Velichovsky Forman Světlý Výčepní 10°

Brewed by Minipivovar Velichov
Style: Bohemian Pilsener
Velichov, Czech Republic

Draft at the brewpub. An unclear amber beer with a huge cream colored head. The aroma has notes of malt, straw, brewmash, and grain as well as light notes of citrus. The flavor is sweet with notes of malt and diacethyl leaning towards a buttery note, but it disappears after 3 sips - as well as notes of straw and caramel. The mouthfeel is very soft.

Bottled. Clear golden, small head. Buttery nose. Medium sweet with well rounded mouthfeel. Solidly malty for a 10° beer with plenty of hy and diacetyl . Pleasing salty bitterness. A ructc, yet very quaffable pilsener.

On tap. Hazy amber golden with a tall, handsome and off-white head with good retention. First impression has a whiff of butter which vanishes completely for a light and clean caramel note. Light body, extremely smooth and velvety mouthfeel, caramellish malt with discreet flowery accents. A light bitterness in the finish. 300608

Back from a Czech Republic pub-crawl this is part of my express ratings for the “typical” Světlý 11°- (Czech light Pils), Světlý 12°+ (Czech Pils), Polotmavý (Czech Amber Lagers) and Tmavý (Czech Black Lagers). Non-typical beers will receive personalized descriptions after the express ratings.
-------- /> How: Tap at brewpub (Minipivovar Velichov, Velichov, Czech Republic)
The look: Very cloudy blonde body with a medium white head
To me a typical Czech Světlý 11° and below is: Well malted body with lots of smooth cereals and a light fresh honey sweetness flavour. Some fruity notes (more fruity notes than in the 12°+) with mostly citrus fruits and a little lemon. The finish is somewhat herbal and citrusy with but unlike the 12°+ there is only a hint of the dry grassy bitterness usually associated with noble/Saaz hops. Bitterness is mild and does not really play a big role in the overall flavours spectrum. A light meringue sensation and an overall freshness impression.. Carbonation is typically very soft. These beers are low in intensity but very refreshing and drinkable in scarily large quantities.
This one: As above with a body fuller and more chewy than I thought possible in such a light beer and a superb light lemony tartness. Man it this ever highly drinkable.

My Bottom Line:
Heroic pilsener malts shape a fascinatingly sustaining body for the citrusy, herbal hops to groove with. This unfiltered Světlý Výčepní is so fresh and quaffable, one just cannot get tired of it.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A marvelous head formation garnishes the cloudy blond.
-That mouthfeel is a piece of art; round, smooth lascivious, leading to effortless chugging.
-Those malts offer a honeyed wink as well.
-This is served rather cold at the pub, but you only need to wait a few moments to enjoy it.
-An older sample, generously provided by the owner/brewer, showed how time can affect such an unfiltered, unpasteurized Bohemian Pilsener. Some tartness had appeared, an olive-like fruitiness was roaming nearby as well, and the body appeared slightly thinner.
-This one was so easygoing, I could have drunk 12 pints of it. Lord knows I tried.

On tap at the brewpub.