After the fall of the Soviet Republics in the 1990s, most of the small, Czech “pivovars” were forced to close shop due to competition from mega international brewing corporations. But some of the unemployed workers from the former Liberec Brewery in Northern Bohemia convinced investors to bring their once-proud factory back to life. Under the new name Konrad (honoring a 19th century brewer), this reborn regional takes on the big boys by producing firmly traditional and well-crafted Czech lagers, made to the historical recipes with water from its own wells, classic Zatec hops, and local barley.