Czech Lager is a bottom-fermenting pale lager with Saaz noble hops, Pilsner-type malt and extended cold conditioning. The style covers desítka (10° Plato, roughly 4 % ABV) and dvanáctka (12°, roughly 5 %) formats. The hopIQ Score for Czech Lager evaluates each beer against the Czech-Lager reference and weights medals from style-judged competitions.
Currently leading the ranking: Samson 10° (Pivovar Samson), Samson Hopped Lager and Matuška Dvanáctka (Pivovar Matuška). Pivovar Samson places 4 of the top 10.
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score judges every beer against its style first: it rewards medals from competitions that judge within style categories and deducts points where a beer measurably deviates from its style reference. Community ratings add to that. Non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 587 beers from 89 breweries.
Top 5 of 15
ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
pale gold 4
A delicate malt aroma, a pleasant bitterness and a refreshing bite mark this full-malt top ten, a pale draught beer with a harmonious, balanced taste. It is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes to a traditional recipe, with Žatec hops,…A delicate malt aroma, a pleasant bitterness and a refreshing bite mark this full-malt top ten, a pale draught beer with a harmonious, balanced taste. It is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes to a traditional recipe, with Žatec hops, Czech malt and water from a 274-metre artesian well. Brewer Radim Lavička says a good brewery is recognised by its ten. Bronze at the European Beer Star in 2021, 2022 and 2025.
Samson Hopped Lager#307 worldwide
ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
pale gold 4
A premium full-malt lager with a really strong hop aroma and a perfect bite. The brewer describes a distinct hop aroma, yet a beer that is very drinkable and leaves a delicious impression. Known in Czech as Nachmelený ležák, it reached the…A premium full-malt lager with a really strong hop aroma and a perfect bite. The brewer describes a distinct hop aroma, yet a beer that is very drinkable and leaves a delicious impression. Known in Czech as Nachmelený ležák, it reached the market in 2021. It won silver at the World Beer Awards in 2022 and 2023 and bronze in 2025.
ABV
5.0%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
pale gold 2
World Beer Cup 2026 Silver. A classic Czech 12° pale lager with Saaz hops, soft Bohemian malt and a long, dry, bitter finish. Everything a premium Czech lager should be. Ranked on fit to the Lager reference, award history in style-judged competitions and community ratings.
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Matuška Desítka#448 worldwide
ABV
4.2%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
amber 9
An honest ten-degree lager, mashed with a double decoction from Pilsner and Carapils malts and hopped with Žatec and Saaz Special hops, fermented bottom. It was first brewed for the 15th anniversary of the pub Kulový Blesk under the name…An honest ten-degree lager, mashed with a double decoction from Pilsner and Carapils malts and hopped with Žatec and Saaz Special hops, fermented bottom. It was first brewed for the 15th anniversary of the pub Kulový Blesk under the name Kulová desítka and is now a regular in the range.
5
ABV
4.0%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
golden 6
Antonín is a 10° Czech draught lager of 4.0 %, brewed by the old triple-decoction method and lagered as long as a full-strength ležák. Pilsner malt plus Saaz and Sládek hops, added in three stages, are meant to give a light draught beer as…Antonín is a 10° Czech draught lager of 4.0 %, brewed by the old triple-decoction method and lagered as long as a full-strength ležák. Pilsner malt plus Saaz and Sládek hops, added in three stages, are meant to give a light draught beer as much malt body and hop bitterness as it can carry. It pours golden under a dense white head; bread crust and a light caramel sweetness meet herbal, gently spicy hop notes and a firm, lingering bitter finish.
Ranks 6–10
6
Samson 12°#617 worldwide
A full-malt twelve with a distinct bitterness and full flavour, which high-quality Žatec hops give it; the brewery calls it a classic and recommends it to anyone who likes a really sharp beer. It is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes…A full-malt twelve with a distinct bitterness and full flavour, which high-quality Žatec hops give it; the brewery calls it a classic and recommends it to anyone who likes a really sharp beer. It is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes with water from a 274-metre artesian well. It won bronze at the World Beer Awards in 2023 and 2025.
7
Samson 11°#734 worldwide
An honest full-malt lager with a balanced bitterness from Žatec semi-early red hops and a medium body, giving it an unmistakable taste. Its sparkling colour comes from high-quality malt of local provenance. Like all Samson beers it is…An honest full-malt lager with a balanced bitterness from Žatec semi-early red hops and a medium body, giving it an unmistakable taste. Its sparkling colour comes from high-quality malt of local provenance. Like all Samson beers it is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes with water from a 274-metre artesian well. It won silver at the World Beer Awards 2025.
8
Primátor Premium#763 worldwide
Premium is the brewery's flagship, a 12° pale lager of 5.0 % exported to more than 30 countries. It is brewed from Pilsner malt by double decoction, the method typical of Czech brewing, then fermented in open vessels and matured for a long…Premium is the brewery's flagship, a 12° pale lager of 5.0 % exported to more than 30 countries. It is brewed from Pilsner malt by double decoction, the method typical of Czech brewing, then fermented in open vessels and matured for a long period in the lager cellar. Saaz and Sládek hops give it a spicy, herbal and slightly floral character above a malt base with notes of fresh bread and light grainy sweetness; the body is medium, the carbonation lively and the bitterness firm yet balanced.
9
A full, flavourful taste with a gentle hoppy aroma, a moreish bitterness and a dense head over a golden colour, finishing with a brilliant crispness. Brewed at 12° original gravity with the emphasis on Saaz hops on a malt base. It is one…A full, flavourful taste with a gentle hoppy aroma, a moreish bitterness and a dense head over a golden colour, finishing with a brilliant crispness. Brewed at 12° original gravity with the emphasis on Saaz hops on a malt base. It is one of the beers that have been brewed under Ještěd for a very long time, and it won gold at the World Beer Awards in 2013.
10
Full flavour with a pronounced bitterness, a pleasant hop aroma and an herbal note. Brewed from three Moravian malts and Žatec hops, with no hop extracts and Agnus, a Czech variety, among the hops. Developed together with hundreds of…Full flavour with a pronounced bitterness, a pleasant hop aroma and an herbal note. Brewed from three Moravian malts and Žatec hops, with no hop extracts and Agnus, a Czech variety, among the hops. Developed together with hundreds of drinkers and launched in 2009. The brewery lists it as a světlý ležák, a Czech pale lager.
The taste landscape
Of the 15 top beers, 5 lean malt-forward and 8 lean hop-forward.