Historic B.B. Burgerbrau Beer now available in the U.S.

12/08/05 Budejovicky Mestansky Pivovar (BMP), the oldest brewery in the renowned Czech city Ceske Budejovice ("Czech City of Budweis"), and Classic Beverages LLC, has announced that historic B.B. Burgerbrau is now available in select cities in the United States. Classic Beverages LLC of Darien, Conn., which is the exclusive importer of B.B. Burgerbrau, anticipates a national rollout within the next 6 to 12 months.

B.B. Burgerbrau was first brewed in 1802 when it was called "Budweiser Burgerbrau." The term "Budweiser" has been used as a locative, literally meaning a person or thing from the city of Budweis, the city where it is brewed (i.e. 'New Yorker' or 'Pilsner'). The "Burgerbrau" name means "Beer of the City's Residents." It was exported to the United States and throughout Europe beginning in 1872. The original imported beer from the City of Budweis drew such acclaim during this time that other U.S. and Czech breweries adopted the term "Budweiser" to describe a style of beer and attempted to emulate the taste, quality and brewing process of Burgerbrau. As a further testament to its quality and reputation, B.B. Burgerbrau was named as the official Court Supplier to the Wurttenburg's King Wilhelm II in 1895, and is still listed as such today.

The city of Ceske Budejovice is internationally known for the quality of the B.B. Burgerbrau beer that is brewed there, and has also become celebrated for the legal disputes that its name has provoked. A legal battle continues to be waged for the right to market B.B. Burgerbrau as "Budweiser Bier", even as history records that B.B. Burgerbrau consistently used this term since 1802.

Similar to the wine designations, The European Union recently bestowed its rare Protected Geographic Indication to the BMP Brewery for the term "Budejovicke Pivo" ("Beer from Budweis City") affirming that the superior quality of its beer is inextricably tied to the region where it is produced.

B.B. Burgerbrau is available in several states, including New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, Washington D.C, and Minnesota, and will soon be available in more than a dozen other states in 12-ounce six-packs or 16.9- ounce bottles. 15.5 gallon kegs will also be available on a limited basis in select bars and restaurants.

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