Prague: the iconic city renowned for its rich history, Astronomical Clock, and of course the liquid gold the rest of the world has grown to adore: Staropramen. But, what’s that go to do with Brewhemia? You clearly haven’t Czeched it out…

Here at Brewhemia we like to pride ourselves on adventure; from curated libations, decadent dishes, and extravagant theatrics, with the sky the limit. Yet now, it’s safe to say we’ve officially brought that ethos from the inside out with the latest unveiling of our Market Street façade – a striking ode to our bohemian roots and passion for tank fresh beer in more ways than one.

As of January, we’ve taken the brick-and-mortar exterior of Brewhemia into a golden epoch, paying homage to the holy land of hops with Staropramen in-stride. More than six weeks of craftsmanship and 60 kilos of copper later, our own version of Prague’s Astronomical Clock elegantly takes centre stage outside our doors with golden touches illuminated from day to night – a ticking reminder that no matter where the clock hands land, it’s always tank time.

A major feat with partners, Staropramen, we engaged in works with renowned prop builders, Kevin Thornton and Will McEvoy to bring the vision to life – merging the iconic Czech landmark with our Brewhemia essence and brand of Staropramen, resulting in one of Edinburgh’s latest and greatest streetscapes.

With a tight schedule, time was ticking. Kevin and Will worked through Christmas and New Years, building the copper clock, and transforming an original 2D sketch into a masterpiece by collaborating with global clockmakers Smith of Derby (known for their work since the 1800s). Six weeks later, it took two full days and an entire team to assemble the clock to the façade of Brewhemia, with additional details evolving. Kevin noting the efforts, stating, ”We didn’t anticipate the weight of this thing once all the copper was applied, at least 60kg. That meant working on it was a pain to maneuver around the workshop. Materials like copper and acrylic scratch very easily so we had to be extremely careful. It really slowed down the process”.

Supporting the striking face, our in-house team utilised a copper beer tank cutting it in half, placing it on either side of the clock face with adjoining pipe, creating a golden journey across the front of the building, finished with florals and greenery – a true masterpiece in ode to the real bohemia.

Staropramen is the number one Czech export, loved across the globe for all the right reasons and it’s no secret we’re fans…grand fans. With six of 12 copper tanks claimed by the Prague pioneers under our roof, we’ve taken the partnership ’round the clock – literally – with the new installation a must-see to believe. The four new additional tanks, seamlessly installed and managed by TankBeer (our partners for a long time and a good time), extend our repertoire, delivering Staropramen the 1180 miles from Prague to Brewhemia ensuring we always have supply – rain, hail, or shine.

Discover more about the Staropramen journey from the Prague brewery, direct to Brewhemia here.