Premium All Grain Recipe Kit

Brew a rich, smooth and highly drinkable European dark lager with the Tmavé Pivo Czech Dark Lager Recipe Kit. Inspired by the traditional dark lagers of the Czech Republic, this all grain recipe combines premium pale, Munich, caramel and roasted malts to create layers of bread crust, toast, caramel, light chocolate and subtle coffee.

Traditional Saaz hops provide a rounded bitterness and gentle spicy, earthy hop character without overpowering the malt. Fermentis SafLager S-23 yeast completes the beer with a clean lager profile and subtle fruit character that complements the rich malt complexity.

The finished beer pours deep dark brown with attractive ruby highlights and a persistent off-white to light tan head. Despite its dark appearance and complex malt character, it remains smooth, balanced and refreshingly drinkable.

Why You'll Love This Kit

✔ Authentic Czech-style dark lager

✔ Rich Munich malt, bread crust and toasted flavours

✔ Smooth caramel, light chocolate and subtle coffee character

✔ Traditional Czech Saaz hops

✔ Balanced bitterness without harsh roast

✔ Includes two packets of Fermentis SafLager S-23 yeast

✔ Premium ATLAS Latrobe and Weyermann malts

✔ Perfect for Grainfather, BrewZilla, Guten, RoboBrew and BIAB

✔ Freshly crushed and packed to order

✔ Makes approximately 23 litres

Flavour Profile

Tmavé Pivo pours a deep dark brown with ruby highlights and a dense off-white to light tan head.

The malt character is rich and layered, combining fresh bread crust, toasted Munich malt, caramel and light dark fruit. Weyermann Carafa Special III provides smooth chocolate and subtle coffee notes without making the beer harsh, burnt or excessively roasted.

Traditional Saaz hops contribute rounded bitterness with gentle spicy, herbal and earthy flavours. Fermentis S-23 produces clean lager character with a subtle fruitiness that works beautifully alongside the darker malts.

The result is a complex but highly drinkable Czech dark lager with a smooth malt body, balanced bitterness and clean finish.

Style: Tmavé Pivo / Czech Dark Lager

Appearance: Deep dark brown with ruby highlights and a persistent off-white to light tan head

Aroma: Bread crust, toasted malt, caramel, subtle chocolate and gentle Saaz spice

Flavour: Rich Munich malt, caramel, light dark fruit, chocolate and restrained coffee

Body: Medium, smooth and rounded

Bitterness: Moderate and balanced

Finish: Clean, malty and gently bittersweet

What's Included

Your recipe kit contains everything required for the complete grain bill, hops and yeast.

Included:

• 4.95kg Freshly Crushed Grain

• 100g Saaz Hops

• 2 x Fermentis SafLager S-23 Yeast

• Complete Brewfather Recipe

• Full Brewing Specifications

The complete 100g packet of Saaz hops is used across the two hop additions. Follow the supplied Brewfather recipe for the correct quantities and addition times.

Additional products such as Whirlfloc, Servomyces Yeast Nutrient and Water Chemistry Salts are available separately if required.

Recipe Specifications

Complete Brewfather Recipe

Your Brewfather recipe includes:

• Full step-mash schedule

• Mash and sparge water volumes

• Recommended water profile

• Complete grain bill

• Saaz hop schedule

• Yeast details

• Fermentation profile

• Carbonation target

• Brewing notes

View the complete Brewfather recipe: Tmavé Pivo Czech Dark Lager

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tmavé Pivo?

Tmavé Pivo means “dark beer” in Czech. It is a traditional Czech dark lager known for its rich malt character, smooth body, dark colour and balanced hop bitterness.

It can display flavours such as bread crust, toast, caramel, nuts, dark fruit, chocolate and light coffee while remaining clean, balanced and highly drinkable.

Is Czech Dark Lager the same as Schwarzbier?

No. Although both are dark lagers, Czech Dark Lager generally has a richer and more complex malt profile than German Schwarzbier.

Tmavé Pivo often displays more bread crust, caramel and dark-fruit character, together with a fuller body and more noticeable traditional hop presence.

Does this beer have a strong roasted flavour?

No. Weyermann Carafa Special III provides the dark colour and restrained chocolate and coffee character without creating an aggressively burnt or harsh flavour.

The roast remains supportive, allowing the Munich malt, caramel and bread-crust flavours to remain prominent.

Is the grain crushed?

Yes. All grain is freshly crushed immediately before dispatch unless otherwise requested.

Which brewing systems is this recipe suitable for?

This recipe is compatible with:

• Grainfather

• BrewZilla

• Guten

• RoboBrew

• BIAB

• Three-vessel brewing systems

The recipe is based on 70% brewhouse efficiency and can be adjusted in Brewfather to suit your equipment profile.

Does the kit include yeast?

Yes. This kit includes two packets of Fermentis SafLager S-23 yeast.

Two packets provide an appropriate pitching quantity for approximately 23 litres of 1.047 original-gravity lager wort when fermented at the recommended temperature.

Do I use the entire 100g packet of Saaz hops?

Yes. The recipe uses:

• 50g Saaz at the beginning of the 60-minute boil

• 50g Saaz with 15 minutes remaining

Follow the supplied Brewfather recipe for the correct quantities and timing.

What fermentation temperature should I use?

The supplied Brewfather recipe begins fermentation at 12°C before increasing to 17°C for the diacetyl rest.

As fermentation performance can vary, use stable gravity readings to confirm fermentation is complete before cold crashing or packaging.

How long should I lager the beer?

For the best clarity and smoothest flavour, gradually cool the beer after fermentation and lager it cold for approximately three to four weeks.

The beer can be packaged sooner, but additional cold-conditioning time will help produce a cleaner, smoother and more refined lager character.

Do I need anything else?

For the best results, we recommend adding:

• Whirlfloc

• Servomyces Yeast Nutrient

• Water Chemistry Adjustments

• Brewing Cleaner and Sanitiser

These products are available separately.

Can beginners brew this recipe?

This recipe is best suited to brewers who have completed at least one all grain batch and can accurately control fermentation temperature.

The brewing process is straightforward, but cold fermentation and lagering temperature control will produce the best result.

Recommended Products

• Whirlfloc Tablets

• Servomyces Yeast Nutrient

• Brewing Salts

• Digital Thermometer

• Sodium Percarbonate or PBW Cleaner