Beer Styles

What is a Bohemian pils? The style guidelines call it Czech Premium Pale Lager: a bottom-fermented, golden beer with a pronounced but refined bitterness shaped by Saaz hops. The hops that define it come straight from Saaz (Žatec). It has a malt body that's rounder and slightly sweeter than a German pils, and a firmer hop character than a Helles.

The difference from German pils lies in the balance. North German pils is drier, leaner, and often crisper in the finish. The Bohemian version is fuller-bodied, breadier, and spicier on the nose. The style ranges overlap, so you'll find beers that could arguably sit in either camp.

The second defining style is Czech Dark Lager. It ranges from red to dark brown, smells of caramel and bread crust, and is less bitter than its colour would suggest. Roasted notes are not the goal here. It's meant to be mild and smooth, without the sweetness of a bock.

How much alcohol does a Czech lager contain? According to style guidelines, a Bohemian pils sits between 4.2 and 5.8% ABV, and the dark version between 4.4 and 5.8%. The original gravity — the amount of dissolved solids before fermentation — ranges from 11 to 14.7 degrees Plato in both cases. In the Czech Republic this is traditionally expressed in degrees: a "twelve" means twelve degrees original gravity.

Both styles are essentially simple. There are no complicated ingredients and no elaborate serving ritual. The art lies in brewing a beer you can drink in large quantities without it ever becoming dull. The Saaz hop ensures there's still aroma left by the third glass.