THE CZECH LAGER PLAYBOOK: FROM SVĚTLÝ LEŽÁK TO TMAVÉ
By Geoff Fischer, CMG Territory ManagerThe Czech Republic is the birthplace of the world’s first pale lager and represents some of the deepest roots in global beer history. It’s a region where brewing isn’t just craft, but culture. Brewing a true Czech-style lager is more than a technical exercise—it’s an homage to centuries of tradition, regional ingredients, and a deep respect for the craft. For brewers who take pride in authenticity, every detail matters: the mash schedule, fermentation profile, conditioning time, and most critically, the malt.
Tchecomalt: The Authentic Choice for Czech-Style Beers
One of the most respected Czech malt producers is Tchecomalt, (pronounced check-oh-malt). As one of Czechia’s historic maltsters, Tchecomalt operates five production sites across the country, producing 365,000 tonnes of malt annually. This accounts for approximately 65% of the country’s total malt production. This is not only a testament to its scale but also to its central role in Czech brewing heritage.
By upholding centuries-old techniques, Tchecomalt ensures that each batch captures the essence of Czech brewing, allowing brewers to create lagers that honor both heritage and flavor. Their barley is grown in Haná, a historic agricultural region known as the heart of Czech malting. With its ideal climate, fertile soil, and generations of grain-growing expertise, Haná imparts the clarity, richness, and consistency that sets their malts apart from more commercial alternatives.
The Art of Floor Malting
Among their most prized offerings is their Czech Floor Malted Pilsen Malt—a product of time-honored, labor-intensive methods that produce unmatched depth of flavor and aroma. Floor malting is a traditional process in which barley is germinated and turned by hand on large malt floors.
This slower, more tactile approach allows for gentle, even modification and a more nuanced, layered malt profile. It also prevents overheating, preserves delicate flavors and contributes to the malt’s distinctive, complex character. The result is a malt that brings soft graininess, subtle honey sweetness, and a structure that supports the refined balance and drinkability for which Czech lagers are known.
Bringing Czech Brewing Tradition to Your Brewhouse
As the former Head Brewer at Bohemian Brewery in Salt Lake City, I had the privilege of focusing my work on traditional Czech-style lagers. Our commitment to authentic methods included the use of a double-decoction mash—one of the most iconic techniques in Czech brewing. This time-intensive method extracts flavor and body from the malt in a way that simpler mash profiles cannot often replicate. We combined this with long, cold lagering periods and careful yeast management to craft beers that honored the Czech brewing tradition in both taste and technique.
Maintaining traditional brewing techniques presents several challenges, particularly in the face of modern efficiency demands and cost pressures. The labor-intensive processes, such as floor malting and double-decoction mashing, require skilled artisans and more time, making them less economically viable for large-scale production. Despite these challenges, the dedication to preserving these methods ensures that the resulting beers possess an unmatched depth of flavor and authenticity, providing a unique drinking experience that sets them apart from more industrially produced counterparts.
At the time, Tchecomalt was not yet available in the U.S., so I wasn’t able to use their products. Today Tchecomalt, whose floor-malted products represent the highest standards of traditional Czech malting, is now available through Country Malt Group. Now, brewers can work with authentic ingredients that truly reflect the character of Czech beer at its finest.
A World of Czech Lager Styles
While Czech pale lagers—especially světlý ležák (11–12° Plato, Pilsner-style lagers)—often receive the spotlight, the Czech brewing tradition is rich in stylistic variety. Lighter offerings such as výčepní pivo (typically 8–10° Plato) are lower in alcohol but highly drinkable, with a crisp finish and refreshing balance—perfect for social, everyday drinking. These beers rely on high-quality base malts, such as Tchecomalt’s Floor Malted Pilsen, to deliver a delicate body and aroma even at lower gravities.
On the darker end of the spectrum, Czech tmavé (Dark) lagers offer a completely different experience. Rich with notes of toasted bread, dark caramel, cocoa, and subtle roast, tmavé pivo is a style defined by malt complexity rather than hop bitterness. Achieving the signature smoothness and depth of these beers requires specialty malts with refined roast and kilning profiles. Tchecomalt’s Munich Malt is an ideal foundation for this style, providing the deep malt character and bready richness that tmavé lagers are known for.
Among the lesser-known but deeply rewarding Czech styles is the polotmavý ležák, or amber lager. Sitting between světlý and tmavý in both color and flavor, these beers offer a beautiful balance of toasty malt richness, light caramel sweetness, and the clean, crisp finish that Czech lagers are known for. Traditionally brewed with a blend of Czech Pilsner, Munich, and Vienna style malts, polotmavé lagers present a copper-amber hue and a malt-forward character without becoming cloying. They often feature a subtle herbal hop presence from Saaz hops, providing balance and drinkability. This style is a favorite among Czech brewers for its complexity and sessionability, and it showcases the versatility of Czech malt—particularly when using traditionally produced ingredients like those from Tchecomalt.
Whether brewing světlé (Light), polotmavé (Amber), or tmavé (Dark) lagers, the malt is at the heart of it all. It provides the foundation for the balance, mouthfeel, and nuance that make Czech lagers among the most drinkable and respected beers in the world.
Czech Lager Styles Comparison Chart
True-to-Style Starts Here
As U.S. craft brewers continue to take lager brewing more seriously, many are turning away from commodity malts and seeking ingredients that align with the traditional values of the beer styles they produce. Authenticity in recipe design is no longer just about technique—it’s also about sourcing ingredients with provenance and character.
That’s where Tchecomalt provides a decisive advantage. American brewers seeking to craft Czech-style lagers that truly reflect their origins now have access to malts produced in the heart of Czechia, utilizing barley from the Haná triangle and techniques passed down through generations. From world-class floor-malted Pilsner malt to specialty varieties designed for tmavé lagers, Tchecomalt’s portfolio allows brewers to match their intent with ingredients of genuine origin.
For any brewer aspiring to honor the legacy of Czech brewing, working with Country Malt Group offers not just access to world-class malting brands like Tchecomalt but a direct connection to the cultural and historical roots of this unique beer tradition. As someone who has spent years refining these styles and championing their relevance in today’s craft beer world, I know that great lagers begin with great malt—and few do it better than Tchecomalt.
Reach out to your Country Malt Group sales rep, or shop online at countrymalt.com, to add Tchecomalt products to your next pallet!
About the Author
Geoff Fischer is the former Brewmaster at Bohemian Brewery in Salt Lake City, where he specialized in traditional European lagers brewed using classic double decoction techniques. With over seven years of professional brewing experience and more than 20 years in malt and ingredient sales, Geoff brings a rare dual perspective on both the technical execution of lager brewing and the sourcing of high-quality raw materials. He remains a passionate advocate for process-driven brewing and the preservation of authentic lager traditions.
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