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Speciální Tmavé 14º

Smithers Brewing Company
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🌍 Canada · Czech Dark Lager · One of 10 Czech Dark Lagers in hopIQ

The dark end of the Czech lager range, tmavé meaning simply dark beer. Cacao and brown sugar come through first, with the roast held back far enough that the beer stays smooth rather than bitter, and Saaz laying a floral, spicy note over the top. At fourteen degrees of original gravity it is the fullest of the three in the series, though the strength stays moderate and the finish comes off drier than the sweetness up front would suggest.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp mouthfeel.

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

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

AI-generated sensory profile for Speciální Tmavé 14º

Appearance

Deep garnet to near-black in the glass, with excellent clarity that allows light to pass through the body. The head forms as a dense tan collar with strong retention and fine Schaumkleiden down the sides of the glass. Carbonation is moderate and lively, creating a consistent stream of fine bubbles.

deep garnetcleardense foamwell-retained lacing

Aroma

The nose opens with soft cacao and caramelized brown sugar, creating a warm, inviting entry. Floral and spicy notes from Saaz emerge as the beer warms, adding brightness without sharpness. A subtle roasted undertone remains restrained, never tipping into harsh coffee or burnt grain.

cacaobrown sugarSaaz spicesoft roast

Taste

The palate delivers the promised sweetness on entry—chocolate and malt-forward, with a gentle caramel roundness. Saaz hops provide a spicy, herbal counterpoint that keeps the beer smooth rather than cloying. Roasted character lingers in the mid-palate without becoming bitter, supported by the full body at 14° OG.

smooth chocolateherbal hopsfull-bodiedbalanced sweetness

Finish

The finish dries appreciably, transitioning from the sweet entry to a dry, slightly spicy exit. The aftertaste holds a trace of roasted grain and floral hop character, with good length and no harshness.

dry finishlingering spiceclean exit
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Speciální Tmavé 14º

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 Speciální Tmavé 14º

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 smooth, chocolate, floral character as Speciální Tmavé 14º 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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