Coinciding with the world-famous annual celebration of beer in Munich and roughly three hours by car from the Bavarian capital, is a kindred festivity whose main draw enjoys no less worldwide recognition. The yearly Pilsner Fest takes place on the premises of the much-venerated Pilsner Urquell brewery in Plzen Sept. 30–Oct. 2.

What at first might seem like a clever marketing trick to woo the beer-thirsty hordes gathered across the border is in fact an authentic anniversary celebration of the tapping of the first batch of original Pilsen lager by brewer Josef Groll Oct. 5, 1842. The fruit of his efforts 163 years ago — a bottom-fermented, clear pale lager — proved to be quite a revolutionary accomplishment, as pilsner-style beers came to replace the region's darker, cloudier brews, eventually becoming the world's favorite type of beer.

Though that seminal event surely deserves a toast any day, advertising the upcoming festival as "Pilsner Fest 163" may lead quite a few to reckon the festival itself has a 163-year-old tradition. In fact, this is only the sixth year in its current large-scale format, though a much smaller celebration has taken place for longer than anyone can remember.

"Some celebratory barrels would invariably be tapped at the beginning of each October," says brewery spokesman Alexej Bechtin. He notes that until the advent of the larger festival, outside participation was essentially limited to "a small stall for locals" in front of the brewery.

When the brewery held its first modern Pilsner Fest in 2000, about 2,000 revelers showed up. By last year, the event saw some 60,000 beer worshipers come pay homage to Josef Groll's masterstroke. "More people simply wouldn't fit," Bechtin recalls. However, the brewery does not intend to move the festivities to a larger venue — for example, fairgrounds like the ones where Oktoberfest takes place in Munich. "It would be unimaginable to hold the celebrations anywhere other than in the brewery," Bechtin says. "Besides, many people regard walking through the gate as part of the experience," he adds, referring to the iconic double-arched entryway depicted on the Pilsner Urquell seal.

In addition to the legendary beer, visitors can look forward to performances by such groups as the Deda Mládek Illegal Band, Wohnout and Laura and Her Tigers, as well as a beer-mat-throwing contest, a fast-beer-drinking contest and other competitions, along with brewery tours and other presentations. For kids, a special tent will host comedians, magicians and children's theater groups.

As in Munich, the festivities — a matter of local pride — will begin with a toast by the city's mayor. Though Bechtin concedes that the two beer happenings overlap to a certain extent, he points out that while Oktoberfest is held jointly by an array of local breweries, Pilsner Fest is solely a celebration of Pilsner Urquell.

And while beer is merely one of several tourist attractions the Czech Republic has to offer, the Pilsner Urquell brewery is definitely the primary tourist attraction of west Bohemia's otherwise grubby industrial metropolis. Brewery and city officials have therefore teamed up with CzechTourism, the government tourism-promotion agency, to attract more foreign visitors. But as Bechtin notes, "Plzen's accommodation supply continues to be one of the most limited of any city in the country. Fortunately, next year a hotel is due to open right across from the brewery." Book your rooms now.