Beverage
Czech Dark Lager
Czech dark lager (tmavé) is a Bohemian black-to-brown lager with bread-crust malt, gentle caramel, and Saaz-influenced hop spice on a clean cold ferment. It is fuller than German schwarzbier yet still lager-clean compared with English milds. Pair with roast pork, dumplings, and stews; cook as a malty dark lager when you want Czech hop perfume without ale esters. Excellent for onion gravy and braised cabbage dishes.
Also known as: Tmavé ležák
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Characteristics
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Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Bohemian dark lager styles developed alongside pale pilsner as everyday Czech beers.
Tmavé ležák became a standard dark lager category in Czech brewing.
Craft Czech-style dark lagers spread Saaz-spiced tmavé profiles internationally.