Josef Groll Brews the First Pilsner and Begins a New Chapter in Beer History

On 5 October 1842, Bavarian brewer Josef Groll brewed the first batch of a new beer at the Burghers’ Brewery in Plzeň, now in the Czech Republic. The beer would become known as Pilsner Urquell and provide the model for a brewing style that spread far beyond its hometown.

A Brewery Built for Change

Plzeň already had a long brewing tradition, but the quality of its beer varied. Local citizens with brewing rights decided to establish a shared brewery that could produce a more dependable product.

They appointed Groll, whose Bavarian background brought experience of bottom-fermented beer. Working at the new brewery, he combined this knowledge with local ingredients to create a distinctive pale lager.

The Ingredients of a New Style

Soft water from Plzeň, pale barley malt and aromatic Saaz hops helped shape the beer’s character. Bottom-fermenting yeast and cool storage were also central to its production.

Bottom fermentation was already an established brewing method. The significance of Groll’s beer lay in the particular combination of technique and ingredients: a golden appearance, a pronounced hop character and a balance that would become associated with the name pilsner.

The brewing date marked the beginning of the process. The first batch still needed time to ferment and mature before it could be served.

From the Brewhouse to the Public

The new beer was first tapped on 11 November 1842, during the celebrations of St Martin’s Day. Its reputation soon travelled beyond Plzeň, reaching Prague in 1843 and eventually markets much farther afield.

Growing demand encouraged the brewery’s expansion. Rail transport later helped carry its beer across borders, connecting a local brewing enterprise with an increasingly international market.

A City Gives Its Name to a Beer

As other brewers adopted the style, the word pilsner became a description used well beyond the city where it originated. In 1898, the brewery registered the Pilsner Urquell trademark to distinguish its own beer from the many versions inspired by it.

The first brew of October 1842 therefore represents more than the beginning of one famous brand. It marks the emergence of a style that carried the name of Plzeň into brewing traditions around the world.