The past

The Klášter (Monastery) brewery was named for a monastery of the Cistercian order that, in the 12th century, most likely in 1177, stood where the brewery stands today. Today, all that remains of the gothic monastery is a gate with an exquisite portal, which stands in the courtyard of the current brewery. The Hussite army, using stratagems, conquered the monastery on 30 April 1420 and plundered it irretrievably, including its substantial library, reputedly one of the most remarkable in the Czech Kingdom. The monastery was never re-established.

Brewing began in Klášteř in 1570. However, the brewery was not located where the current one stands, on top of the hill, but at the foot. Modern brewing in Klášteř is linked with the year 1864. In that year, the Waldstein family had one of the most modern breweries of the time built. At the end of the 19th century, the Klášter brewery was one of the seven largest breweries in the Czech Lands. Beer is still being brewed in the buildings that were built almost 150 years ago.

Cellars dozens of metres deep were being carved out of the rock under the brewery in medieval times. The cellars were eventually utilized for beer production. Beer ferments and matures in them to this day. The cellars include the renowned Skála Restaurant, which has Klášter beer on tap.

Three gardeners worked at the brewery until the end of World War II, when the brewery was nationalized. They took care of several greenhouses, among other things. Steam and hot water that were the waste products of brewing were utilized to heat these untraditional parts of a brewery. During Christmas, the employees regularly took home fresh vegetables along with their wages.