Brewers The Czech Republic is beer country and has the world s highest per capita beer consumption. Per capita consumption in the Czech Republic is nearly double that of the United States. The Czech Republic is the sixth largest beer market in Europe and is one of the twenty largest in the world. Beer is the national drink and Czech beer is famous worldwide. Total beer production is 18 million hectoliters a year, out of which 1.5 million hectoliters is exported.
Many smaller breweries make up the rest of the market.
Although only small amounts are imported, there is a niche market for American beer in Prague s international hotels and American bars and clubs. There is also a strong market for U.S. hops and hop extract. With a remarkably high consumption of roughly 160 liters per year per capita, there is little room for growth in the Czech beer market. Producers are now focusing mostly on market share and exports. Most experts agree that domestic beer consumption will decline in coming years as competing beverages and health concerns erode beer s dominance.