BERNARD Family Brewery

What BERNARD Family Brewery does

Rodinný pivovar BERNARD a.s. is a privately held Czech family brewery headquartered in Humpolec, founded in 1991, that produces traditional Czech lagers, dark lagers, India Pale Ale, and specialty beers using bottom-fermentation brewing with its own malt supply from the wholly-owned subsidiary Sladovna Bernard a.s. in Rajhrad u Brna. The product portfolio spans classic 10°/11°/12° lagers, unfiltered (Nefiltrovaná 12°) and yeast-ripened variants, a Bohemian Ale strong at 8.2% ABV, gluten-free (Bezlepkový ležák), and a non-alcoholic sub-line (BERNARD s čistou hlavou Free, Švestka, Grep). A distinctive premium line is Pivní pálenka, an annually released beer brandy distilled by master distiller Jiří Syrovátka, with a three-year American oak barrel-aged variant.

The company operates a multi-channel go-to-market. Gastro distribution is the primary channel, executed through a direct field-sales network of regional representatives covering every Czech district and all eight Slovak administrative regions, supplying draught unpasteurized beer to restaurants, pubs, and "Certifikované hospody" (certified partners). A separate retail sales director handles supermarket chains, complemented by 12 branded retail stores (Značkové prodejny) across Czech cities, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site selling beer, beer brandy, gift packaging, branded clothing, and cycling apparel, plus a franchise-style branded pub and bar network (Bernard Pub, Bernard Bar, Bernard Brew House). The 2022-launched Visitor Center in Humpolec adds a tourism and event vertical, alongside the Bernard Fest annual festival and the Škola čepování (Beer Tapping School) which trains hospitality students to lock in partner-side quality standards.

Pricing is unit-based in Czech koruna: bottled lagers range from 17.90 CZK (Desítka 0.5L) to 33.90 CZK (Bohemian Ale 0.5L), gluten-free lager at 30.90 CZK, 5L kegs at 429 CZK, 2L jugs at 569 CZK, and the beer brandy line at 750-890 CZK per 0.5L bottle. The company is family-controlled with no parent, no external institutional investors disclosed, and revenue figures are not publicly reported. The legal entity is a Czech joint-stock company (akciová společnost) registered as Rodinný pivovar BERNARD a.s., with Sladovna Bernard a.s. as its wholly-owned malt-production subsidiary.

Name

BERNARD Family Brewery

Legal name

Rodinný pivovar BERNARD a.s.

Website

https://bernard.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rodinný pivovar BERNARD is a Czech family-owned brewery in Humpolec, founded 1991, producing traditional Czech lagers, dark lagers, IPAs, non-alcoholic beers, and craft beer brandy, distributed via field sales to gastro and retail across Czech Republic and Slovakia, with 12 branded stores, a visitor center, and direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer & Brewery

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Czech lager beers
• Unpasteurized craft beer
• Beer brandy spirits
• Brewery visitor center
• Traditional brewing methods

Headquarters

HQ city

Humpolec

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Draught Beer Sales: Sale of unpasteurized beer on-tap to restaurants, pubs and gastro establishments. Core revenue stream with extensive distribution network across Czech Republic and Slovakia.
2. Bottled Beer Retail: Sale of bottled beer products including lagers, specialty beers, and non-alcoholic variants through retail chains and own branded stores.
3. E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales of beer, beer brandy, gift packages, and branded merchandise through company's e-shop.
4. Gift Packages and Merchandise: Sale of gift packages (kegs, jugs), branded clothing, accessories, and promotional items through own e-shop and branded stores.
5. Beer Brandy (Pivní pálenka): Production and sale of beer distillate including annual vintages and premium barrel-aged variants. Craft spirit product line.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rodinný pivovar BERNARD is a family-owned Czech brewery that produces a range of traditional Czech lagers, dark lagers, IPAs, ales, non-alcoholic beverages, and a signature beer brandy (Pivní pálenka) using bottom-fermentation methods and own malt production. The company operates a visitor center, a beer-tapping school, branded pubs/bars, and 12 branded retail stores, distributing primarily across the Czech Republic and Slovakia through a direct field sales network to HoReCa and retail chains.

Product overview

Rodinný pivovar BERNARD is a Czech family brewery offering a portfolio of beers centered around its core draught and bottled beer lineup. The main products include the classic Czech-style lagers: Desítka (light), Jedenáctka (11°), Dvanáctka (12°) alongside specialty beers such as Nefiltrovaná 12° (unfiltered), India Pale Ale, Bohemian Ale (8.2% strong ale), and Extra hořký ležák. The non-alcoholic range includes BERNARD s čistou hlavou Free, Švestka (plum), and Grep (grapefruit). Seasonal and limited editions include Sváteční ležák, Jantarový ležák, and Černý ležák (all with fine yeast), plus Bezlepkový ležák (gluten-free). A distinctive offering is Pivní pálenka Bernard, a beer brandy produced annually (2020-2026 vintages) and the premium Barrel Aged variant aged three years in American oak. The portfolio extends to 5L kegs (Soudek) and 2L glass jugs (Džbánek), branded merchandise (clothing, cycling apparel, accessories), gift packaging, and visitor/tourism services including the Visitor Center, brewery tours, and the Škola čepování beer-tapping school. The company operates branded pubs, bars, and nine brand stores across the Czech Republic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bernard puby: Branded pub chain featuring Bernard beer on tap
• Bernard bary
• Bernard BrewHouse
• BernardFest
• BernardChef
• Bernardnoviny
• Bernardova cena
• Vlastní cestou

Products and services

• Nefiltrovaná 12° Unfiltered unpasteurized Czech lager with 5% alcohol, balanced malt character with distinct bitterness (31-37 IBU), served on draught. A flagship product of the brewery.
• Černá 12° Dark unpasteurized lager brewed from four types of malt with moderate bitterness (20-26 IBU) and 5% alcohol, served on draught.
• India Pale Ale Top-fermented pale ale with seductive fresh fruity aroma contrasting with stronger bitterness (47-53 IBU) at 5.6% alcohol. Available on draught and bottled.
• Bohemian Ale Top-fermented yeast strong light beer, 8.2% alcohol, bottle-conditioned with fresh fruit aroma and subtle coriander notes. Premium bottled product.
• Desítka (10°) Light table beer with pleasant bitterness, distinctive freshness, fine hop aroma and rich foam. Bottled retail SKU priced at 17.90 CZK per 0.5L bottle.
• Jedenáctka (11°) Lager beer with balanced bitterness in harmony with delicious fullness, hop aroma and rich foam. Bottled retail SKU priced at 18.90 CZK per 0.5L bottle.
• Dvanáctka (12°) Traditional light lager combining delicious fullness with balanced bitterness accompanied by fine hop aroma and rich foam. Bottled retail SKU priced at 22.90 CZK per 0.5L bottle.
• Sváteční ležák s jemnými kvasnicemi Yeast-ripened light lager with exceptional character, pronounced freshness, fine yeast taste and aroma. Holiday seasonal lager launched in 2022.
• Jantarový ležák s jemnými kvasnicemi Yeast-ripened amber lager with pleasant bitterness in harmony with fine caramel aroma and full flavor.
• Černý ležák s jemnými kvasnicemi Yeast-ripened dark lager brewed from four types of malt, with distinctive full flavor and fine bitterness.
• Bezlepkový ležák Gluten-free light lager suitable for celiacs with gluten content max 20 mg/kg, traditional taste with full flavor. Bottled retail SKU priced at 30.90 CZK per 0.5L bottle.
• Kvasnicová jedenáctka Yeast light lager with fine hop aroma, full yeast taste and refreshing high carbonation.
• Extra hořký ležák Light lager hopped with aromatic hops (Agnus, Amarillo, Citra), similar alcohol to Czech lager with pronounced citrus notes.
• BERNARD s čistou hlavou Free Non-alcoholic light beer brewed using traditional methods, maintaining original pleasantly bitter taste and malt aroma. Maximum 0.5% alcohol.
• BERNARD s čistou hlavou Švestka Mixed drink of beer with plum juice and stevia sweetener, refreshing in summer and can be mulled with cloves and cinnamon in winter.
• BERNARD s čistou hlavou Grep Mixed drink of beer with grapefruit juice and stevia sweetener, with pleasantly bitter taste and citrus notes.
• Jarní speciál Bernard Spring seasonal light beer with higher bitterness, launched in 2025 for distribution to restaurants and pubs.
• Pivní pálenka Bernard Beer brandy (single malt spirit distilled from Bernard beer), produced annually by master distiller Jiří Syrovátka at Zámecké sady bioliquor distillery. Available in annual vintages from 2020-2026, priced at 750 CZK per 0.5L bottle.
• Pivní pálenka z dubového sudu (Barrel Aged) Premium beer brandy aged three years in American oak barrels, 50.6% alcohol, with golden color and honey-woody aroma. Priced at 890 CZK per 0.5L bottle. Received a 2026 industry/trade award.
• Soudek 5L Stylish five-liter keg with tap valve, filled with Bernard light lager, no draft equipment needed. Priced at 429 CZK per 5L keg.
• Džbánek 2L Luxury glass jug with patent closure containing unfiltered lager with pronounced freshness and yeast taste. Priced at 569 CZK per 2L jug.
• Návštěvnické centrum Bernard (Visitor Center) Visitor center opened June 1, 2022 offering brewery tours, tasting sessions, restaurant, cinema with brand film, and gift shop. Located at Jihlavská 1820, Humpolec.
• Škola čepování (Beer Tapping School) Beer tapping school offering courses for hospitality students and the public, teaching professional beer serving techniques including šnyt, hladinka, řezané, čochtan and mlíko styles, plus brewing history and tap maintenance. Launched as an educational program in 2025.
• Bernard puby a bary (Branded Pub/Bar Network) Branded restaurant and pub network including Bernard pubs, bars, and Brew House locations, operated under franchise or licensed arrangements.
• Značkové prodejny (Branded Retail Stores) Network of 12 brand stores located in multiple Czech cities (Břeclav, Humpolec, Kolín, Opava, Prostějov, Říčany, Tábor, Třebíč, Valašské Meziříčí) offering the complete beer assortment and merchandise directly to consumers.
• Bernard Branded Clothing Branded clothing line including t-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, jackets, winter vests, and accessories featuring Bernard branding.
• Bernard Dárky a poukazy (Gifts & Vouchers) Gift items including glassware, mugs, plush toys, pens, stickers, bags, wallets, belts, watches, and gift vouchers.
• Dárková balení (Gift Packaging) Gift packaging sets including kegs, jugs, and beer brandy gift sets for special occasions.

Quantifiable outcome

• New visitor center opened June 1, 2022

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Gastronomic Schools (Hotelové a gastronomické školy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernard operates a beer tapping school (Škola čepování) specifically designed for hospitality students. The program provides practical training in professional beer tapping techniques, brewing history, and tap maintenance. Students receive certification upon completion.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pivovar Primátor: Czech regional brewery in Nachod producing traditional lagers, dark beers, and specialty craft lines. Comparable to Bernard as a similarly-sized Czech craft/regional brewer competing in the same on-trade channels.
• Pivovar Svijany: One of the largest independent Czech regional breweries, family-controlled and focused on traditional unpasteurized lagers. Comparable to Bernard as a mid-sized family-owned Czech brewer competing against multinational giants.
• Budweiser Budvar (Budějovický Budvar): Czech state-owned brewery producing premium lagers and dark beers via traditional brewing methods and operating its own visitor center. Directly comparable to Bernard in scale, brewing tradition, and Czech gastro/retail distribution model.
• Rodinný pivovar Herold: Czech family-owned brewery producing traditional Czech lagers and dark beers using heritage brewing methods with a focus on gastro and on-trade distribution. Comparable to Bernard in family ownership, traditional brewing positioning, and Czech gastro focus.
• Lobkowicz Brewery (Pivovary Lobkowicz): Czech regional brewery group operating multiple brewery sites and brewpub venues with traditional Czech lagers. Comparable to Bernard in multi-site production, branded hospitality venues, and family/heritage branding.

Broad incumbents

• Staropramen: Major Czech brewery owned by Molson Coors producing lagers and specialty beers at industrial scale. Comparable to Bernard as a Czech market competitor with national distribution and major marketing budgets.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell): Czech market leader and owner of Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, and Velkopopovický Kozel brands under Asahi. Comparable to Bernard as the dominant incumbent Czech brewer competing for the same on-trade and retail accounts.
• Heineken Česká republika: Czech subsidiary of Heineken producing Krušovice, Starobrno, and other Czech brands. Comparable to Bernard as a major multinational-owned brewer operating in the same Czech on-trade and retail channels.

Others

• Bernard Pub / Bernard Bar franchise network: Internal reference — Bernard's own franchised pub/bar concept. Noted here only as a comparable business model reference for branded brewpub monetization (e.g., Pivovarská bašta, Pivovarský dům).

Regional players

• Smädný mních (Pivovar Steiger): Independent Slovak craft/regional brewery producing lagers and specialty beers for the Slovak market. Comparable to Bernard as a regional brewer operating in the same CZE/SVK corridor but on the opposite side of the border.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bernardcz
• Facebookfacebook.com/bernard.cz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bernard-cz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BERNARD Family Brewery