Michael Král's first fateful encounter with beer took place years ago, and coincidentally, it was at the wedding of Pixman founder Tomáš Míka. Little did Michael know then that, despite his part-time job at the Matuška brewery, beer would become his profession and that, as an experienced brewer, he would one day join forces with Tom and found a brewery together. That day came in the fall of 2021, but the path to it was not as straightforward as it might seem.

Let's take it slow and easy.

"The very first idea for our own brewery came about 7 years ago with Tom. We met a few times, talked about something, but in the end it fell through. And that's a good thing, because I still knew absolutely nothing at the time," laughs Michael and continues: "The second time we came up with it with a friend and we discussed it again with Tom, but my friend ultimately chose the safe route, brewing beer at Dvou kohoutů. Last year, Tom and I started climbing and the question was on the table again. So the crucial conversation went something like this: I climb. I'm sure. Good. A brewery? OK, but we have to make it by Christmas."

And they did it. Michael put his brewing skills into it, Pixman took care of the logo (Honza Mikulec), the label (Dáša Karochová) and the overall visual style and mood of the Board brand. And they are also responsible for marketing and sales. "The first batch was only about 1,500 liters of beer, so as not to burn out the beginning. And then we added social networks and the website. But the biggest spreaders of Board are, of course, friends and satisfied customers. We are not rushing anywhere, it is important for us to maintain the high quality of the beers and we also want to enjoy it. We are planning a slow start.

Michael's driving force is the ability to do things his own way, invent new flavors and not be tied down by a prescribed procedure. "He wants to have full control over how the final product will taste, look and where it will be served," he says. Thanks to the joint venture, Pixmani stepped out of the "digital agency" box, got a taste of traditional craftsmanship and proudly support the golden Czech hands and a project that gives them joy.

The first beers from the flying brewery

The Board brewery does not yet have any tanks or a brewhouse. It operates as a so-called flying brewery, i.e. a brewery without its own facilities that rents part of the capacity of another established brewery. But it uses its own ingredients and has the entire process under its thumb - whether it is Michael's thumb or the thumb of a dedicated employee of the host brewery.

The first beer with the fungl new Board brand on the label was the Paddleboard IPA 15°, a semi-dark beer focused on straightforward bitterness, complemented by the delicate citrus aroma of New Zealand Waimea hops and German Melon hops. "At a time when the world is moving double- and triple-hopped beers with almost zero bitterness and high haze, we took the opposite path. Oldschool is cool," says Michael. The Pixmans' friends, acquaintances and business partners were the first to taste the new beer, who gave it away as a Christmas gift beer.

During the winter months, Snowboard 14° was released, a bottom-fermented pale beer of the Pilsner type. It is hopped with Žatec Poloranný Červeňák and Saaz Special hops - despite its strange name, it is also Czech hops. They give the beer a distinct bitterness that promotes drinkability, while the aroma is slightly floral.

New this spring is Longboard PALE ALE 12°. It is a light, top-fermented 12° ale flavored with Enigma hops from Kangaroos and Comet Americano hops. These hops give the beer aromas of currants, grapefruit and citrus.

Can you imagine? If your imagination ends here, check out the Board beer map - where you can buy Board beers and where they are on tap.

And how did it go on...

What are Michael's ideas for the future of the Board brewery? "The answer is simple: To set a good and consistent quality of beer so that it sells well and one day it will result in a real brewery with its own technology. And so that it makes everyone happy."