BJCP 3B · Czech Lager
Czech Premium Pale Lager
The original pilsner from Bohemia: golden, with rich bready malt, spicy Saaz hops and a firm but rounded bitterness. Very drinkable and complex.
Czech Premium Pale Lager by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.2 – 5.8%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 30 – 45 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 4 – 6 SRM7–12 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.044 – 1.060on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.013 – 1.017on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Czech Premium Pale Lager is like
A golden lager packed with malt flavor and spicy, floral Saaz hops, balanced between malt body and a pronounced but smooth bitterness. It's rounder and less dry than a German Pils.
Appearance
Light gold to deep gold, clear to brilliant. Dense, creamy white head that lasts a long time.
Aroma
Rich bready malt with a bit of biscuit alongside moderate to high spicy, floral or herbal Saaz hops. A light touch of diacetyl is possible.
Flavor
Bready, slightly sweet malt, with medium to high bitterness that's never harsh. The spicy hops carry through from start to finish, and the finish is balanced without being fully dry.
Mouthfeel
Medium body, smooth, and moderate to low carbonation, which makes it very creamy.
Where Czech Premium Pale Lager comes from
It was born in 1842 in Plzeň (Pilsen), where Bavarian brewmaster Josef Groll brewed the first golden lager in history. It was such a hit that it gave its name to a whole style, copied all over the world.
Ingredients
Czech pilsner malt, traditionally floor-malted, and sometimes a little light caramel malt. Plenty of Saaz hops, very soft water and Czech lager yeast. Classically it's double or triple decoction mashed.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Czech Premium Pale Lager at home
The keys are soft water and Saaz in several additions, from bittering to the end of the boil. A decoction gives the characteristic deep malt flavor. Ferment at 8-10 °C (46-50 °F), do a diacetyl rest and lager cold for at least a month; carbonate to 2.2-2.4 volumes. The typical mistake is a harsh bitterness from water with too much sulfate.
Food pairing
Goes well with roast pork knuckle, semi-aged cheeses or fried fish.
Glassware: beer mug (stein), big and with a handle, as in German and Czech beer halls.
Classic examples
- Pilsner Urquell
- Budějovický Budvar
- Kout na Šumavě 12°
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Czech Premium Pale Lager?
Between 4.2% and 5.8% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is Czech Premium Pale Lager?
It has 30 to 45 IBUs, a moderate bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Czech Premium Pale Lager?
Yellow to gold: 4 to 6 SRM (7 to 12 EBC).
What food pairs well with Czech Premium Pale Lager?
Goes well with roast pork knuckle, semi-aged cheeses or fried fish.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try German Pils, Czech Pale Lager and Munich Helles.
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Classification and statistics: official Czech Premium Pale Lager guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.