Budweiser Budvar, the national brewery of the Czech Republic, has announced its first ever UK-brewed lager brand, the first to be brewed outside its home country.
Czech Mates is brewed with Peak District craft brewery Thornbridge, home of iconic craft beers and ales including Jaipur IPA and Blanche de Bakewell, and will be available to purchase from May 16 from the brewery, online at its website, and at selected retailers. Discussions are alos undereway with major UK retailers regarding a wider launch in early autumn 2023.
Bringing together centuries of Czech brewing expertise, the finest British ingredients and
cutting-edge technology, Czech Mates is a Czech-style lager that aims to fuel a growing appreciation for quality, traditionally brewed lager across the UK.
The 4.8 per cent brew is brewed to the same high standards as all Budweiser Budvar and Thornbridge products, using the traditional Czech brewing method of decoction and long, slow maturing to complement the British-grown Maris Otter malt and East Kent Goldings hops, while Budvar’s decades-old yeast strain makes the journey from Budweis to Bakewell to bring it all to life.
In addition, the famously soft water of the Peak District, just like that found in České Budějovice (Budweis), is ideal for brewing lager. As the most awarded brewery in the UK, Thornbridge is a perfect partner for Budvar, sharing a passion for quality, consistency and innovation.
Thornbridge’s brewmaster, Rob Lovatt, said: “Budvar have a similar ethos to Thornbridge. They’re brewers of integrity, they don’t compromise, they use the very best ingredients.”
The word ‘lager’ means to store, and in keeping with Czech brewing standards, Czech Mates will be lagered for six weeks, far longer than most other UK lagers. This, the makers say, makes it taste “incredible.” Adam Brož, Budvar’s brewmaster, added: “Time is a very important feature of the lager. The long maturation brings the smoothness, crisp taste, and very high drinkability.”
The collaboration will be supported by a bold social media campaign based around the slogan “Mates Don’t Let Mates Drink Bad Lager.” The message is: with a new collaboration bringing together the 800-plus years of lager-making experience of the Czechs and the creativity of a UK craft beer titan, there is no excuse for drinking substandard lager anymore.
