How To Brew Czech Premium Pale Lager: From Czech Valleys to Velvety Pints

Czech Premium Pale Lager is rich and characterful. It has a significant malt and hop presence and a well rounded lasting finish.

This is a beer that exhibits a complex and is quite refreshing. The drinkability of a Czech Premium Pale Lager is really what strikes me the most about this beer.

The malt flavor complexity and bitterness makes for a beer that is the essence of what a beer should be.

Beer Drinker Evolution

As Nick Carr over at Kegerator.com says, “the entire world owes a debt of gratitude to the brewers of Plzen (Pilsen).” As I am researching about Czech beers tonight, I can’t help but think about stories of people having their very first beer.

Usually it is a sneak of dad’s can of some macro beer at a young and impressionable age. It wasn’t good!

Then fast forward to college and still drinking cheap “macro swill” to catch a quick buzz at parties. After college or like me during college, you find craft beer.

While exploring craft beer, many different styles and flavors are enjoyed. After a while, a need for simplicity hits and Czech Premium Pale Lager is front and center.

It’s waiting for you like an old friend; knowing full well that you would meet again.

Respect

What makes the style of Czech Premium Pale Lager so magnificent is the amount of respect this beer has received over time.

Many of the beers people enjoy today: Budweiser, Miller, Coors, and Pabst (although extremely different) all share a lineage to a beer brewed in Plzen in the 1840s.

When we think of Czech Premium Pale Lager, we are commonly paying respects to the one and only Pilsner Urquell.

Some beer experts say the way to gage a brewer’s merits is by tasting his or her lagers. There is nothing to hide behind with a beer like Czech Premium Pale Lager.

The ingredient list is kept pretty simple: Bohemian Pilsner malt, Saaz hops, and very soft water (more on each of these below).

Style Profile for Czech Premium Pale Lager

Appearance

Pale gold to dark orange gold in color. Clarity is brilliant. Head is dense, creamy white, and should last for a decent amount of time.

Aroma

Clean aroma with rich and complex malt presence. Saaz hops will be spicy. There can be a touch of diacetyl, which is a butter-like flavor, but no fruity esters should be present.

Mouthfeel

Medium body with medium carbonation. If diacetyl is present, then a fuller mouthfeel will be present.

Taste

Taste is rich with complex malt rounded nicely with the spicy notes from the Saaz hops. Diacetyl may be part of the taste profile, but should not be overpowering.

Bitterness is present, but no harsh edges. The finish is clean, crisp, with no fruity esters.

Food Pairing

German-style cuisine, moderately spiced dishes, Japanese, Chinese, or Thai food is a place to start when considering pairing a Czech Premium Pale Lager with food.

Chicken, salmon, bratwurst, deep fried calamari, fish & chips, sushi, dumplings, fettuccine alfredo, blackened catfish, fresh green salads and Vermont cheddar all make for good accompaniment for a Czech Premium Pale Lager.

Tips for Brewing your own Czech Premium Pale Lager

Grain

There comes a time for every homebrewer to decide if he or she wants to follow traditions or not. Traditionally speaking, a triple decoction mash should be done when making this beer.

As my friend, Annie Johnson, has told numerous times, a Czech Pilsner should be brewed only with a decoction mash.

I ran into Annie at HomeBrewCon 2018 in Portland, OR and tried her Czech Pilsner. It was AWESOME! After doing research on this, I understand the passion for some brewers to want to stick to traditional brewing methods.

Three different times during the mash a third of the whole is removed, boiled, and added back to increase the overall temperature.

This was done to deal with the under-modified malt, which required more boiling to release sugars and reduce the larger amounts of protein. Doing a triple decoction mash will allow your grain bill to be 100% Pilsner malt.

If you are in a hurry and need to pack for vacation like Martin did (see video), then you can modify your grain bill slightly.

Start off with the same Pilsner malt and then add some Munich Type 1 for a little color and complexity. Also Carapils can be added for increased foam, improved head retention, and enhanced mouthfeel.

Hops

As with Czech Pale Lager, Saaz hops are the showcase here. Saaz can be used for bitterness, aroma, and taste.

Sterling and Tettnang can be a quick substitute if Saaz hops are not available at your local homebrew shop. The profile for Sterling and Tettnang are very similar to Saaz.

Yeast

Wyeast Bohemian Lager 2124, Czech Pils 2278

White Labs Pilsner lager Yeast WLP800, Czech Budejovice Lager Yeast WLP802

Imperial Yeast Urkel L28

Water:

Plzen water is some of the softest water used in brewing. The best way to replicate Plzen water is to use store bought distilled water.

If you are going to treat your water, know that the Parts Per Million (PPM) levels for your common minerals need to be in single digits.

Fermentation:

Ferment at 50°F (10°C) or whatever your yeast manufacturer suggests until your final gravity is reached. It is a good idea to increase the temperature by about ten degrees at the end of fermentation to assist in diacetyl cleanup.

Once the beer completes fermentation and after the diacetyl rest, you may want to cold crash it to 35°F (2°C) for about 4 weeks to improve clarity.

Czech Premium Pale Lager By the Numbers

• Color Range: 3.5 – 6 SRM
• Original Gravity: 1.044 – 1.056 OG
• Final Gravity: 1.013 – 1.017 FG
• IBU Range: 35 – 45
• ABV Range: 4.2 – 5.4%

Czech Premium Pale Lager Recipe

Grain

• 87% 10 lbs Pilsner, German
• 7% 12.0 oz Carapils
• 6% 12.0 oz Munich Type 1

Hops

• 2 ozs Tettnang Pellets – Boil 60.0 min
• 1.00 oz Saaz Pellets – Boil 30.0 min
• 1.00 oz Saaz Pellets – Boil 10.0 min
• 1.00 oz Saaz Pellets – Flameout

Yeast

• 1.0 pkg Urquell Lager (Wyeast Labs #2201)

Directions

1. Mash at 154°F (67°C) for 60 mins
2. Boil for 60 mins

Save this for Later

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I brew a Czech Pils using the Czech Premium Pale Lager recipe?

Brewing a Czech Pils requires a specific process to achieve the desired taste and quality. By following the Czech Premium Pale Lager recipe on the Homebrew Academy, you will be guided through the necessary steps.

This includes using the right ingredients, following the recommended water profile for Pilsner beer, and adhering to the brewing process outlined in the recipe.

What differentiates a Czech Premium Pale Lager from other Pale Lager beers?

The Czech Premium Pale Lager is distinguished by its unique balance of malt and hop flavors, along with a clean, crisp finish. This particular balance is achieved through the use of specific Czech ingredients and brewing techniques.

Other pale lagers may not have the same level of hop bitterness or may possess a different malt character.

What are the key ingredients in the Czech Pilsner recipe?

The key ingredients in brewing a Czech Pilsner using the Czech Pilsner recipe include Pilsner malt, Saaz hops, and a suitable lager yeast.

Additionally, achieving the best water profile for Pilsner beer by adjusting starting water and minerals is crucial for getting the authentic taste and mouthfeel associated with a Czech Pilsner.

How does the Bohemian Lager recipe compare to the Czech Premium Pale Lager recipe?

Both recipes stem from a rich Czech brewing tradition but may have slight variations in terms of ingredient ratios and brewing processes. The Bohemian Lager recipe might have a different malt or hop profile compared to the Czech Premium Pale Lager recipe.

It’s advisable to follow the specific recipe to achieve the desired type of beer, whether it’s a Bohemian Lager or a Czech Premium Pale Lager.

Can I achieve a Pilsner Urquell clone using the Czech Pale Lager recipe?

The Pilsner Urquell is a quintessential Czech Pilsner with a unique taste profile. While the Czech Pale Lager recipe can provide a solid base for brewing a Czech Pils, achieving an exact clone of the Pilsner Urquell may require further tweaking in the recipe, possibly in the hop variety or malt ratios, to match the distinct taste and aroma of Pilsner Urquell.