Polotmavý
von Trapp Brewing

 

 

 

 

Polotmavy Lager with Spruce Tips from Von Trapp Brewing. 16 fl oz can from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. Picked up 10/01/26, in reefer at distributor. $ 2.75 (including tax) ($ 0.172/fl oz). Reviewed 15/01/26, review 3672. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “BEST BY 13:24 01/19/26.” Stored at home at 40 degrees F. Served at 42.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 51.2 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Deep Gold (SRM 6), clear.
Body – Pale Amber (SRM 9), clear. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, same.
Head – Average (Maximum 3.2 cm, aggressive center pour) White, high density with average retention, falling to a 0.7 cm crown and thin partial cap.
Lacing – Fair – a compound arch of near-microscopic to tiny bubbles.
Aroma – 4 – Malt. No hops, no spruce. No alcohol (5.5 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 4 – It begins slightly sweet and malty. Initially no spruce, but hints occur eventually on the aftertaste. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Slight gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium: Watery: Soft but lively carbonation.
Style: Follows the BA style description.
Final impression and summation: 4 Uncredited label art although the dog is identified. Good price point for this beer.

 

 

 

 

 

This is an unusual take to a classic Czech style. The addition of the spruce tips definitely adds a different dimension to the flavor profile, which may not please the purists but I have to admit that I find quite intriguing. It's a little a bit sweeter than I'm used to. I would have preferred a tiny bit more bitterness.

 

Can best by 2026/01/19
Pours a foamy fizzy 1 finger off-white head with fair retention, a bit of lacing, clear orange to amber color

Nose brings some sweet toasted biscuity malts, toasted bread crust, a hint of honey, little toffee sweetness, very mild earthy spruce note, mild fruity esters

Taste brings the malt up front again, rich grainy malt semi sweet with more toasted malts, toasted bread, a touch of caramel or toffee sweetness, some fruity esters likely malt-derived, soft lager under, mild earthy forest spruce tip notes, and touch of piney forest floor on the dry finish

Mouth is med bod, med to a bit higher carb, soft lager

Overall pretty good, nice base Czech amber lager with a bit of the spruce in the background thankfully not overpowering

This is my first go with a Czech amber lager, and lack of comparisons aside, this is well brewed. Light in body with a nice soft drying bitterness gives this such great drinkability. Available flavors range from brown bread, graham cracker, pecan, and dark grape before they transition to a delicate dry hop kiss with indeed....a spruce note finishing things off. I wanted to savor this new beer experience and ponder its taste and order of development, but it was just too drinkable. I made quick work of this one. This is a delicious lager and belongs to a subgenre that I'll be seeking more from.

16oz can poured into a SA perfect pint

A- pours a clear amber color with a one-finger creamy white head that has good retention

S- toasted biscuity malt initially, with crackers and a hint of caramel, some peppery yeast with bright fruity esters emerging, can't detect a spruce aroma but there is definitely an earthy element

T- sweet, fruity and malty up front with some berry notes, as well as a light doughy sweetness. Mid-palate brings out a bold yeast note that adds clove & cracked pepper,A toasted malty element emerges before the backend gives a fruity cereal note. The finish is dry and slightly tannic, with a fruity, earthy linger

M- medium body with medium carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns slightly creamy into a crisp finish

Poured from a 16 oz can into a pint glass; best by date of 1/2/26. Pours deep amber with one of foamy head that rapidly recedes. Tastes of sweet bread, crackers, and spruce. Solid... really good beer.

Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a fine creamy head. Bready aroma with a faint hint of spruce. Crisp bitterness upfront gives way to a sweet caramel flavor. Moderate mouthfeel with delicate carbonation. Overall, an interesting combination that works quite well!

Appearance - clear copper body with tan head

Smell - caramel, fruits, pine

Taste - caramel, toasted malts, hint of cherry

Mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium plus carbonation, caramel sweetness upfront, bready in the middle, hop bitterness on the back end

Overall - this is a very enjoyable beer, good balanced flavors and good bitterness to keep you coming back for more. This is a beer lover's beer. Recommended. These Von Trapp collaborations (with a few exceptions) have all been top notch and I can't wait to see what else they churn out.

Price Point - $10.99/4 pack 16 oz cans

16 oz. silver can with a gold top. Poured into my 0.5 L Von Trapp & Burlington Beer Company " Blending Creativity Among Friends" mug.
Beer appears a crystal-clear amber with two solid fingers of off-white rocky head, once the vigorous pour settles properly. Moderately clingy lacing as the beer is consumed.
Nose of bready malt and lager yeast derived sulfur. Very inviting
Mouthfeel is surprisingly light.
Initially clean on the palate, followed by malt character then sulfur and hop spice in the finish with a drying aftertaste. Again, quite inviting and more-ish. After the beer warms slightly there is a piney-ness that appears in the aftertaste that might be described as "spruce", but if I didn't know it had spruce in it, I wouldn't describe it as that.
Overall a very solid session amber lager which was interesting without being complex or fatiguing on the palate. An all-day drinker if there ever was one.