We brew beer where it has been brewed for hundreds of years. We've simply added a fantasy world where every beer has a character of its own. Švabín isn't just about taste. It's about mood, atmosphere and a little escape from reality. Characters like Faun, Bard, Satyr and Leshy come alive on the label and in the glass. The result? Beers that taste great… and that you'll remember, too.
„Thirsty for Adventure"
Five centuries in a single sip
In 1379 we find the first mention of beer brewing in Zbiroh — in the inventory ledger of the Rožmberk estate. The exact location of the brewery at that time remains unknown.
In 1567 the Švabín brewery is officially mentioned for the first time in the records of the Plzeň brewing museum — at a time when the Zbiroh estate belonged to the Lobkowicz family.
After the Thirty Years' War, Švabín became the most successful brewery in Zbiroh. In 1698 the Italian architect Antonio de Mago Crag led a major reconstruction and gave the brewery Italian touches that are still visible today.
In 1710 the brewery produced 1,638 barrels (3,997 hl) of beer — a period of steady growth in output.
The estate and the brewery were owned by Henry Strousberg, the "railway king"; during his era output reached its historic peak of 17,000 hectolitres. In 1879 ownership passed to the Colloredo-Mansfeld family.
Before the First World War, almost 12,000 hl of beer were produced a year. After nationalisation in 1948 Švabín became part of the West Bohemian Breweries, and in 1952 the last batch was brewed — the equipment was moved to Gambrinus.
In 2018 the brewery was bought by a private investment firm. After reconstruction, Švabín brought beer back to market in May 2023, head brewer Zdeněk Siruček joined in October 2023, and in 2024 the Double IPA Leshy won bronze at an international competition.
Old photos of the brewery
Photographs that survived the centuries — from the brewery archive and the Zbiroh Museum.
Every beer has a face of its own
A hand-drawn world from ancient myths. Every beer has a face of its own — collect them all.
