Czech Dark Lager.

Czech Dark Lager was one of the last two styles I need in order to re-obtain my all-styles goal after BA added a half-dozen new styles last year. I initially had a problem finding it, then found two examples this last Sunday; one from Shiner and one from Fair State. I had the regional Fair State Eleven Degrees, and it was pretty good. It's not a style I'll hunt down again, but it's decent. Now I just need to find the elusive Czech Amber Lager.

 

Yup out here it is too…I jokingly said that this was the winter of czech dark lager for NBW. There was multiple weekends with plenty of them from all over.

 

I’ve noticed this trend, as well. And I’m here for it! European lagers, and specific niches like Czech lagers, are becoming more popular each year. They offer massive flavor without being heavy. I was in Prague a few months ago and fell back in love with these styles. Looks like pFriem is a good option near you in Oregon. I’d say the breweries in the US making the best German/Czech styles are…

Schilling (NH)
Cohesion (CO)
Bierstadt (CO)
Live Oak (TX)
Suarez Family (NY)

 

Seeing lots in New England and I am very grateful. Treehouse, Notch, OEC, Fox Farm, and Schilling have all done one, if I remember correctly. Keep ‘em coming!

 

Frequentum in Cananadaigua, NY had a very good one out a few months back.

 

In addition Jacks Abby currently has Bohemian Dusk out and Widowmaker and Von Trapp recent nice examples as well. New England lagers have been popping for few years now

 

Nice point. I personally love Dunkels and there aren't many available. These beers are so drinkable and roasty, and pretty in the glass. All sorts of satisfactions! The best beer I've ever had was a dark lager in modern day Croatia (then Yugoslavia). I can still taste that beer from 1970.

 

I too am a fan of the dark lagers but find I like the Czech better than the German schwarzbier.. although I think some brewers throw the style names around and will also mix in Dunkels to the list. I think there are distinctions but the lines get blurred in the naming conventions

 

Not sure if it's Czech or German, but Nothing Is Certain is delicious. Any dark lager fan will love it.

 

Yes, I am a fan though only 2 of the 6 I've tried were available locally.

 

3 of my favorite DFW breweries brews solid dark lagers so it's happening here. Im a big fan of lagers so I'm all for the resurgence in Euro lagers of all sorts.

 

Locally, Alma Mader has their Czech dark lager - Contextual - back on tap. The slow pour really draws out the roastiness in the malt.

 

I get a few locally here that I quite enjoy.

Bohemian makes one as well as Strap Tank

 

Yes! In the Philly area its Human Robot that is leading the way with their Tmavy 13° but other local breweries like Free Will, Imprint, Vault, Troubles End, etc have also brewed one in the last year or so.

 

There have been several in my area over the last couple of years. One guy has brewing friends in Czechia, so he knows the style.

I've been homebrew ING one for many years.

 

@FBarber sent me one over a year ago from Dovetail and it impressed me so much I have been trying every one that I’ve come across.
So far, the best one (other than the Dovetail) has been from Griffin Claw. They hit the sweet spot for the style.
As soon as I see it again I’ll buy more, but I haven’t seen it since I bought the first ones.
Darn it all Frank, I was perfectly content in my little world of stouts and you had to share different tasty flavors.

 

I’ve not heard of bohemian dusk! I want to get some.

 

Czech Dark Lagers have been brewed in the Philly area for the past couple/few years but on a rotating basis and sometimes only available on draft (but I have seen more cans recently).

From memory the first US craft brewed Czech Dark Lager I had (a can) was from Imprint Brewing (Hatfield, PA). That was over two years ago.

I have discussed a few Czech Dark Lagers in NBW threads:

Von C Černé Speciál Lager:



https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-108.668434/#post-7586561

Pour Man’s Brewery Tmavé Pivo:


https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-111.668739/#post-7600233

Von Trapp Brewery Tmavé Pivo:



https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-129.670788/#post-7680595

And every year I homebrew a batch of Czech Dark Lager that my wife has branded as Dark Angel after our trip to the Czech Republic (Prague) in 2019. My current batch is in the final stages of bottle conditioning but below is a photo of a past batch:



https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...-tasting-may-13-15.666836/page-3#post-7525499

Na Zdravi

 

Such an awesome style, a really versatile food beer too

 

Cross Post with WBAYD #3801. https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/what-beer-are-you-drinking-now-3801.671972/page-2
I posted this comparison earlier today. Fair State has made some good Czech lagers over the years with T'mave Pils and now Eleven Degrees. They make top-notch pilsners. I do see this trend developing and am hoping continuing. It may be simply a piggyback on the overall pilsner and lager trend in general. I do think we will see more Czech Dark Lagers, but we are probably heading out of the season. In the more immediate future toward Spring and Summer, I hope to see the Czech Pale Lager and Pils, and German Pils and Helles become more popular styles.

 

Lucky you. The only local option I know of is Moonlight's 9 5/16 °P which is a delicious beer but only available by shipping as far as I know.

 

Two terrific Dark Czech Lagers made here in Georgia:

Only Memories Remain - Good Word Brewing, Duluth


Mavy - Halfway Crooks Beer, Atlanta

 

This one seems to be on tap regularly at the brewpub; had it over a year ago and thought it was outstanding. Glad to see they're canning it too. I'll keep my eyes open for that.

 

Well, that is good news.

That can was gifted to me from a friend who visited the brewery. I have seen cans of Pour Man's beer at my local Retail Beer Distributor but not the Tmavé Pivo brand.

Na Zdravi

 

I'm seeing a few more Czech Dark Lagers out there by new and already reputable breweries. I endorse this trend!

 

I have loved the Czech dark lager revolution up here in the PNW. Last fall I was in Bratislava (not quite Czechia but pretty close!) and got to try some Czech dark lagers right from the source.


Patrónsky Pivovar Tmavý 13.5º


Fabrika F13º Dark Lager

These are the only ones I got pictures of, but I went to four breweries in Bratislava and all of them had excellent dark lagers.

 

We are getting a lot of them around here and the best part is it’s the better breweries that are making them.

 

damn sexy essex tulip...

 

Thanks! They're real sturdy and can just barely hold a stovepipe or most of a bomber. Three months in I busted one while washing it, luckily had a spare. I later bought another spare, and also got their stout glass and a spare. They're both out of production, though you can still find them in stock some places and occasionally on Ebay.

 

@Reidrover have you had any other dark lagers: Schwarzbier, Baltic Porter...Pittsburgh has a strong (unvoiced) lager program, which has triggered – bottom fermented – events: perhaps this one will catch on -

 

I haven't had that one straight from the source, but it's available in cans in SFSD.

Fair State appears to be making Dark Czechs a regular one-off, with Eleven Degrees this year following Tmave Pivo last year.

 

The Dark Czech lager is one of my favorite styles in that it delivers big flavor without big ABV or big hops. I've had multiple brews in this category that range from 4-5% ABV but taste much bigger.