Budvar

Budweiser Budvar is a Czech state-owned brewery based in České Budějovice, the city that has been at the centre of one of the longest-running trademark disputes in drinks history. The ongoing legal battle with Anheuser-Busch over the Budweiser name has been running since the late nineteenth century and continues across different territories today. In the UK, Budvar uses its own name freely, while the American Budweiser trades as Bud.

The brewery was founded in 1895 and uses artesian well water drawn from beneath the city, Moravian barley, and Saaz hops. The original lager is lagered for a minimum of 90 days before release, significantly longer than most commercial lagers, which gives it a cleaner and more rounded character. The brewery is state-owned and has remained so despite various privatisation efforts over the decades, giving it a degree of independence unusual in the global beer market.

Their alcohol-free product is marketed in the UK as Budvar Nealko or B:Free, a 0.5% lager brewed using the same malt and hop profile as the original. It is available through specialist retailers and has appeared in discount supermarkets including Lidl. The taste profile follows the house character: clean, moderately bitter, and relatively light on body.

Budvar sits firmly in the mainstream lager category, and the AF version is best understood in that context. It is not trying to reinvent the style; it is a recognisable Czech lager with the alcohol taken out.

The Collection

Nealko Lager