Between cans and legends: the battle that does not cease
For more than a century, a swarm of brands, rights and traditions bathe in foam a conflict that seems to have more turns than a birra on a party night. The dispute by the name ‘Budweiser’ goes beyond a simple question of labels: it is a duel that mixes history, identity and power of the global market.
Where does that famous beer come from who claims to be the original?
It all started in 1876, in a corner of the American west medium: a brewery in St. Louis launched a lager called Budweiser, a direct reference to the old Czech city of české Budějovice. The idea was simple but ambitious: to create a beer that imitated the quality and character of the traditional European lager, specifically those of the Bohemian city that the Germans call ‘Budweis’.
But, ah, history always has its laps, and here it is no exception. The Czech Budvar brewery, also known as Budweiser Budvar, was founded in 1895 with deep roots on that millenary tradition. Meanwhile, the American was born 19 years before, carrying her history and ambitions under her arm.
The legal pulse: a distinction in justice
Since 1907, the legal combat between the two has become one of those almost epic clashes. More than 100 judgments in different countries, which reflect the complexities of brand protection in an increasingly globalized world.
In Europe, Budvar has imposed himself as the legitimate bearer of the name ‘Budweiser’, backed by old traditions and a story that goes back to 750 years. In North America, on the other hand, that domain belongs to the giant Ab Inbev, who has found in ‘Bud’ an ally to circumvent doubts about the brand.
Three stories, the same city and a lot of traditions
In the midst of this discord, we cannot forget another key piece: Samson. This brewery, founded in 1795 in české Budějovice, had its moment of prominence, but over time, and with the purchase of AB Inbev in 2014, it was in the eye of the hurricane.
While Samson languished and changed owners, the competition that had been going on for decades began to reinvent himself. The investment in modernization and technology, in the extraction of its arts water and in the use of the same traditional yeast as Budvar, reflects an effort to put the small brewery again as a genuine and proudly local alternative.
Samson’s resurgence and Budvar’s strength
Today, Samson is not just a symbol of the past, but also seeks to play in the modern league with a production that, although still small compared, is growing thanks to new infrastructure investments, new wineries and automated systems.
On the other hand, Budvar, backed by the Czech state, has opted strong to maintain its intact traditions and expand its productive capacity. The variety of its processes, such as the fermented and traditional lagering, and an ambitious expansion plan, suggest that the fight is still far from finishing.
And what tells us about the beer culture?
Beyond laws and brands, this story reveals an impressive cultural fabric. The city of české Budějovice, with its mixture of German and Czech, and its proud beer history, exemplifies how a tradition can become a symbol of identity and resistance to multinationals.
The future: more wars or pacification?
What to expect in the next chapters? Logic indicates that, although brands fight for supremacy, history and traditions will continue to be the true champion. Budvar’s commitment to maintain his traditional processes, together with his ambition to grow, suggests that in this battle of foam swords, the story still has much to say.
As in every good war and peace history, perhaps the true winner is the European beer culture, the one that refuses to disappear and continues to fight with each independent brewery that insists on keeping the artisanal legacy alive.
