Czech Dark Lager (2024)

And if a traditional Czech brewer brews a dark lager with a bit more roastiness and less hop character, would it be "improperly brewed?"

 

I actually prefer the roastiness and less hop character, so maybe I should be researching schwarzbiers - but they are even harder to find darn it. But this is a dark lager thread so thought I'd post mine from today:

This one, I think, closely matches what Jack was describing: Low roastiness and a definite hop presence. Really easy drinking and oodles of flavor; I just want more roastiness (Biscuit like malts too!)

 

Last fall I was knocking around Germany for a month. Had a couple of Schwarzboers in Leipzig and the area. The roast was there but not dominant, and there was a definite chocolatey flavor in those.

 

Color me envious, sounds amazing.

 

Maybe!?!

 

Yeah, the Schwarzbier beer style would be more aligned with your preferences.

Prost!

 

Were you at the Bayerischer Bahnhof for the schwarzbier? I haven't been since 2017, but at that time they had a very good schwarzbier that fits what you described.

I actually thought it was fairly difficult to find schwarzbiers in Germany, east or west, north or south (though I haven't been out of the US since 2017 and am not sure what it's like now). There were a few bottles of "schwarzbier" in the various bottle and grocery shops in Leipzig and Dresden, but not many. Some of those schwarzbiers had very little to no roasted malt/barley flavor and seemed to use the darker caramel malts to achieve the color. The resulting flavor (to me) was cola-like with a bit of prune, which is not a flavor I particularly like, though I do find it in some darker beers from time to time.

 

Biergarten Göseschenke ohne Bedinken was where we had different Gose and then I shifted to Schwarzbiers.

The chocolate flavor was a surprise. If you go to Weyermann's website you will find that they call Carafa malts chocolate malts.

 

Had this one fairly recently- Was really solid!



Cheers!

 

I really hope this trend stays on the path it's on.
I love all dark lagers, so I get more excited each time I go to the beer store.
Maybe there is still hope for the beer scene after all?
Just when I lost faith, lagers are finally catching the attention of Brewers and drinkers alike.
I suppose dunkleweizen is too much to ask? Not enough of them available in my opinion. They are another greatly underappreciated style.
C'mon Brewers, come to the Daaaark Side of the force!

 

Here in Oregon I got excited when the local grocery (finally) started carrying Buoy (Astoria, Ore) Czech-style Pilsner and their Dunkel Lager. Seems most craft beer space around Ore is committed to the IPAs, so I agree, bring on more dark lagers! Am lobbying my wife to make another trip to Astoria this summer, where we can sit on their taproom veranda over-looking the Columbia...and imbibe a few of their dark lagers from the tap!

 

I love them. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they're one of my favorite styles of beer now. They're similar to German Schwarzbier but less roasted bitterness and more malt sweetness and complexity. They're like liquid pumpernickel bread with some dark chocolate notes. They're fantastic. I've had some mind blowing ones from Cohesion and Bierstadt here in Denver. It's a style of beer I'd have in my fridge all the time if they were more commonplace.

 

When I was driving through western Maryland a few weeks ago, I picked up a sixer of this beer from Cushwa Brewing. Very nice Czech-style Dark Lager

 

Drank an excellent dark lager again tonight called Baas at Troubles End Brewing in Collegeville, PA. They call it a "Hammer Lager - Brewed for those in this rocky commonwealth that labor hard and need a beer after work that feeds the soul, mug after mug."
But based on characteristics of it (roastier than Dunkel, hoppier than Schwarzbier) I would classify as a Czech style.

Such a thick head from the side pull faucet serving you can see where I took the first sip.

 

I swear we just did this thread a month ago.

 

The tread did start on March 18th, but Czech-style lagers continue to exist this month too

 

Hey don’t tread on me bro. I guess it was in the California/Pacific section.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/czech-dark-lager-in-california.671982/

 

Enjoying a can of Strangeways Brewing's Czech Your Head that I picked up in Williamsburg, Virginia last month.

 

Orloj - Xül



On a day with no regrets, I am wishing for more of this beer! Creamy smooth carbonation, soft full body, and just a hint of alcohol. The picture fails to capture the brilliantly clear auburn highlights. This is all malt, toasted with caramelization. Mild pumpernickel and cashews. The balance is exquisite. By a wide margin my favorite of the few Czech Dark Lagers to date. One could easily spend a long afternoon with this beer, and casual conversation or a card game. Anyone know how to play Euchre? Willing to teach me, so I can make good on the imagination?

 

When I lived in the Czech Republic (1994-1996), most places served tmavé pivo, but almost no one drank it. I think Regent made a pretty good one. I never expected it to be a semi-popular style here.