Pilsner Urquell Auctions Unique Bottles

The holiday season is upon us, and many of us have started that difficult process of finding the just the right gifts for family and friends. If you can’t decide what to get that special beer drinker in your life for Christmas, Pilsner Urquell is offering a unique, hand-crafted gift idea which also supports a good cause.

The original Pilsner has come a long way since its birth in 1842. After the citizens of Plzen rose up and demanded a better quality beer, Pilsner Urquell was born. The golden colored lager was unlike any the world had seen up to that point, and Pilsner soon became the preferred style in the beer-loving regions of Bohemia and Bavaria. Today, this style of beer accounts for approximately two thirds of all the beer produced in the world.

Pilsner Urquell has always represented the Czech people and the region in which it was born. The combination of soft Plzen water, locally grown barley and Žatec hops give the beer its unmistakeable taste. Bohemia has also been long known for its tradition of glass-making. The combination of golden Pilsner Urquell and fine Bohemian glass created a product that Czechs could be proud of. The role of the cooper was also important, as maturing Pilsner Urquell was stored in crafted wooden barrels underneath the brewery. If you visit the brewery today, you can still sample beer poured directly from one of these old-fashioned barrels.

In designing the bottles, Kemper and Pilsner Urquell hoped to represent the traditions of both beer making and glass-making in the Czech Republic. For sale in this auction will be 10 limited edition 1L glass bottles, which are modeled after the traditional wooden barrels used in the cellars of the Pilsner Urquell brewery since its inception. The bottles were hand made by craftsmen from Nový Bor, one of several Czech towns famous for glass-making. Each one bears its own unique number from 1-10 as well as the Pilsner Urquell logo. They have a porcelain stopper so the bottles can be reused, and of course they come filled with unfiltered beer direct from the original barrels from the brewery in Plzen.

This is the second year in a row that Pilsner Urquell has collaborated with iDnes and Mr. Kemper in hosting a charity auction to benefit Centrum Parable. Last year’s auction greatly exceeded expectations, so it was an easy decision to do a similar event this year.

“After last year’s successful auction, we wanted to keep the tradition linking Czech handmade glass production and the Czech brewing industry,” said Pilsner Urquell senior brand manager Lukáš Novotný. “I hope this auction will attract generous bidders and that we get Centrum Paraple much needed funds.”

Last year’s auction raised over a million crowns, which was the highest total for any online auction conducted by iDnes. Proceeds were used to purchase new machines and much-needed equipment for Centrum Parable. The partners in this year’s auction hope the public will be as generous as they were in 2012 to help ensure that this Christmas is a merry one for those who could use a helping hand.