The following is a series of photographs from the Bohemian city of Pilsen where the world famous Pilsner beer was born. To read a complete history on the beer (which we think is very interesting – including a view of the famous ‘Devil in the Cellar‘, we suggest you also read this page.
This segment focuses on the history of beer coopers. For hundreds of years, wood was the material in which beer was universally stored and served from. It was the job of the coopers to make and maintain the barrels needed in breweries. Coopers also had the job of making and maintaining the many thousands of barrels needed in breweries as they turned staves of wood into water-tight casks ready for beer. And it was from these casks that beer was served until metal kegs began to replace them in the 1970s.
The original ‘Coopers House’ was opened in 1842, the year the brewery was founded. Coopering originated much earlier, in the eighth century. The coopers create each barrel using traditional methods preserved and passed on from generation to generation. These photos tell the story…
The view across the coopers’ yard.
The team come together for an annual photo.
The coopers took up a large space in the brewery grounds.
Some of the team and the apprentices – there’s always been an apprentice scheme in place at the brewery.
Inside the cooperage over 100 years ago.
At one time, all of the beer was matured and poured from wooden barrels, so the cooperage was a very busy place.
Smoothing the edge of the barrel.
These are the barrels which mature the beer in the cellars – they are up to 4,000 litres in volume.
It took a few men to be able to move the barrels around the brewery.
Cleaning an old barrel was a difficult job.
Every barrel needs to be cleaned regularly.
Lifting up the barrel to do some repairs.
Smoking out the inside of the barrel before the pitch is added.
Preparing the pitch for the barrel.
Moving these huge barrels around the brewery was a difficult job.
Firing the inside of the barrel.
The water tower in the background with a wall of barrels in front of it.
Imagine spending all day working on these huge, old barrels.
Shaving the inside of the barrel ready to re-pitch it.
It doesn’t look so different today.
Wooden barrels have always been an important element of the brewing process at Pilsner Urquell, and while steel has replaced those wooden casks, they continue the coopering tradition and continue to train the next generations of craftsmen.
A mountain of wooden barrels.
Rolling out the big barrels.
Here are some of the coopering team in 1905.
There is no denying that there is something very special about beer aged in wooden barrels and despite the spread of steel, Pilsner Urquell has continually employed coopers for over 170 years and they continue to mature and serve some of the world’s best beer from these wooden barrels.
Want to see what the modern day coopers look like?
If you are interested in the coopers today, read this.
If you are interested in the full history of Pilsner Urquell beer, read this.
Meanwhile – go grab yourself a beer.
Na Zdravi!
Source: Pilsner Urquell.
* * * * *
Thank you in advance for your support…
You could spend hours, days, weeks, and months finding some of this information. On this website, we curate the best of what we find for you and place it easily and conveniently into one place. Please take a moment today to recognize our efforts and make a donation towards the operational costs of this site – your support keeps the site alive and keeps us searching for the best of our heritage to bring to you.
Remember, we rely solely on your donations to keep the project going.
We appreciate you more than you know!
If you have not already subscribed to get TresBohemes.com delivered to your inbox, please use the form below now so you never miss another post.
