For a thousand years, the Zatec region west of Prague (Praha) has been known for the fine quality of the hops grown there. Sometimes known in English-speaking regions by the German name, Saaz, these hops represent pure elegance and are one of the keys to a beer that has been renowned for centuries. There are records of brewing taxes paid in 1004 AD in the city of Zatec. In 1261, the Society of Privileged Brewers was founded in Zatec; the beers they produced grew in popularity over the years and the cornerstone was laid for the current brewery in 1798. Production began at this 4-acre hilltop site, at the center of town, in 1801. In the late 1930s, before the German occupation of the area, the brewery shut down and the copper kettles were disassembled, removed, and buried in a field out of town - the brewers wanted to prevent the valuable copper from being confiscated for war material. After the war, the kettles were reinstalled and brewing recommenced in 1946. During the Communist era in Czechoslovakia (1948-1989), the Zatec Brewery was state-run; after the Velvet Revolution of 1989 it was taken over by a local operator. In 2001 careful restoration of the venerable buildings began and the brewery installed a modern wort chiller, a new bottling hall, and new stainless steel transfer piping. Lager beers, sometimes called "bottom fermented" because of the slow, cool ferment that encourages the yeast to settle in the bottom of the fermenter, typically have a clean flavor that highlights the rich malt flavor and spicy hop character. Made from local Czech two-row barley malt and local hops, Zatec Bright Lager is produced via very traditional, labor-intensive means: a double-decoction mash, open primary fermentation, and 45 days of lagering before packaging. Because the regional hop growers' cooperative is just a couple of blocks away in the village, the brewers at Zatec can pick up hops from them immediately before the brew. All hops used are Saaz (or, in Czech "Zatec"), grown in the fields around the city, including the Saaz sub-varieties Sladek and Premiant.

Zatec is a taste of history, a perfect match for food, and in fact the style of beer that is the original historical model for American light lagers - but with more body, aroma, and flavor. In an age of mass production, Zatec is a small independent brewery upholding classic Czech brewing traditions.

Zatec Bright Lager

Medium-bodied; natural, soft conditioning; hedonistic fresh herbal aroma; a flavor that is the best of fresh-baked bread, fields of grain, and spice, with a solid malt middle. Clean, sparkling, and quintessentially thirst-quenching.

Perfect with traditional Czech dishes like roast pork with dumplings & cabbage or breaded, fried cheese. The crisp effervescence of Zatec makes it a great match with lobster, monkfish or even a strong-flavored oily fish like mackerel; it can also cool the heat of spicy Asian cuisine. Serve in a stemmed Zatec goblet or fluted pils glass at 42-45 deg. F.

"Best Beer" - Sydney (Australia) International Beer Fest, June 2006

Five Stars, "Superb" - Modern Brewery Age, June 2007

16.9 oz (500 ml) bottles / 12 per case