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Staropramen Světlý Ležák

Pivovar Staropramen
Czech Republic·Czech Pilsner
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Prague's flagship lager — Staropramen Světlý Ležák is a classic Czech pale 12° lager brewed with Žatec Saaz hops and Moravian malt at the historic Smíchov brewery. Clean, crisp and malty with a gentle herbal hop character and a refreshing, balanced finish. Prague's most consumed draught lager: the beer Praguers pour for their guests and order in their neighbourhood pubs.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
cleanherbalhoppy
clean
herbal
hoppy
noble hop
malty
spicy hop
Aroma
The nose is delicate and understated, leading with subtle noble hop character from Žatec Saaz hops—gentle herbal and slightly floral notes.
also:mineral,floral,bready
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Staropramen Světlý Ležák

◎ Appearance

Staropramen Světlý Ležák presents a brilliant pale golden hue with exceptional clarity characteristic of a traditional Czech lager. A fine white head forms with good retention, supported by crisp carbonation that creates a visually inviting presentation. The color exemplifies the 3 SRM specification with its light, luminous quality.

pale goldencrystal clearwhite headbright

◌ Aroma

The nose is delicate and understated, leading with subtle noble hop character from Žatec Saaz hops—gentle herbal and slightly floral notes. Clean malt undertones from Moravian barley provide a soft, biscuity foundation without any harsh or fermentation-driven notes. The overall aromatics are restrained and elegant, inviting rather than aggressive.

herbalfloralmaltyclean

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a crisp, refreshing malt sweetness that immediately establishes balance and drinkability. Mid-palate reveals the gentle Saaz hop character—earthy and slightly spicy—that integrates seamlessly with the clean malt base without asserting dominance. The finish is dry and balanced with minimal bitterness (20 IBU), allowing the beer's structural elegance to shine through.

crispbalancedmalty-sweetsmooth

◑ Finish

The finish is refreshingly clean and quick-fading, leaving no harsh aftertaste or lingering residue. A subtle herbal whisper remains as the beer transitions to a thirst-quenching, dry conclusion that invites the next sip.

cleandryrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
80
Appearance
84
Finish
82
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C for maximum crispness. A pilsner served too warm loses its defining snap.

Pilsner glass

The tall, narrow pilsner glass preserves carbonation and showcases the golden clarity that defines the style.

Drink fresh and cold. Pilsners do not improve with age — within 3 months of packaging is ideal.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Staropramen Světlý Ležák

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About Czech Pilsner

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Czech Pilsner?

Pilsners are crisp golden lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 25–45. Defined by spicy, floral Saaz hops over a light malt backbone — bright carbonation and a dry bitter finish.

Finding a similar Czech Pilsner

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clean, crisp, herbal character as Staropramen Světlý Ležák will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Czech Pilsner beers in hopIQ →New to Czech Pilsner? Read our guide →Browse Czech Republic beers →