Broumov Opat

Right next to the border with Poland, 30 kilometers from Wałbrzych, there is the Czech town of Broumov, with a population of several thousand, and one of the oldest breweries in this part of Europe. The name of the currently produced Opat beer refers to the former founders of the brewery – the Benedictine order. The Benedictines came here from Prague right after Broumov was granted city rights by the Czech king Charles IV in 1348. This date was also considered the beginning of the tradition of brewing beer in the city. Unfortunately, not much information about brewing in this region has survived to our times. Probably in the Middle Ages, monks brewed beer for their own use. It must be remembered that beer in those days differed significantly from today’s, primarily much lower alcohol content. It was then a common drink and, next to milk, the most available. The first brewer of the monastery brewery known by name was Johann Verner, who died in 1633.