Klášter Svetly Special (Premium Lager) 14°

Brewed by Pivovar Klášter
Style: Bohemian Pilsener
Hradiště nad Jizerou, Czech Republic

The was the 5% version purchased from Corti Bros in Sacramento. Poured a clear gold with nice white head and good lacing. Nose of caramel malts and floral hops. Smooth and clean mouthfeel. Flavor of mals and some more hops, these a little grassy. Finish is mild and slightly bitter. Pretty decent beer.

Aroma: Musty, moldy, tart yeast. Something that reminds me of cabbage. Very feeble apple juice. Not very alluring... could be an off bottle, but I’m not sure; no production stamp to be found. Appearance: Clear yellow with a tarnished brass tone; endless pillars of big bubbles coalesce into a lumpy white head. Great retention and beautiful, cloudy lacing all the way down. Flavor: Cheesy, funky, sour yeast with a slight edge of leafy hops. Finish is sweet red grapes at first, then a lingering, parching hops taste. Palate: Intrusive thickness adds a weird textural component to the unpleasant cheesy taste. I actually wish this were lighter-bodied. Overall: I can see this matching well with some mild curry or fish/poultry cooked with lemon. On it’s own, though... I’ll pass.

Had this as a nightcap last thursday. What a bad idea. Had already had 3 pints of two hearted, a pint of big boss coffee stout, and 24oz can of PBR. Why did I think I needed to drink this swill?? Nose has a lot bready malts with a bit of grassy hops. Flavor was more of the same--the breadiness was just too much for me. Not a huge fan of this one, but glad I gave it a try, even though it was definitely the wrong time to drink it.

Pours a nice soft glowing amber with a thin one finger offwhite head. The nose is grassy, lightly sweet, bready. The flavor is a tad waxy and bitter, grassy, a bit sweet, earthy herbal taste, and a crisp bite at the end. Fairly full and satisfying mouthfeel, overall not totally dissatisfying.

Just impossible for me to get excioted about a lager. Pale gold, good white head, some lacing. Nose of floral hops. Taste of floral hops, some malt, enough bitterness to keep this from collapsing into the depths of mass market lager. But pretty thin, average stuff. I can’t get excited about Budvar either, though..

Pours crystal gold with low white head. Little hops and bit astringent. Has a slight oxidation flavor. Not a very great Pilsner.

Pours a clear gold with a fluffy, white head that laces beautifully in my pilsner glass; quite pretty. The aroma is of bright, bready malt with fruity and floral hops in support; very clean. Light-bodied (without feeling thin) and silky soft with a clean, lightly dry and mildly bitter finish. Sweet, bready pilsner malt with fruity, lightly grassy and floral hop notes that keep things nicely balanced. An impromtu sixth bottle in a mix-a-sixer and a beer I knew absolutely nothing about, this one was a pleasant surprise.

Good lager. Thin, watery body. Golden pour. Thin white head. B+ Better than any American macro lager.