Gambrinus (beer)
A popular Czech beer named after a legendary brewing king.
Gambrinus is a Czech beer produced at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery and ranks among the country's most popular brews. Its name comes from a legendary European king credited with mythical brewing skills. The company behind it started in 1869.
The brand offers several varieties, all supplied by Plzeňský Prazdroj. Gambrinus Original 10, the most popular in the Czech Republic, has 4.3% ABV. Gambrinus Plná 12 is a 12° pale lager at 5% ABV. Unpasteurized versions come in 10° (4.2% ABV) and 12° (5.2% ABV). There is also an unfiltered, unpasteurized yeast pale lager at 4.8% ABV, and an amber 12° lager at 5.2% ABV. Gambrinus Dry is a special brew with reduced sugar content (4.0% ABV), and Gambrinus Flavoured is a canned pale beer with lime, elderberry, lemon, or grapefruit flavoring.
The Gambrinus name is also used by other breweries in Germany, Denmark, and the United States. In Mendig, Germany, a Gambrinusfest beer festival occurs every two years. Additional breweries include ones in Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Oberhaid, Nagold, and Naila, all in Germany. In Austria, Mohrenbrauerei August Huber Brewery produces a black beer called Gambrinus, and Brauerei Ottakringer in Vienna also has a Gambrinus beer. Hancock Brewery in Skive, Denmark, brews Old Gambrinus. Grivita Brewery in Bucharest, Romania, offers a Gambrinus beer. The defunct August Wagner Breweries in Columbus, Ohio, United States, once produced Gambrinus; its production rights were later acquired by the Pittsburgh Brewing Company, and company founder August Wagner was a native of Bavaria.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Pilsner Urquell Brewery
- Distributor
- Asahi Breweries
- Origin
- Czech Republic
- Introduced
- 1869
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Gambrinus is brewed at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery in the Czech Republic, where the company was founded in 1869. The beer takes its name from Gambrinus, a legendary European king celebrated for his mythical brewing abilities. It has become one of the most popular beers in the Czech Republic.
The brand offers a range of beer types supplied by Plzeňský Prazdroj. These include Gambrinus Original 10, the most popular Gambrinus beer in the country, and Gambrinus Plná 12, a 12° pale lager. Other varieties include unpasteurized, unfiltered, amber, dry, and flavored versions.
Beyond the Czech Republic, the Gambrinus name is used by many other breweries in Germany and Denmark, and has been used in the United States. In Mendig, Germany, the Gambrinusfest beer festival is held every two years. Several German breweries operate under the Gambrinus name, and the brand also appears in Austria, Denmark, Romania, and the United States.
Reader's Guide
Gambrinus holds a significant place in Czech beer culture as one of the country's most popular beers, produced at the historic Pilsner Urquell Brewery. Its range of styles—from the widely consumed Original 10 to the unfiltered and flavored variants—demonstrates the brand's adaptability to different consumer preferences. The beer's name, drawn from the legendary king Gambrinus, ties it to a broader European folklore tradition of brewing patronage.
The brand's legacy extends beyond the Czech Republic through licensing or independent use of the Gambrinus name by breweries in Germany, Denmark, Austria, Romania, and the United States. This widespread adoption reflects the name's recognition and commercial value. The Gambrinusfest in Mendig, Germany, further underscores the brand's cultural resonance. In the United States, the defunct August Wagner Breweries in Columbus, Ohio, once produced Gambrinus, with production rights later acquired by the Pittsburgh Brewing Company. The brand's international presence, combined with its deep roots in Czech brewing history, makes it a notable example of a beer name that has traveled across borders while maintaining its core identity.
Did You Know?
- Gambrinus is named after a legendary European king known for his mythical brewing abilities.
- Gambrinus Original 10 is the most popular Gambrinus beer in the Czech Republic.
- A Gambrinusfest beer festival is held every two years in Mendig, Germany.
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