Staropramen Brewery

Staropramen Brewery, known in Czech as Pivovar Staropramen or Pivovary Staropramen, is a historic brewery in Prague's Smíchov district and one of the Czech Republic's largest beer producers. Its origins date to 1869, when shares were offered for a joint-stock brewery in Smíchov. The brewery buildings were completed and brewing began in 1871. The Staropramen name, meaning “old spring,” was registered in 1911 as the business sought to distinguish its beer in a competitive Prague brewing market. The brewery expanded during the interwar period. Together with the Braník and Ostravar breweries, it became part of the broader consolidation of Prague and regional brewing capacity. By the 1930s, Staropramen had become the largest brewery in Czechoslovakia. Like other Czechoslovak breweries, it was nationalized after the Second World War under the communist system. Following the political and economic changes after 1989, the brewery was reorganized and subsequently passed through several ownership structures. In 1992, Staropramen, Braník, and Měšťan became part of the Prague Breweries group. The group came under the control of Bass in 1996, and Bass added Ostravar in 1997. Bass sold its brewing operations to Interbrew in 2000; Interbrew later combined with AmBev to create InBev. In 2009, private-equity firm CVC Capital Partners acquired Anheuser-Busch InBev's Central European brewing holdings, including Staropramen, in a transaction reported at €2.23 billion. The Central European operations were renamed StarBev. Molson Coors acquired StarBev in 2012, bringing Staropramen into the Molson Coors portfolio. Staropramen's core business is the production and sale of Czech-style beers, especially pale lagers in different strengths and serving formats. Its range includes draught beer, standard and premium pale lagers, dark beer, wheat beer, non-alcoholic beer, extra-hopped beer, reduced-sugar beer, and semi-dark lager. The flagship Staropramen Ležák, also marketed as Staropramen Premium, represents the brand's traditional premium lager position. The brewery's wider portfolio has also included other Czech beer brands such as Ostravar, Braník, and Velvet. The brand operates primarily from Prague but has an international distribution footprint. Reference material describes Staropramen products as being exported to 37 countries, mostly in Europe and North America. Beers have also been produced under license in several European and neighboring markets, including Serbia, Croatia, Romania, the United Kingdom, and Georgia. In May 2023, English actor Orlando Bloom was announced as a Staropramen brand ambassador, signaling a contemporary international marketing direction built around the brewery's Czech heritage and beer culture.

Staropramen Brewery traces its institutional origins to 1869, when investors were invited to subscribe for shares in a proposed joint-stock brewery in Prague's Smíchov district. Construction followed, and the brewery began brewing in 1871. Its location placed it within one of the principal brewing centers of Prague, but the business faced strong competition from other established breweries in the city. To establish a distinct market identity, the Staropramen name was registered in 1911. The name is generally translated as “old spring,” referring to a source of water and conveying a traditional Czech brewing image. The brewery benefited from the growth of the Czechoslovak beer market after the First World War. During the interwar decades it expanded significantly and by the 1930s was the largest brewery in Czechoslovakia. Its later corporate history was shaped by the consolidation of several breweries. Ostravar opened in 1898, while Braník began operations in 1899; both eventually became associated with Staropramen through successive group structures. After the Second World War, the Czechoslovak state nationalized the country's breweries. Staropramen remained part of the state-controlled brewing system during the communist period. After the end of communist rule, the brewery entered a period of privatization and corporate restructuring. In 1992, Staropramen, Braník, and Měšťan were organized within the Prague Breweries group, known in Czech as Pražské Pivovary. Bass gained control of the group in 1996 and brought Ostravar into the organization in 1997. Bass sold its brewing operations to Interbrew in 2000. Interbrew subsequently merged with AmBev in 2004, creating InBev. During this period, Staropramen continued to grow and was described in 2008 as the Czech Republic's second-largest beer producer, with a reported 15.3 percent share of the domestic market. That figure is historical and does not describe current market share. In October 2009, CVC Capital Partners acquired Anheuser-Busch InBev's Central European holdings, including Staropramen, in a transaction reported at €2.23 billion. The acquired operations were renamed StarBev. In April 2012, Molson Coors purchased StarBev, making Staropramen part of the Molson Coors international beer portfolio. Today, Staropramen is associated with a broad range of Czech-style beers produced and marketed from Prague. Its offerings span pale draught beer, pale lagers, premium lager, dark beer, wheat beer, non-alcoholic beer, extra-hopped lager, reduced-sugar beer, and semi-dark lager. The business has also been connected with other brands, including Ostravar, Braník, and Velvet. Staropramen products are exported to numerous markets, with reference material identifying 37 export countries concentrated in Europe and North America. Licensed production has also been reported in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, the United Kingdom, and Georgia. In 2023, the brand added actor Orlando Bloom as an ambassador, illustrating its effort to present a long-established Czech brewing identity to an international audience.

1. 2023Orlando Bloom becomes brand ambassador

   Staropramen announced actor Orlando Bloom as a new ambassador for the brand.

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2. 2012Acquired by Molson Coors

   Molson Coors acquired StarBev, placing Staropramen within its global beer portfolio.

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3. 2009StarBev formed after CVC acquisition

   CVC Capital Partners acquired Anheuser-Busch InBev's Central European holdings, including Staropramen, and renamed the operations StarBev.

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4. 2008Second-largest Czech beer producer

   Staropramen was reported as the Czech Republic's second-largest beer producer, with a historical domestic market share of 15.3 percent.

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5. 2000Bass sells brewing operations to Interbrew

   Interbrew acquired Bass's brewing operations, including the business associated with Staropramen.

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6. 1997Ostravar joins the group

   Bass brought the Ostravar brewery into the brewing group.

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7. 1996Bass gains control

   The Prague Breweries group came under the control of Bass.

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8. 1992Joins Prague Breweries

   Staropramen joined the Prague Breweries group together with the Braník and Měšťan breweries.

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9. 1930Brewery becomes Czechoslovakia's largest

   By the 1930s, Staropramen had become the largest brewery in Czechoslovakia.

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10. 1911Staropramen name registered

    The Staropramen brand name was registered as the brewery competed with other Prague producers.

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11. 1871Brewing begins

    The brewery buildings were completed and the first beer was brewed at the Smíchov site.

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12. 1869Joint-stock brewery established in Smíchov

    Shares were offered for a proposed joint-stock brewery in Prague's Smíchov district, establishing the institutional foundation of the future Staropramen brewery.

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A heritage Czech lager brand positioned around Prague brewing tradition, accessible premium quality, and international availability.

• Staropramen SmíchovPale draught beer

  A lighter pale draught beer associated with the brewery's Prague home district. It is described as a 4.0% ABV beer and corresponds to the Czech výčepní or 10-degree style, making it suited to everyday draught consumption.

• Staropramen JedenáctkaPale lager

  A pale lager identified as an 11-degree Czech beer and containing 4.7% ABV. It occupies the space between lighter draught beer and stronger premium lager, reflecting the range of strengths typical of Czech brewing.

• Staropramen LežákPremium pale lager

  The brand's flagship pale lager, also marketed as Staropramen Premium. It is described as a 5.0% ABV, 12-degree Czech ležák and represents the brewery's principal expression of traditional premium Czech lager.

• Staropramen ČernýDark beer

  A dark Czech-style beer with 4.4% ABV. Its darker color and malt-led profile broaden the Staropramen range beyond pale lagers while retaining the brand's connection to Czech brewing traditions.

• Staropramen Nefiltr PšeničnýUnfiltered wheat beer

  An unfiltered wheat beer with 5.0% ABV. The product adds a cloudy, wheat-based style to a portfolio otherwise centered on pale and dark lagers, and is positioned as a less conventional specialty within the brand.

• Staropramen NealkoNon-alcoholic beer

  A low-alcohol or non-alcoholic beer containing no more than 0.5% ABV. It provides an alternative for consumers seeking the taste and social role of beer while limiting alcohol intake.

• Staropramen Extra ChmelenáExtra-hopped pale lager

  An extra-bitter pale lager with 5.2% ABV. Its additional hopping gives it a more pronounced bitterness than the standard pale lager offerings and targets consumers seeking a stronger hop character.

• Staropramen DéčkoReduced-sugar beer

  A pale beer with reduced sugar content and 4.0% ABV. The product extends the portfolio toward a specific dietary preference while retaining a conventional pale-beer format.

• Staropramen GranátSemi-dark lager

  A semi-dark lager containing 4.8% ABV. Its intermediate color and flavor position it between pale and dark beers, offering a broader malt profile without moving fully into the dark-beer category.

• 2023Orlando Bloom brand ambassador program

  International

  Staropramen appointed English actor Orlando Bloom as a brand ambassador. The partnership connected the historic Czech brewery with a globally recognizable cultural figure and supported the brand's international positioning.

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• 2012Molson Coors acquires StarBevM&A

  Staropramen was operating within StarBev after CVC Capital Partners' acquisition of the Central European brewing business.

  What changed. Molson Coors purchased StarBev and added Staropramen to its international beer portfolio.

  Aftermath. Staropramen became a subsidiary brand within Molson Coors, where it remains associated with Czech beer production and exports.

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• 2009CVC acquires Central European brewing holdingsM&A

  Anheuser-Busch InBev sold its Central European brewing operations as part of a major portfolio transaction.

  What changed. CVC Capital Partners acquired the holdings, including Staropramen, and renamed the operations StarBev.

  Aftermath. Staropramen operated within StarBev until Molson Coors acquired the group in 2012.

  Reported transaction value. €2.23 billion (October 2009)

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• 1992Reorganization into Prague BreweriesStrategy

  Following the end of communist rule and the beginning of brewery privatization and restructuring, Staropramen was grouped with Braník and Měšťan.

  What changed. The breweries became part of the Prague Breweries group.

  Aftermath. The move began a sequence of ownership changes that later brought the business under Bass, Interbrew, InBev, StarBev, and ultimately Molson Coors.

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• 2023Orlando Bloom announced as Staropramen brand ambassador

  Staropramen announced English actor Orlando Bloom as a new brand ambassador, linking the beer's international marketing with a recognizable entertainment personality.

  CampaignLeadership change
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• 2012Molson Coors acquires StarBev and adds Staropramen to its Central European brewing portfolio

  Molson Coors acquired StarBev, the Central European brewing group that owned Staropramen, after CVC Capital Partners had acquired the business from Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2009.

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1. Staropramen Brewery
2. Staropramen official website