The Project
Bridging the gap between the Heartland and the Homeland is a goal of the Wilber Czech Brewery Company and a group of brewers from the Czech Republic.
Renowned brewers Vaclav Potesil and Michal Cerney of the Czech Republic recently made the trip across the Atlantic to visit with the Wilber Czech Brewery committee, the equipment manufacturer and, of course, sample beer.
The main focus, however, of the trip, was to help build a bridge of love, pride and cooperation between the Czech Capital of the United States, and the home land of the Czech Republic.
“My feeling is that this is a friendship,” Cerney said. “For us, this is really about building that friendship with Wilber.”
“This project is important to the Czech Republic because of the many ties with southeast Nebraska and it is important to southeast Nebraska because, once again, this project will strengthen our heritage,” Joe Vosoba, one of the founders of the Wilber Czech Brewery committee, said at the meeting.
Vosoba, a former senator from Wilber, has been an integral part of the project from its inception.
Wilber Czech Brewery committee president Kim Kovar-Anderson noted that this project will be unique to not only southeast Nebraska, but to the United States.
"This project will be unique to the U.S. as far as the type of beer we will be producing," she said. "Also, the relationship we are bringing with it will also be unique."
Cerney and Potesil spent three days in the Lincoln/Omaha metro area looking at brewing operations and talking with equipment manufacturers as well as extensive talks with architects about the facility in downtown Wilber. Cerney said the next time they come back, it will be very special.
“The next time we return, it will be to drink Wilber beer with the Wilber people,” Cerney said.
The Wilber Czech Brewery Company is looking for Nebraska residents interested in investing in the company. Investors can purchase units at $500 each. If you would like to hear more about this opportunity, please email us at wilberczechbrewerycompany@gmail.com
