Czech Dark Lager

From Good Word Brewing & Public House in Duluth, Georgia, owner and brewer Todd DiMatteo shares the recipe for their subtly roasty, highly drinkable dark lager that can be served from cask or stichfass (or keg, can, bucket, whatever you have handy).

“What’s important is that the beer is not overly sweet,” says Štěpán Kříž at Pivovar Hostomice in Czechia. “That’s the most important thing that we’re trying to do. The fullness of the dark malts has to be balanced with hops.”

Beautiful in the mug, rich on the palate, yet—when properly brewed—so easy to drink in quantity, Czech dark lager is a niche even in its home country. Writing from Prague, Evan Rail talks to the pros to understand the elements and methods that go into a great one.

¡Viva la cerveza checa! A splash of Czech-style dark lager adds malty Maillard depth to the mashed black beans in this flavorful tostada preparation.

Not all dark beers—and most especially not all dark lagers—are the same. Take some time to parse the different dark lager styles out there and consider not only how they differ but also how we can modify our brewing approaches to produce them.

An interesting style that is semi-hard to find commercially… this sounds like just the kind of beer that homebrewers should be lining up to make!