Pilsner Urquell is Leaving for Easter Celebrations in the Vatican

Symbolic 2014 0.3 l bottles of a blessed batch of Pilsner Urquell beer left for the Vatican today. This year, the Easter beer is not heading to the heart of Rome only as a gift to celebrate the most important of Christian holidays. It will be available also to the participants of the official events connected with the important acts of this year – the canonization of two significant popes in Christian history John Paul II and John XXIII.  The Holy See will receive the gift from the Pilsen brewery and the citizens of Pilsen form hands of top executives of Plzeňský Prazdroj comp.

Today at noon, the shipment of 2014 bottles of Pilsner Urquell from the special Easter batch blessed in the middle of March by Bishop František Radkovský left the historic gates of Plzeňský Prazdroj.

Pilsner Urquell arrived in the Vatican for the first time in 1903. Then, based on the recommendation of his physicians, the head of the church Pope Leo XIII order the shipment. According to sources, he enjoyed the Pilsen beer very much.

“It is a very special feeling seeing the shipment of today’s Pilsen beer leaving and knowing that the appointed Pope liked it very much even 111 years ago. The fact that our lager will taste same today as it did in the Vatican so long ago is supported by the old certificate with the results from a Swiss laboratory Las Veritas from 1897. The results are nearly identical with the levels of our current Pilsen beer. Pope Francis may rest assured that he drinks the same tasting beer as did his predecessor Pope Leo XIII,” said senior marketing master brewer Václav Berka about the traditional gift.

Pilsner Urquell is not travelling to the Vatican just to be part of the most important Christian celebration but also to be part of the worldwide celebrations of the canonization of popes John Paul II and John XXIII, which will take place on Sunday, April 17. Pilsen lager started its newly revived traditional Easter pilgrimage to the Holy See for the event of beatification of John Paul II and Easter celebrations in 2011.

“Pilsner Urquell beer is connected not only with the most important world events but mainly with all Czech traditions and holidays including celebrations of spring and Easter. It should not be absent from any Czech Easter table,” concludedsenior marketing master brewer Václav Berka.

Press contact of Plzeňský Prazdroj Kateřina Krásová is available to media at:

Mobil: +420 724 617 219

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Notes for editors:

• With its total sale of nearly 9.9 million of hectoliters during the calendar year of 2012 (including licensed productions abroad) and with its export to more than 50 countries worldwide, Plzeňský Prazdroj Inc. is the preeminent beer producer in the region and the biggest exporter of the Czech beer.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj Inc. is the member of SABMiller plc. group. Pilsner Urquell is the international flagship brand of the SABMiller brand portfolio.
• SABMiller plc is one of the most significant world beer companies with 70 thousand employees in 75 countries around the world. It offers more than 200 beer brands including the world renowned brand such as Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Miller Genuine Draft (draught) a Grolsch, as well as important local brands such as Aguila (Columbia), Castle (South Africa), Miller Lite (USA), Snow (China), Victoria Bitter (Australia), and Tyskie (Poland).

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