Budvar brews up record sales

State-owned Czech brewery Budvar, which has been fighting a long legal battle with American brewer Anheuser-Busch over the use of the “Budweiser” brand, says its 2011 exports rose by 7.8 per cent to reach a record high.

Budejovicky Budvar exported more than 17 million gallons of beer to some 60 countries last year, the best result in 116 years. Overall output was up 5.5 per cent to just under 35 million gallons. Financial results are expected in May or June. Overall, Czech beer production was expected to grow by around 1 per cent in 2011.