Czech beer, Czech glass. Ambiente, Bomma and UMPRUM revive pressed-glass production and introduce a new crystal beer mug to restaurants
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Although the Czech Republic is considered a global glassmaking powerhouse, pressed beer glass hasn’t been produced here in two decades. The ambition behind the project is simple: to give Czech beer its Czech glass back—and to show that even something as seemingly ordinary as a beer mug deserves thoughtful design and exceptional craftsmanship.
The idea originated with Michal Froňek and Jan Němeček, heads of the Product Design Studio at UMPRUM and founders of the renowned Olgoj Chorchoj studio. They have long collaborated with Bomma in Světlá nad Sázavou, one of the few glassworks equipped with technology for pressing beer glass. For their semester assignment, they asked students to create designs that build on the heritage of classic Czech beer mugs.
From design studio to pub table
The initiative soon grew beyond the classroom. Froňek and Němeček invited Ambiente founder Tomáš Karpíšek to join, and together with students, glassmakers and beer specialists from the PIVO Institute, they began transforming the concept from an academic project into a real-world product. The process took more than eighteen months, and from roughly fifteen initial designs, two final models were selected—one for Lokál, and another for the broader Ambiente group.
Designer Tereza Bláhová’s mug for Lokál draws inspiration from traditional Czech beer glasses, which she reinterpreted into a contemporary, gently rippled relief. Her focus was on how light plays through the glass. “A beer mug often becomes the centre of the table—and of the conversation. Everyone has their favourite. For me, the challenge was to respect the limits of the technology while still introducing a fresh detail,” Bláhová explains.
A more streamlined version for the other Ambiente restaurants was created by Jáchym Kubů (Kuza). He combined classic silhouettes into a subtle “face” motif—a symbolic drinking companion. “For me, it was like a second school. Beyond the design work, I had to learn to approach ergonomics, understand the constraints of glass, and communicate with the client. That’s why I’m all the more thrilled that my design made it all the way to production,” he says.
The project—overseen for the school by the UMlab Creative Laboratory—is, according to studio lead Michal Froňek, a crucial step for Czech dining culture. “With Honza Němeček, we wanted to break the long absence of Czech pressed beer glass in Czech restaurants. What began as an academic assignment grew into a real product thanks to consultations with technologists, bartenders and historians,” Froňek explains.
Production of the two mug types took place at the Bomma glassworks. Representatives from Ambiente and the designers were able to observe the entire process at the furnace—assembling the three-part mold, dosing the glowing molten glass, and fine-tuning the perfect volume. After pressing, each mug passed through a series of burners for fire-polishing and then into an annealing kiln, where it spent five to six hours slowly releasing internal tension.
“The evolution of these special beer mugs—from a virtual concept to the moment we saw the first real pieces come out of the mold—was a fascinating journey. This project clearly shows that Czech crystal and our know-how belong not only in interior design, but also in bespoke production that supports Czech beer culture,” says Jiří Trtík, President of the Bomma & Rückl Group and a co-creator of the project.
Crystal durability in real-world service
Thanks to Czech crystal, the mugs excel in clarity and shine. Both designs balance aesthetics, functionality and practical durability. “The glasses feel good in the hand, they’re easy to wash and they stand up to daily use,” adds Lucie Janečková of the PIVO Institute.
The first 150 pieces of each model were tested across Ambiente restaurants this August and September. After gathering feedback, a second batch was produced—this time four thousand refined, final-form mugs, two thousand of each design.
Now, the project enters its most important phase. For the next two months, Lokál Dlouhááá, Lokál Korunní, Kantýna, Kuchyně and Brasileiro Slovanský dům will use only these new mugs. The goal is to gather comprehensive feedback from guests—insights that will be key to launching full-scale production and bringing true Czech crystal beer mugs back into pubs and restaurants nationwide.
