Best Czech beers of 2024 crowned at annual awards: Bernard taps into victory

The Czech Republic's Friends of Beer Association (Sdružení přátel piva) has once again celebrated the country’s vibrant beer culture by announcing the winners of its annual awards. Held this year at Zlatá Kráva Brewery in Nepomuk, the event shone a spotlight on the finest Czech beers and the artisans behind them.

Now in its 34th year, the Friends of Beer Association's awards remain one of the most respected competitions in the Czech brewing industry. For 2024, Bernard emerged as the undisputed champion, taking home three prestigious titles, including Brewery of the Year.

Bernard stole the show, claiming the top spot in three categories. It won for Best Pale Draft Beer (světlé výčepní pivo) and Best Pale Lager (světlý ležák), two of the most competitive categories. The brewery also earned the title of Brewery of the Year, surpassing Kamenice nad Lipou Brewery and Únětický pivovar, which came in second and third, respectively.

"The Beer Friends Association competition is one of the oldest and most prestigious in our country, and we really appreciate the award," Josef Vávra, Bernard's head brewer and general manager, said from the ceremony in Nepomuk.

"We have won first place several times already, which pleases us. At the same time, it is a commitment and motivation to continue to brew the best possible beer and to continue to develop the brewery."

Beyond Bernard's wins, Primátor continued its dominance in the Wheat Beer category, while Strahov Brewery in Prague was named Best Microbrewery. Smaller breweries like Rampušák, Siberria, Volt, and Permon also took home top honors in individual categories.

The event wasn’t just about awarding top-quality beers; it also highlighted the enduring cultural significance of Czech brewing. Václav Berka, the emeritus brewmaster at Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj), was named Brewer of the Year.

Hailing from a family with a long brewing tradition, Berka’s career spans decades and continents, from the cellars of Chodová Planá to the famed Guinness Brewery in Ireland. He joked at the awards ceremony that he first tasted beer in second grade, but only became a connoisseur two years later.

"It was in the fourth grade that I avoided beginner's mistakes and didn't just taste the foam, but took a proper sip," Berka quipped.

The Friends of Beer Association was originally formed as, you guessed it, a political party. Intended to satirize the high number of parties that formed in Czechoslovakia after 1989, the Friends of Beer Party (Strana přátel piva) actually received 1.3 percent of the vote in 1992 general elections before merging with the Social Democrats (then ČSSD, now SOCDEM) in 1998.

Today, the Friends of Beer Association continues to promote Czech beer culture and organize events celebrating the country’s brewing traditions including an annual awards ceremony recognized as the most prestigious in the Czech beer industry.

Here are the association's top picks for 2024 Czech beers and breweries of the year. For a full list including runners-up, see the official Friends of Beer website.