Walk into any bar in the Czech city of České Budějovice — known in German as Budweis — and order a Budweiser. You'll get a crisp, full-bodied Czech lager that has been brewed here since 1895. It has nothing to do with the American beer you might know. And yet they share a name, a history of rivalry, and one of the longest-running trademark disputes in the world.
The Origin of the Name
"Budweiser" simply means "from Budweis" — a German-language demonym for the city of České Budějovice in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). Brewing has been documented in this region since the 13th century. By the 19th century, the beer from Budweis was considered among the finest lagers in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The American Budweiser
In 1876, German-born immigrant Adolphus Busch co-founded what would become Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, Missouri. He had visited Bohemia and was inspired by the light, golden lagers being produced there. He named the new beer "Budweiser" — borrowing the Czech geographic name to evoke quality and European credibility for American consumers.
Busch's Budweiser used rice as an adjunct (not traditional Czech ingredients), had a lighter body and lower alcohol content, and was designed for the mass American market. It was a different beer wearing a Bohemian name.
The Czech Response: Budějovický Budvar
Czech brewers — incensed at the appropriation — founded Budějovický Budvar in 1895 specifically as a direct competitor and authentic Czech Budweiser. The brewery is still state-owned today. Brewed using Moravian barley, Saaz hops, and soft Bohemian water with a 90-day lagering period, it's a fundamentally different product: fuller, more complex, with none of the rice lightness of the American version.
The Trademark War
For over 130 years, Anheuser-Busch (now AB InBev) and Budějovický Budvar have been locked in legal disputes in courts and trademark offices across dozens of countries. The outcome varies by jurisdiction:
- In the EU: The Czech Budvar has a protected geographical indication in many EU markets. In some countries, only the Czech beer can be sold as "Budweiser."
- In the UK: Both beers sell under the Budweiser name after a long legal saga — they coexist.
- In the US: AB InBev owns the trademark. The Czech beer is sold as "Czechvar" in North America.
Which Is Better?
That depends on what you like — but ask any beer enthusiast and they'll point to the Czech original. Budějovický Budvar is a masterclass in traditional Czech lager: clean, biscuity malt, delicate Saaz hop bitterness, and a long, dry finish. Americans visiting České Budějovice frequently describe the experience of drinking Budvar fresh on-tap in its home city as a revelation.
Visit the Budvar brewery for a tour and a glass straight from the lagering tanks. It is, in context, one of the best beers you'll ever drink.