The land of foam and patience: a journey into Czech beer

Inspired by a recent WSET webinar with brewer, beer judge and Budvar Global Brand Ambassador, Radim Zvánovec, this article explores the traditions and philosophies that define Czech lager, from decoction mashing and long maturation to the art of pouring beer. You can watch the full webinar recording on the WSET Global Events Hub. One of the first things to understand about Czech lager is that it is not built around speed. In many modern breweries, efficiency is a priority. Beer moves quickly from grain to glass, fermentation is accelerated and tank turnover is carefully managed. Czech lager often follows a different approach: the beer is ready when it's ready. Patience serves a practical purpose. Long, cold maturation allows sulphur compounds to reduce, carbonation to integrate gradually and proteins and polyphenols to fall out of suspension, clarifying the beer naturally over time. As the beer matures, flavours soften and become more integrated. The result is a style shaped as much by

by WSETglobal · source ↗