Brno

Well here we are again in search of beer in the Czech Republic’s second largest city Brno and it is located in the southeast of the country. It was founded in 1243, although the area had been settled since the 5th century. As of December 2009 the population is 405,337. Brno is the capital of the South Moravian Region as well as the seat of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Administrative Court, the Supreme Prosecutor's Office and the Ombudsman. Traditionally, it has served as the capital of the historical land Moravia.

Brno sights include;

Špilberk Castle Stuck on a precipitous hill close to the city centre, Špilberk has a long and sometimes dark history. It was first built in the 13th century. It's open every day (except Monday) 09:00 to 17:00 Access is from the streets Husova (pedestrians) or Űvoz (vehicles). 

Mendelianum located at the foot of the castle hill, the Mendelianum celebrates the famous monk botanist,Johann Gregor Mendl Abbott of the Augustinian monastery in Old Brno, who laid down the basis of modern genetics. His work wasn't properly understood until 40 years after it was first published. The town has a square named after him.

The Capuchin Crypt in Brno is a funeral room mainly for Capuchin friars. The crypt was founded in the mid 17th century in the basement of the Capuchin Monastery in the historical centre of Brno

Public transport Dopravní podnik mesta Brna http://www.dpmb.cz/  Brno transport authority

So here we go the low down on the brewpubs (11 as of March 2022) and bars;

Pegas, Jakubská 4.    

Hours: Mon-Sat 9-24, Sun 11-23

The city’s original brewpub, which opened in 1992.They brew three standard beers, svĕtlé, tmavý, pšeničný (wheat) and sometimes a special, usually Krystal, that is an attempt at a Märzen-type brew.  As usual for Brno, the food is magnificent and excellent value with the pork in beer sauce with knedlicky (dumplings) being a classic Czech dish, that I always try and have at least once. Old school looking brewpub/restaurant with old wood furniture. It’s one of those places where smoking is allowed and it makes special ambience, although I’m not a smoker. The accommodation is also good value and, being only 10 minutes from the station and 3 minutes from the trams, is an ideal place to stay and explore the city.  Rooms are bookable online too.

Pivovar HARRY, Poštovská 68/3, Brno-střed

Hours: Daily 14.00 - 22.00 of later?

A great new addition to the Breweries of Brno. The interior is unique, spacious, industrial. The concept of the establishment is absolutely great. Super environment, you can see the bar and the lager "cellar", you see the brewery, the variety in the choice of seating in a nice modern environment. Prices normal. This is a self-service bar, so you have to go alone for each beer, so it's tactical to sit close to the bar. Overall Great beer. Good music and ambiance.

U Richarda (Žebětín), Ríšově 12, Brno-Žebětín; 

Hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 11-22, Fri-Sat 11-23

There is another brew pub just out of town about 30mins on the bus/tram. Take tram 1 all the way to it’s western terminus at Ečerova, cross the road, take bus 54 to the last stop (Žebětín) then walk back along Ríšově until you see the pub on the corner of Ostrovačická. They serve four beers, the usual svĕtlé and tmavý, and occasional special you can also take it away in bottles, brewed on the little plant in the back room. I large modern building with a main bar and large coverd beer garden and a function room as well. The food is standard fair so all in all well worth a trip out to find and enjoy. Apparently there's a new bar, Restaurace Richarda, in the centre of Brno at Udolní 7?

EFI Pivovar & Hostinec, nám. 28. října 1903/23, Brno-střed

Hours: Daily 07.00 - 23.00

A Bar/brewery inside a hotel. They have 8 taps of EFI beers, some of which you can by to go as well. Quality traditional food with a modern touch served in a great restaurant with delicious food and a nice selection of in-house beers. The open kitchen is cool to watch while waiting for your food. Staff are very friendly and really go the extra mile to accommodate all requests.

Petr Hauskrecht - Steam Brewery, Porážka 208, Brno-jih

Hours: Tours Tues & Thurs 16.00 & 17.00 Beer store 09.00-17.00 on workdays.

Located in a somewhat mysterious building at Porážka in the area of the former Brno slaughterhouse, which was built in 1899. Quality and tasty beer at a low price. I can recommend a tour of the brewery its pleasant historical but at the same time modern environment, interesting and informative conversation, excellent tasty beer. Petr Hauskrecht is a real local brewing personality. Excellent beers. Just a pity that you can't sit there for a few beers. Only on the bench before entering. Just ring and buy samples. Always someone willing to meet.

U Tomana, nám. Svobody 22, Brno-střed

Hours: Daily 11.00 - 00.00

A modern restaurant with a brewery and apartments in an old-school location,with a large patio on the main square. Located right in the centre of Brno's Náměstí Svobody (Freedom Square), in the past and now known as the House of Toman. A renowned pastry shop. A modern but not too cold interior with wood and bricks. They have 4 brews on tap and some plastic bottles and 5l kegs to go. You can also get flights. Friendly and helpful staff. You can tour the brewery which is downstairs.

Pivovar Moravia, Centrální sklad, Kytnerova 403/5, Masná 9, Brno-Medlánky

Hours: Mon - Fri 08.00 - 17.00

A brewery restaurant that brew artisanal, unfiltered and unpasteurized bottom-fermented beers. Go for the beer tasting tour. An intriguing story about the production of local beer during which you can make your own beer from tanks in which it matures! Great friendly staff.

Pivovar Magistr, Hrnčířská 23, Veveří, Brno:

Hours: Possibly Closed?

The brewpub/restaurant that is well placed in a cellar nicely decorated, with a great atmosphere, can get a touch noisy? Great and tasty homemade beer at a cool price! They are all pretty good but the cherry beer ("visnove pivo") is awesome! Served with actual cherries in the bottom of the glass, it tastes like cherry ice cream. There are usually four or more pivo’s, it seems change depending on the season. Worth a visit if you are a “Beer Geek”

Schrott – industrial bar, gallery, Křenová 291

Hours: Daily 15.00 - 22.00

An industrial location, walking distance from the bus and the train stations. A steampunk style brew-pub, pretty cool, some pinball machines and suchlike before you enter an L-shaped main area, thats fairly expansive. There's a patio. Great staff who care about what they do. They have 6 taps with 3 beers of their own They also have their own beers to go in the fridges I think. Definitely a worthwhile visit and a place like this deserves the support! The place is calm but alternatively cool, perfect for a nice evening with friends.

Brewery Lucky Bastard, Kytnerova 5, Brno-Medlánky

Hours: Mon - Fri Tours only 09.00 - 16.00

A cool new brewery with a modern outlook. An excellent approach to customers and helpful staff. Very tasty beer. A tour costs around 400czK

Pivovarská Pivnice (Starobrno brewery tap), Mendlovo Náměstí 158/20

Hours: Mon-Sat 10-24, Sun 10-23

Not that I am a great lover of Starobrno, especially now that it is owned by Heineken! This pub is located in the old brewery buildings at the top (north) end of the square just up from the trolley bus stops. It has a huge outside patio and plain and cosy inside rooms with the bar being covered by a huge copper kettle lid and dispensing unfiltered kvasnicové (“yeasty”) beer alongside other test brews and the standard beers, including the rarer “Drak” bottled beers.  The food looked good and the waiters are very efficient. They even have a Heineken bar, that claims you have never tasted it, until you have tasted it here?

JBM Brew Lab Pub, GROHOVA 17

Open: Daily 16:00-00:00

A pretty small place a short walk from Old town. If you are in town for the first time, you must visit here. If in town again, you know you’ll want to revisit here! There is a nice selection of "modern" craft served from 10 rotating taps. It's pretty much only place in Brno with this kind of selection of non-local beers.

Malt Worm, Starobrněnská 339/12, Brno-střed

Hours: Daily 16.00 - 00.00

A nice new place in centre with some tables also outside. Brought to you from the same owners of Ochutnávková pivnice (below). They have 16 rotating taps, mostly Czech micro brews plus some good foreign beers. The staff are friendly and professional, the outside seating has the right atmosphere. Inside lots of wooded seating in vaulted alcoves plus there is great decoration by a local artist Klam. {Can you find all the hidden features in his paintings?} Probably the best beer geek bar in the city!

Zelená Kočka Pivárium, Dvořákova 633/3:

Hours: Daily 16.00 - 00.00 Closed Sun

A wonderful craft beer pub very close to the main square in downtown Brno. They have a rotating beer menu focused on small, independent breweries, mostly from Czechia, so a second visit really pays off. The ambience is cool. Prices get very high for specialty styles, but for a foreigner it’s still reasonable. They serve simple pub food like sausages, Gulaš or bread with spreads. They hold tap takeover nights once in a while. Defiantly the one of the best beer bar in the city.

AXIOM Pub, Poštovská 68/3, Brno-střed

Hours: Daily 17.00 - 22.00

A New micro brewery tap-room in the center. A medium sized place with nice modern, biright interior. Looks like a proper craft beer place. 23 taps and a good selection of bottles. Most of the beers were Axiom joined by several beers from Beer Here, one Zichovec. Friendly staff and an excellent selection of beers, both on tap and in cans. Food is also excellent, the Flammkuchen in particular is very tasty and goes well with the beer. They have a sister pub in Olomouc.

Hlucha zmije, Merhautova 972

Hours: Daily 16.00 - 23.00

A good neighborhood pub. Known for its beers, serving beers from Strakonice and Dudak. It is a smoky den of iniquity on the south side of the Cerna Pole district. If you like rock music and beer (who wound not?) this is the place for you. Also there are a couple of tables and chairs outside if the weather is nice.

Freeland, Beethovenova 7

Hours: Mon - Sat 11.00-23.00

The beer comes from one of the country's smallest breweries, Dalesice usually 2-3 on draught, the food is of the hearty and filling variety. The pub itself is in a cellar furnished with rough-hewn booths, A must do visit for fans of rare and interesting beer.

Zastávka pub (Zastávka - pivnice malých pivovarů), Úvoz 78

Hours: Daily15.00 - 00.00

An old-school cellar bar with a bunch of semi-random beers you won't see "elsewhere". A nice little patio outside, a basement-ish old-school feeling inside and a number of different rooms inside.Popular with friendly locals. They have 9-10 taps. Combine with JBM for to opposite but very good beer experiences, and maybe Úvozna and Lucky Bastard for the ticks.

Úvozna, Úvoz 82

Hours: Daily 11.00 - 22.00 or later?

A basement America (fuck yeah!) themed hamburger restaurant with a tiny patio by a busy street in the Veveří place nexus, with buses an arm's length from you waiting for the green light. Americana all over the walls, adverts and signs. They have 4 "Holíčsky pivovar Wywar" beers on tap (not common in Brno)

Restaurant U Panduro, Capuchin us 8, Brno:

Hours: Possibly Closed?

This is a stylish restaurant in the underground labyrinth of the Green Market, where you can feel the environment of the magnificent medieval, 13th century cellars. Beers are now from brewery Montenegro, (Perviously Černá Hora), also delicious Czech cuisine.

Pub U Dvou přátel, TÁBOR 25

Open: Daily 17.00 -01.00

A really nice pub, sadly quite small, but it gives it that special feeling. The beer is well treated, the owners know what they are doing, the service is exceptionally nice. A must visit place for beer geeks.

U Alberta, PELLICOVA 10

Open: Mon–Sat 16.00 - 00.00

A nice, very small, distinctive place with 3 taps, almost all rotating at all time. It has a special magic to it - in the winter, they have a real fire and limited number of seats, in the summer people sitting outside.

Dalešická Restaurace Betlém, Krkoškova 502/27, Černá Pole

Open: Daily 11.00-23.00

An off-centered place but well worth the detour IMO, this restaurant serves high-end cuisine and pouring four of the excellent Dalesice beers. Food is mostly organic, fresh, tasty and well presented. Beers are in top condition. Interior is all in wood with a beautiful aquarium in the back. Also there is a big terrace for the summertime. This place is truly a hidden gem.

Ogar, HRNčÍřSKÁ 888/11

Open: Mon-Fri 12:00-19:00

Nice little beer store with variety of home brewing supplies, including yeast and malt. The owner is very helpful. Simple furnished, really helpful staff.

Pivo and Beer, VONDRÁKOVA 2A, BYSTRC

Open: Mon-Fri: 11h-18h, Sat: 9h-13h, Sun: Closed

Probably the best beer store in Brno, though a little bit far from center. All the best Czech breweries are represented. They also offer a wide selection of Belgian, German, Dutch and American beers as well as glassware, growlers and beer cosmetics. Knowledgeable staff. From center, take tram 3 at Ceska towards Bystrc and get out at Zoo (20 minutes).

Pivnice U Tekutého chleba, 14A, Moravské nám. 755, Veveří

Hours: Daily 16.00 - 00.00

The right place for everyone who likes beer. Especially if you prefer draught beer. The pub offers six taps with small Czech breweries, no English spoken but the staff are very friendly and nice. It's a cosy place with mostly locals. Good public transport connections including the night bus connections.

Vegas Club, Milady Horákové 1a. 

Open 10:30 until midnight weekdays only

Local's bar with a decent range of micro beer on tap such as Poutnik.

U Hluché Zmije, Jugoslávská 37.

A basement no-frills locals’ bar with "terrace" below road level and rock music its main attraction Beers available Pivovar Nektar, Strakonický, & Pivovar Svijany

Hospoda U Orla Mácova 15 

Open: Mon - Fri 11:00 - 00.00 Sat 16:00

Number of draught beers: 2 Usually from Staropramen A single-storey pub with a simple interior. They do standard meals

Kings Head Tř. kpt. Jaroše 26,

Open: Mon-Sun 11:00 - 23:00

Number of draught beers: 3 An English pub that claims to be the only one in Brno to offer a full English breakfast. WHY WOULD YOU!

Brno is a good city for a weekend break. Very few tourists make it this far and the welcome is genuinely warm and friendly. Go before it gets to popular…

Na Zdravi, Nazdar Otto & the little’un

Černohorský Sklep, Námĕsti Svobody 103/5.

Hours: Possibly Closed?

On the main square and easy to find. A cellar bar that is split into two one half a beer hall the other a half a dining hall, owned by the local Černá Hora brewery and selling their full range of breers including the new unfiltered 10° sklepní and Black Hill aperitif beer. The food looked good but we did not partake. The service can be slow or efficient depending of time of the day / mood of the waiter, but never expect smiles. Very popular among locals, a Brno classic.