History

The Most Modern Brewery in the Entire Austro-Hungarian Empire

Archduke Franz Ferdinand had a clear vision—he was going to turn Benešov into a brewing powerhouse. In 1897, he decided to build the most modern brewery for miles around. A year later, a state-of-the-art facility stood on the site, launching production in March 1898. Benešov beer soon made its way into hundreds of pubs and gained a stellar reputation throughout the entire region.

War, Assassination, and Hard Times

The fate of the brewery changed fundamentally in 1914—the Sarajevo assassination ended the life of Archduke Franz Ferdinand d’Este and, with it, his plans for the brewery's development. His son Maximilian took over management, but World War I took a heavy toll on the brewery. Raw material shortages slashed production, and in 1917, the copper brewhouse was requisitioned for war purposes. It was replaced by two iron vessels, yet the quality of the beer remained. After the war, the brewery fell under state administration and was nationalized in 1921.

Even during these hard times, a high level of production was maintained. The largest share of production consisted of pale 10° draft beer, followed by pale and dark 12° lagers, as well as the black special beer Diplomat, brewed only for festive occasions. The brewery supplied more than 300 pubs, and its beer retained a reputation for exceptional quality.

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Changes After the War and New Technologies

After World War II, modernization began—the brewery invested in its vehicle fleet, and a new carpentry shop, crate-making shop, and paint shop were established. In the 1960s, the fermenting cellar was rebuilt, wooden tanks were replaced by steel ones, and in the 1970s the brewery proudly introduced a new bottling line capable of filling 15,000 bottles per hour. The 1990s brought privatization and, with it, a new era. The Benešov brewery gained a private owner and focused on quality and tradition.

The Ferdinand Brand and the Journey to the Present

The year 1992 marked a major turning point—the launch of the Ferdinand brand, paying tribute to the original founder of the brewery. In 1993, the brewery became part of the company Pivovary Benešov, spol. s r.o. and reached a record output of 233,712 hectoliters.

Ferdinand beer earned numerous awards; the 12° lager took second place in the nationwide Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) competition. New offerings were also introduced, such as Staročeské pivo (Old Czech Beer), expanding the brewery’s portfolio. Although the brewery modernized its technology, the classic production process remained untouched.

However, the 2007 crisis brought a major shock. Production was temporarily halted, and the brewery's fate hung in the balance. Shortly after, the brewery acquired a new owner. The management was taken over by experienced economist Ing. Petr Dařílek. The brewery began its second life: production was reorganized, a new business vision was set, and Benešov regained its true beer once more.

A New Era and Modernization

Another change came in 2014 with the transition to a limited liability company (s.r.o.) legal form. Alongside this came a visual makeover. The label design changed, and the magazine Ferdinando(vy)hlášky was launched, bringing news from the brewery along with facts about beer and gastronomy.

The brewery actively participates in cultural events, hosting annual traditional brewery festivals directly on its premises. In addition, it supports a wide range of social events that strengthen community life in Benešov.