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Kozel Černý

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Kozel's dark lager — 'Černý' means 'Black'. A low-alcohol Czech dark lager with roasted malt, caramel, light chocolate and a smooth, clean finish. Deceptively sessionable at 3.8%, Kozel Černý is the Czech dark lager style at its most approachable: malt-forward without being heavy, with the signature Kozel smoothness. A popular Czech-pub half-pint alongside a pint of Světlé.

ABV
3.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark33
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedmaltyclean
roasted
malty
clean
chocolate
caramel
bready
Aroma
The nose leads with toasted bread and roasted malt character, creating an inviting, approachable bouquet.
not found:hoppy,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kozel Černý

◎ Appearance

Deep garnet to black color with excellent clarity, revealing the beer's true dark character without cloudiness. A modest tan head forms initially and dissipates to a thin collar, typical of Czech lagers. Fine carbonation creates a refined visual presentation befitting this approachable session lager.

deep garnetblackclearmodest tan head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with toasted bread and roasted malt character, creating an inviting, approachable bouquet. Subtle chocolate and caramel undertones emerge, with a faint coffee note that adds complexity without overwhelming the delicate balance. Clean lager yeast provides a crisp backdrop, avoiding any harsh or overly roasted notes.

toasted breadroasted maltchocolatecaramel

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malt-forward, with bread and grain flavors establishing the foundation. Mid-palate develops caramel sweetness and light chocolate notes, creating a balanced sweetness that never becomes cloying. Low bitterness (25 IBU) allows the malt character to shine, while a subtle coffee dryness begins developing on the palate.

malt-forwardbreadchocolate caramelsmooth balanced

◑ Finish

The finish is remarkably clean and dry for a dark lager, with lingering roasted malt and grain notes fading gracefully. No harshness or excessive sweetness remains, instead leaving a pleasant, dry aftertaste that invites another sip.

cleandrysmooth
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
81
Finish
83
Serve at 4–7°C

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

Stein

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Kozel Černý

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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 Kozel Černý will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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