per year from the original 18,000 in the beginning.
The First World War brewery survived, operating in a restricted mode and without much innovation. It grew again in the period between the wars. Kozel became famous for its dark 14° beer "Bock". However the Second World War brought restrictions again in the production of beer for all breweries. The protectorate brewery had problems in requiring the raw materials needed for the production of beer.
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Wikipedia