Bohemian Lager

Trader Joe’s Brewing Company

After a long week of work I am eager to open this Czech-style pilsner and give it a proper, uh, reviewing. It pours a golden blonde colour, light and very clear. Lots o’ bubbles. It is nice to look at, but I am more excited to get to the tasting part.

I smell wheat, and that slightly buttery aroma that seems to follow certain wheat malts around. Also, there is something fishy here. I don’t mean suspicious, mind you (some people who have been drinking with me will know I have a tendency towards this). Enough sniffing, though. Let’s get this one in me, yes?

It is sweeter than I expected, with a pleasant mild hop taste. It has a hint of that familiar European lager taste, but only a hint—the malt gives it more complexity. There is no sign of fish in the taste, thankfully. It is very carbonated, which gives it an exciting mouth feel (yeah, I said “exciting mouth feel”—savour it, kids).

The sweetness clings a bit to the aftertaste, which seems to cover over anything else that might otherwise be happening here. Overall, I find this sweetness a little bothersome, and I detect no bitterness at all. It is a good lager, and more interesting than some, but, ultimately, does not really impress me much. A decent quaffer at a low, low price (for those of you who live in the U.S.).

C+