Vinohradský pivovar

In 2013, a group of ten friends decided to revive what the site once represented. Vinohradský pivovar opened in 2014 in the former fermentation cellar, brewing in the traditional Czech style with the kind of technical precision that had given the original brewery its reputation. They ferment in open vats, use Czech hops, and take the unfiltered, unpasteurised approach that most industrial Czech lager abandoned long ago. Their core range — the Vinohradská 11° and 12° — reflects that: clean, dry, properly bitter, with the kind of character that disappears the moment you filter it out.

In 2022, they opened a second facility on the outskirts of Prague in Karany, adding capacity while maintaining the craft approach at the original site.

The non-alcoholic entry is Vinohradská 12 Non-Alcoholic: a 0.0% lager produced via reverse osmosis, designed to carry the same Saaz hop character as the alcoholic 12° without compromise. Reverse osmosis is a gentler method than heat-based de-alcoholisation, which helps retain the fresh, slightly grassy quality that Saaz hops give to Czech pilsner-style beer.

In the UK, distribution runs through James Clay, one of the specialist importers who focus on quality European lagers and craft beer. That route puts Vinohradský pivovar in specialist off-licences and better beer retailers rather than mainstream supermarkets — appropriate for a brewery whose approach is defined by doing things the hard way.

The non-alcoholic lager is a small part of what is primarily an alcoholic craft brewery, but it's made with the same rigour as the main range. For Czech lager enthusiasts who want the flavour profile without the alcohol, it's a rare thing: a 0.0% that was clearly made by people who actually care about lager.