Beer Harvest 2025 (XI. year)
Beer as a Czech treasure: Nový Jičín hosted the 11th year of the popular Pivobraní Nový Jičín festival
For the eleventh time, Masaryk Square in Nový Jičín was transformed into a paradise for lovers of the golden beverage. The traditional Beer Festival, which took place on Saturday 21 June, attracted thousands of visitors from near and far. The event was created to celebrate Czech beer culture, to support craft microbreweries and to remind that beer is one of the greatest treasures of Czech tradition. Plans are already underway for the next edition of Pivobraní, which will take place on 20 June 2026.
The festival is also a place of intergenerational meeting, where whole families, friends and foreign guests come. Thanks to cross-border cooperation with partner breweries from Italy, Belgium and tourist destinations in Slovakia, the event is gaining a European dimension. This year the festival has brought several innovations. For the first time, the programme was extended to Friday evening, when the newly created Beer Street offered the first beer tastings to the rhythm of well-known hits performed by the local band Švestka.
The main festival Saturday offered visitors a rich experience. Over 130 beers from 30 regional microbreweries and guests from Belgium and Italy filled the pints of beer lovers. However, wine lovers also came into their own when they visited the Wine Street U Špuntu. A new feature was the voting competition for the most delicious beer of the festival. Visitors could vote via a QR code or a printed form. The winner was the light lager Velryba from the DEJF brewery, which received the most votes.
There was also the popular sausage challenge, where competitors measured their stomachs and speed. In the men's category, Jaroslav Němec won, eating 7 sausages in 2 minutes and 8 seconds. In the women's category the best was Vendula Kotrsová, who ate 4 sausages in 4 minutes, i.e. within the time limit.
The Royal Beer Darts Competition had a record turnout this year - 78 men, 45 women and 19 registered players. Outside of the competition, five children and professional player Dominik Moravcik also joined in and wowed onlookers with his performance. The winner among men was Lukáš Indrák, while Denisa Horáková dominated among women.
The music programme was one of the highlights of the day. The British legend Slade performed on the main stage, dancing the whole square with his hits. Hungarian band Piknik Park, Europe's best Linkin Park tribute band, brought strong rock energy. The Czech music scene was represented by the popular band Lake Malawi, whose modern pop underscored the festival atmosphere. There was also support from the local music scene, whose energy delighted visitors and enhanced the friendly atmosphere of the festival.
Pivobraní 2025 confirmed its position as one of the most important beer festivals in the region not only with its offer, but also with its professional organisation, relaxed atmosphere and respect for the Czech beer tradition.
You can find an overview of Lenka Malinova's photos here.
