Pilsner Urquell Brewery parent organization Asahi Group Holdings
Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s. (pronounced [ˈpl̩zɛɲskiː ˈprazdroj a ˈɛs]), known in English as the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, is a Czech brewery opened in 1842 and headquartered in Plzeň, Czech Republic. It was the first brewery to produce pale lager, branded as Pilsner Urquell, which became so popular and was so much copied that more than two-thirds of the beer produced in the world today is pale lager, sometimes named pils, pilsner and pilsener after Pilsner Urquell. The brewery name, Pilsner Urquell, which can be roughly translated into English as "the original source at Pilsen", was adopted as a trademark in 1898.  Pilsner Urquell is the largest producer and exporter of beer in the Czech Republic.The brewery was part of the SABMiller group of companies (at first South African Breweries) from 1999 to 2017. As part of the agreements made with regulators before Anheuser-Busch InBev was allowed to acquire SABMiller in October 2016, Pilsner Urquell (excluding certain geographical areas) was sold to Japan-based Asahi Breweries in March 2017.1295 City of Pilsen established, beginnings of brewing.
1307 First recorded mention of the existence of an actual brewery with malt house.
1839 Burghers in Pilsen decide to found the Burgess' Brewery (Bürgerbrauerei, Měšťanský pivovar).
15 September 1839 – autumn 1840 Construction of the Burgess' Brewery, forerunner of today's brewery.
5 October 1842 First brew of Bavarian type beer, bottom-fermented beer, so-called pale lager.
1 March 1859 "Pilsner Bier" brand name registered at the Chamber of Commerce and Trade in Pilsen.
2nd half of 19th century Brewery expands in Europe, first exports from Pilsen to America.
1869 Competitor founded as First Stock Brewery (První akciový pivovar), today known as Gambrinus.
1898 New Urquell - Prazdroj trade mark created.
1910 Světovar - Český Plzeňský pivovar akciové společnosti v Plzni.
1913 Output over 100 million litres of beer, commercial representation in 34 countries.
1925 - 1933 Merger of several Pilsen breweries.
1933 Two breweries remain in Pilsen: Měšťanský pivovar and Plzeňské akciové pivovary (PAP), with the majority of PAP shares being owned by Měšťanský pivovar.
1 June 1945 National administration for companies owned by Měšťanský pivovar in Pilsen . National administration took over management of the Měšťanský pivovar (afterwards known as Prazdroj) and PAP (Gambrinus).
13 September 1946 Nationalization of both breweries and creation of a single national company, Plzeňské pivovary.
1 Jun 1964 Formation of the company Západočeské pivovary with registered office in Pilsen. Creation of the national company Plzeňský Prazdroj with regard to ownership of trademarks and contact with customers abroad.
November 1989 Fundamental changes initiated for the company's entire organisation.
1 May 1992 Following privatization the joint stock company Plzeňské pivovary, a.s. is established. Major investment, technological development, rise in output and exports, development of business and distribution network, marketing.
1994 Formation of joint stock company Plzeňský Prazdroj.
1999 Merger approved with the companies Pivovar RADEGAST a. s., and Pivovar Velké Popovice a. s.
1999 Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s. becomes part of South African Breweries, subsequently called SABMiller.
Apr 2002 Pilsner Urquell was voted beer of the year at the Helsinki Beer Festival.
30 September 2002 merger completed with the companies Pivovar RADEGAST a. s., and Pivovar Velké Popovice a. s. This resulted in the formation of a single joint stock company called Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s.
21 December 2016, agreement of sale to Asahi Group Holdings was concluded in March 2017.
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