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Budvar Dark

Budějovický Budvar
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🌍 Czech Republic · Czech Dark Lager · One of 7 Czech Dark Lagers in hopIQ

Budějovický Budvar's dark lager — applying the same 90-day lagering to a darker malt recipe. Caramel, light chocolate, roasted grain and a smooth, clean finish at 4.7%. Budvar Dark is the serious dark lager drinker's choice: the precision of the world-famous Budvar brewing process applied to a style that rewards patience and technical excellence.

ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark36
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp mouthfeel.

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Czech Dark Lager.
Malt character
malty
roasted
caramel
chocolate
bready
toasty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Budvar Dark

Appearance

Deep mahogany to brown color with excellent clarity characteristic of Czech lager precision. A dense, cream-colored head forms with impressive retention, suggesting proper carbonation and quality malt composition. The visual presentation conveys the technical excellence and patience invested in this 90-day lagering process.

deep mahoganydense cream headexcellent clarityrich brown

Aroma

The nose reveals a sophisticated balance of toasted malt and subtle caramel sweetness, with noble hop character providing gentle herbal restraint. Light roasted grain notes add complexity without aggression, while clean lager fermentation allows the malt character to shine through unmolested. Bread-like, grainy undertones complete an inviting and refined aromatic profile.

toasted maltsubtle caramelnoble hopsclean grain

Taste

Entry is smooth and malt-forward, with breadiness and light chocolate notes developing immediately across the palate. Mid-palate showcases the interplay of roasted character and caramel sweetness, maintaining impeccable balance with restrained noble hop bitterness (22 IBU). The malty backbone remains clean and precise throughout, demonstrating masterful brewing technique.

maltysmooth chocolatebalanced sweetnessclean palate

Finish

The finish is remarkably dry and clean, shedding the subtle sweetness elegantly without astringency. A whisper of roasted grain lingers briefly, rewarding the drinker with subtle complexity before fading to a crisp, refreshing conclusion.

dry finishclean aftertastesubtle lingering
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
85
Appearance
84
Finish
83
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Budvar Dark

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Budvar Dark

About Czech Dark Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Czech Dark Lager?

Czech Dark Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Czech Dark Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, malty, clean character as Budvar Dark will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Czech Dark Lagers in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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