Excursion

Come and see the Velké Popovice brewery for yourselves. Take a look under the Velké Popovice brewers’ lids as they produce Velkopopovický Kozel beer. Take part in a tour of the brewery together with beer tasting in the original brewhouse of 1928. Who knows whether František Ringhoffer (who was later awarded the title of baron for his numerous achievements) was able to foresee the success Kozel beer would achieve and which it continues to confirm and enhance, when he founded the brewery more than 130 years ago.

Brewery tour with tasting of Velkopopovický Kozel beer

Plzeňský Prazdroj a.s. – Pivovar Velké Popovice offers tours of the brewery with an expert commentary and tasting of Velkopopovický Kozel beer.

Tour route (90 min.)

• brewery courtyard - the brewery past and present
• new brewhouse – primary ingredients, the brewing process, description of beer fermentation
• storage cellar
• packaging hall – bottle and cask filling
• live mascot – the goat Olda
• original brewhouse – tasting of VPK beer
• sale of souvenirs

• The first stop on the tour route is the brewery courtyard. The commentary focuses on the history of the brewery and its founder František Ringhoffer, the reason why he chose this particular place for his brewery and the legacy he left behind him. Naturally, we do not forget to mention the prizes awarded to the Velkopopovický Kozel brand, which has been brewed here for more than 130 years. The introductory commentary also includes information about the consolidation of Plzeňský Prazdroj a.s., Pivovar Velké Popovice a.s. and Radegast Nošovice a.s., which are, as of 1 October 2002 officially part of the international SABMiller plc group – the second largest brewing company in the world.
• The next stop is at the new brewhouse where visitors can see the ingredients from which beer is brewed. You can view the impressive copper brewing set which includes brewing kettles with a volume of 500 hl, in which 11 brews per day can be produced. The commentary also focuses on the main beer fermentation process.
• From the brewhouse we continue to the storage cellar, where secondary fermentation of the beer takes place. In more than 300 tanks beer undergoes secondary fermentation at low temperatures and thus gains its characteristic taste, aroma and bite.
• Part of the tour is a visit to the packaging hall, where two fully automated packaging lines for filling bottles and casks conclude the demonstration of the beer production process.
• Another stop on the brewery tour, and an additional attraction, is a visit to the goat Olda, who became famous as the character in our successful advertisements and has been ‘working’ with the brewery for many years. We take this opportunity to acquaint visitors with the history behind the name Kozel (goat).
• Beer tasting of Velkopopovický Kozel is the final part of the tour and takes place in the original brewhouse of 1928. The tasting of 0,3 l of beer is included in the price of the tour. It is also possible to arrange the tasting of a wider range of Velkopopovický Kozel beers. Drivers and other visitors who are unable to taste beer during the tasting are offered the non-alcoholic beer Birell.
• Velkopopovický Kozel brand souvenirs can be purchased at the end of the tour.
• Visitor Rules and Regulations

Opening hours

• Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tours must be ordered in advance in writing. Tours outside opening hours should be arranged in the Visitors’ Centre. Weekend tours are for groups of more than ten persons only. Individual visitors can join larger groups.

Commentary

• -   in Czech
• -   for travel agencies’ groups it is possible to arrange the presence of an interpreter, who is supplied by the travel agency
• -   it is possible to arrange an interpreter into English for groups which do not have an interpreter for an additional fee of CZK 400 per tour
• -   at weekends group tours in English are available

Drivers are offered the non-alcoholic Birell beer. In accordance with the Act on protection against alcoholism and other drug addictions no. 37/1989 Coll. we do not serve alcohol to those under the age of 18. The tasting of a wider range of beers can be arranged, in which case the price of the tour will depend on the quantity and range of beers required.

Payment

• -   in cash (one-off tours and tours for individual visitors)
• -   invoice (multiple tours - must be arranged in advance)

Sale of souvenirs

Kozel brand souvenirs can be purchased at the end of the tour.

Tour reservations

Trips can also be ordered directly by filling in and sending this form.

Contact details

• -   reservations should be made at least one week in advance
• -   orders must be in writing and must be confirmed in writing by the brewery
• -   tours should be cancelled in writing no later than the morning of the day on which the tour is to take place. Tour guides will wait for groups for a maximum of 30 minutes, only if there is no other group afterwards. In the event of a group being delayed, please inform us of this on tel: 323 683 425

The ‘U Velkopopovického Kozla’ and ‘Pod ledem’ restaurants

Contact details:

U Velkopopovického Kozla restaurant
Mr. Šimáček – restaurant manager
Ringhofferova 1
251 69 Velké Popovice
tel.: 323 683 443

Pod ledem restaurant
Mr. Jor – restaurant manager
Ringhofferova 336
251 69 Velké Popovice
tel.: 323 665 225

Map