Crown 10º

Judge’s Review

Nelson Crowle
BJCP Cider Judge

Rating 80 (Average)

Judges Rating: 80
Aroma: 20/24
Appearance: 5/6
Flavor: 30/40
Mouthfeel: 7/10
Overall Impression: 14/20

This beer was judged as BJCP 2021 style 3A (Czech Pale Lager). Poured from a can, this beer is light gold with just a hint of haze, and has a small head of tiny white bubbles that quickly dissipate to a cordon ring of bubbles that leave lacing as the beer is sipped.

The aroma presents a fresh baked bread note along with moderate herbal hop notes and a hint of black pepper. The first sip echoes the bready note of the aroma and there are medium low herbal and low black pepper notes, but also adds a bit of fruitiness that comes across as ripe apricot — maybe just a bit too fruity for the style.

Medium low bittering hops balances out the malt backbone but doesn’t quite balance the fruity sweetness. A moderate fruity herbal note lingers into a slightly sweet finish. The beer is medium in body. The extra fruitiness may indicate a lack of temperature control and maybe a slightly too-warm fermentation.  

With its fruity notes, this beer would pair nicely with a tart spicy sausage like chorizo served on salty tortilla chips.

Brewer’s Description

This Czech-style pale lager is crafted using a triple decoction and step mashing process. It is exclusively made with floor-malted Pilsner malt from Bohemia and Saaz hops from the Czech Republic, showcasing how complexity can be achieved through simplicity. The beer offers a delightful balance of malty sweet notes like biscuit and honey, perfectly complemented by floral lemongrass hop notes. It is both highly sessionable and incredibly satisfying.

Beer Style & Statistics

Beer Style: Czech Pale Lager
Beer Style Family: Czech Lager
Availability: Seasonal
ABV: 4.3%

IBUs: 22
Served at: 40 – 45 ºF
Hops: Czech Saaz
Malts: Bohemian Pilsner, Acid Malt

Brewery Information

Czech Pale Lager | Seasonal | Maryland | USA