Rohozec Skalák Tmavé 13°

In short: An intense fruity, slightly sour complex lager. Wonderful (on tap at least)
How: Tap at U Valsu (Prague, Czech Republic). Called Rohozec Dark 12° (not 13° although I assume it’s an U Valsu mistake)
The look: Clear ruby body with a large beige head
In long: Intriguing fruity and herbal nose. The beer smelled like a fruit pie sitting on a pile of autumn tree leaves. Attack of sweet craneberries, wildberries and raisin pie. Finish mixes quite a bit of woody and leafy hops with a superb flavourful sourness of medium intensity. Wonderful beer that is totally different from any other Czech Tmavý I’ve had over there.
WARNING (why oh why…): Yet another poorly rated Czech beer that I found wonderful on tap. It’s not uncommon that a Czech beer is wonderful on tap while the bottle is pretty crappy. I’ve had a few experiences like that (X33 being the most extreme example). Many Czech lagers in bottle are not to be trusted. Get this one on tap or don’t get it at all. This beer is really great on tap. During my stay in Czech Republic I went three times to U Valsu and the last 2 times were just for drinking this particular beer. Comparing the tap and the bottle version of this beer is like comparing apples and oranges, fresh juicy apples and old rotten oranges.

My Bottom Line:
Waves of wealthy bread froth into caramel nuances as fruity, dark chocolate surfs on by till a careful herbal hop undertow cleanly takes all back to square one. Subsequent gulps of this masterful Tmavé are plentiful and become nearly necessary.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A creamy head of foam covers the clear burgundy brown.
-That maltiness is so complex and so appeasing, offering segue after segue of flavor.
-The body is succulently straddling chewiness and comfortable drinkability.
-The hop finish as characterful as their Svetlé 11’s, but it is able to dry out the back end wonderfully.
-I will taste a bottle soon to see if the same quality is to be found there, but I wonder after all these so-so ratings.

On tap at U Valsu, Praha.

En fűt. Pinte dégustée chez U Valsu (Prague, Rép. Tchčque). Arôme: Odeur de céréales grillées avec une pointe de chocolat. Apparence: La couleur est brun rubis. Présence d’un large col beige crémeux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Odeur de caramel fruité avec une pointe de chocolat. Durée moyenne de l’arričre goűt. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture crémeuse. Faible effervescence en bouche. Arričre goűt fruité et légčrement sucré. (Rating #1506)

(Söderbärke 2007) Amber color, offwhite head. Roasted malt aroma, chocolate, cocoa, toffee notes. Malty, sweetish flavor, chocolate and with toffee notes. A great dark czech beer if you ask me....

From tap at Prazsky. Pours dark brown with a red glare and a creamy tan head. Mild butterish and roasted malt aroma. Flavour is sweet, light toasted and berry fruity with a mild spice note. Goes into a mixed finish of roasted malt, sweet fruity accents and mild bitterness. Nice one.