Staropramen Lager - Pivovary Staropramen

OlRasputin989

Arkansas

4.22/5  rDev +24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured into SA patented Boston Lager glass...

A: pours a dark golden hue with great clarity and a large fluffy white head with good retention leaving some webbed lacing

S: has a bread dough-scented malt center, with a honey graham aroma and light noble hop aroma in the finish. very pleasant.

T: spicy earthy noble hops with a light lemon zest, and again the italian bread dough flavor. finishing off with bread crust and bitter hops.

M: a medium body with a low to medium carbonation and a slippery mouthfeel and a sticky off dry finish.

Overall, there isn't much to say about Staropramen other than "classic". I rank this up there with Pilsner Urquell and Golden Pheasant. I will definitely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 19:58:59 | More by OlRasputin989

Arithmeticus

Maryland

2.65/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had 500 ml bottle in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, poured in room temp 300 ml ale glass

A: beautiful head; clear golden yellow; lacing rather nice
S: stale, lagery odor
T: very mild, rather sweet beer; flavor nondescript lager; perfect on a hot day, but not if you want to taste your beer
M: decent but watery

A solid, nonjudgmental beer

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 19:50:25 | More by Arithmeticus

bump8628

Oklahoma

2.65/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Dark gold with a light copper glow lets me know there is more than pils malt in this one. Big whiff of skunk overwhelms all else. Grass clipping hoppiness peaks through but malt is thin and can't stand up to the green bottle curse. Even if this had been deskunked it wouldn't have been close to the Czech pilsener style. More in line with the average Euro pale lager. I would take semi-fresh Urquell over this, which isn't saying much.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 00:16:22 | More by bump8628

ktrillionaire

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Staropramen pours a totally clear straw-gold hue and is topped with a small but sudsy cap of froth. The nose is lightly spicy and somehow suggests an intangible mealy essence. The flavor is quite nice, offering very crisp and clean mineral notes, husky grain, a light floral nuance and a herbal-earthy bitterness upon the finish. The feel is quite nice as well; very refreshing. Overall, this is a damn solid Pils.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 01:39:21 | More by ktrillionaire

crnipeter

Slovenia

3.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Purchased in Czech republic so I expected to be different from the export version widely available on the local shelves here.
Very clear golden body that exhibits little effervescence gets topped by mid-sized, lasting dense white head. Aroma is rich malted barley and floral-spicy noble hops with traces of diacetyl. The malt-aroma is somewhat biscuity, toast-like, with almost melanoidin qualities which probably results from decoction mashing. The beer is crispy yet smooth on the palate, medium bodied with tongue-coating diacetyl that enhances the perception of body giving it additional fullness. The complex pale malt is counterbalanced by prominent yet soft, well rounded, non-lingering bitterness brought in by spicy noble hops. Good one - my impression is that the Czech beers brewed for domestic consumption always differ from their export versions and Staropramen is no exception with its fuller palate and richer mat-character. (500 ml, BB date reads March 2012, into the mug.)

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 21:26:50 | More by crnipeter

NikasRudaitis

United Kingdom (England)

4.2/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A wonderful lager, having never tried it in the UK, it was the first on my list to try while in Prague, where it is brewed.

It is most certainly refreshing - with an incredibly fresh aroma of hops. A hint of citrus and a soft bitterness follow the initial taste, leaving the drinker with a memorable impression.

Definitely a great example of Czech brewmanship.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 09:19:03 | More by NikasRudaitis

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.26/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

[Update Jan 23 2013]

500 mL can from TBS; best before Aug 19 2013. As far as pilseners go, I've never considered this an especially great example - but I've been revisiting a lot of my old reviews lately, and figured this one was worth another tipple.

Pours a deep golden-yellow colour, topped with nearly two fingers of frothy, soapy white head that slowly seeps away over a period of minutes. It leaves behind a doily-pattern of lacing on the sides, as well as a thin cap at the surface. The aroma is reasonably enticing and spot-on for the style; lots of grainy malts, biscuits, floral hops and dry grass. I've never been a big fan of this beer, but I must admit - it looks great, and smells pretty good too.

The taste, however, is where things go off the rails a bit. Don't get me wrong - it's not unpalatable, but by Czech pils standards it leaves much to be desired. The bulk of the flavour is comprised of grainy malts and dry crackers or biscuits, followed by some light grassiness, lemon zest, and some syrupy sweetness that gives off a serious adjunct vibe. The finish is fairly clean and a little dry, but doesn't linger. Light-bodied, with moderate carbonation for the style that gives it a relatively smooth, crisp feel in the mouth. Very high drinkability; like most pale lagers, this stuff was made for sessioning.

Final Grade: 3.26, a C+. Staropramen Lager is a decent pilsener, but I certainly wouldn't consider it an especially memorable example of the style. I've had this many times before, and will probably return to it again at some point - but if push came to shove, there are several other Czech-style beers (Pilsner Urquell, Golden Pheasant, etc.) that I'd definitely pick first. If you're just a fan of Euro lagers and are looking for a cheap pilsener-style beer to slug back, this stuff will get the job done, but serious lager fans will probably find Staropramen to be a fairly mediocre offering. A serviceable, boring lager that is worth at least one try, if only because of the price point.

Serving type: can

07-28-2011 04:41:50 | More by thehyperduck

rvdoorn

Netherlands

4.03/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Look: the beer pours a clear golden-yellow color with a nice fluffy white head.
Smell: Malty, citrus, yeast and some herbal hops
Taste: Sweet malts, grain and a soft bitter saazhop.
Mouthfeel: medium-high carbonation and a medium body
Overall: Nice balanced pilsner

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 21:15:14 | More by rvdoorn

Nascartailgatefa

New York

3.35/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sampled at the International Great Beer Expo, Rock Hill, NY.

A nice thick head, banana in color. Thick full head.

A smooth tasting lager, slightly hoppy but not overpowering. Sharp start, smooth finish, average mouthfeel, good drinkability. Wouldn't be my first choice to have again.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 20:32:26 | More by Nascartailgatefa

EkimGram

New York

3.2/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: 12oz bottle poured into Innis & Gunn flute. Golden straw colour with a finger-thick head. Decent amount of visible carbonation.

Smell: Aromas of hops, some spicy roasted malts, and a bit of skunk.

Taste: Roasty malt is first and foremost. Following is some bitterness from the hosp with a hint of citrus.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with plenty of bubbly carbonation. Nice and light.

Overall: Not the most interesting beer. Light, refreshing, a little weak in taste and aroma, though.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 03:01:12 | More by EkimGram

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.45/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Green bottle, straw faint yellow beer inside, soapy head, flimsy retention. Nice skunky aroma, me likee.

Taste, hopping good, light, maybe EKG hops, lots of carbonation, light lemon lime mouthfeel to it. Metallic at times, although somewhat complimentary, bitterness existent and satisfying for style. Derive nothing from pale/crystal malt here or the yeast.

Wish these were a little more available, they aren't bad in July/August, but they are a little pricey for what you get.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 20:13:15 | More by Beerandraiderfan

djura

Serbia

3.4/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Staropramen is also made in Apatinska brewery,i tried original Chech also,and the difference is huge. It is poured from the can.

A- Big foam,that lasts about 5 minutes. Sunset orange color with medium carbonation.

S-Very nice smell,high hops aroma with some citrus tastes.

T/M-As i said,typical Czech pilsner,high bitterness,refreshing pilsner taste,very high hops aroma. Carbonation is not that high.

O-Very good authentic Pilsner. It remind me on best Helles lagers i tried,or is it opposite.

Serving type: can

06-29-2011 19:38:36 | More by djura

nozza

Australia

4.72/5  rDev +39.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Brilliant Brilliant Beer! I had the pleasure of having this on tap in Prague and absolutely fell in love!

The beer pours a dark gold colour, with a nice white head, which disipates quite quickly to leave a ring.

Really fresh hops and malt aromas, fill the nose. It's quite sweet as well.

The taste doesn't disappoint. The malt and hops are really well balanced with a hint of sweetness and bitterness in perfect harmony.

It feels beautifully light and crisp in the mouth. Couldn't ask for a more refreshing pilsner.

Overall this is an unbelievable beer. Yes it is much better on tap but the 500ml bottle is also excellent. I reckon this is the best of the three main Czech pilsners.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2011 11:59:05 | More by nozza

DaveHS

California

2.6/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A-Pours clear straw yellow with 1/4 inch of white head. Reduces almost instantly, leaving intricate lacing; more than I expected given the style.

S-Pale malt sweetness. Possibly some corn? Unappetizing.

T/M-Blah. Sweet, adjunct-y export lager macro swill. Unrefined, one dimensional pale malt sweetness. Light bodied with moderate carbonation.

O-Nothing special, and not a particularly good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 01:59:41 | More by DaveHS

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Volunteer pub in London, poured into a half-pint.

A: Clear straw body with a steady stream of bubbles rising to the pillowy white head. Great retention and lacing. Excellent looking Pils.

S: Very soft, lightly sweet, and only slightly lagery. Some faint grassy hops are there, but this is more about the delicately nutty pilsner malt. Ok.

T: Again, light and inoffensive. Sweeter than I'd like, but very clean. More hops would make this a great example of its style.

M: Light and highly carbonated. Full of soft, lively effervescence. Enjoyable.

O: For a light, crisp lager in a pub, this is a pretty darn good option. There are a ton of beers I'd rather be drinking, but for the style this one does a pretty good job.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2011 01:18:04 | More by woosterbill

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.78/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Half litre bottle, not too much of a head. Very nice colour, looks almost like a belgian pale ale. Smells of saaz, also got hints of red cabbage. Sweeter than other czech beers, probably because of the syrup. Hints of flowers, not much bitterness. Nice mouthfull for a lager. This was my go-to before I really got into exploring different beers and I still drink it on occasions.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 13:52:40 | More by jonb5

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a single at EuroMarket. The beer is immediately hoppy, but true to style, it's a soft bite with herbal lemon hops. There's an unfortunate cheap lager note, maybe fusels, mixed without an otherwise pleasant floral note. The aroma is disappointingly bland, but the flavor has that classic mellow bread and earthy hops. Not a bad hot-weather beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 23:50:53 | More by tempest

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

500ml Can

Appearance – Clear golden yellow colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is a pretty decent amount of lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Grains, corn, hops, malts

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average amount of carbonation. I can taste breads/grains mixed with light hops and some cooked corn. The beer has more of a malty profile than I'm used to encountering in these euro-beers. It finishes with a bready/malty aftertaste with some light hop bitterness.

Overall – One of the better euro-beers available in my area. It's very drinkable and has a nice malty and mildly hoppy taste. I'd drink it again.

Serving type: can

06-06-2011 12:52:47 | More by spinrsx

Fermented42

Hungary

3.08/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

At first glance the Mrs wasn't too keen on trying this one. I assured her it wasn't a financial hardship to try, "just another Lager." It wasn't a disappointment..we we're just under...can't think of the right word.

Smooth, malted and easy to drink. Head retention could have been more but the due date was nearing. Not much on the hop frontier if you're looking for those loving tones. A bit on the soapy side in the mid-palet but wait! There at the finish is that hop bitterness holding it's own as a clear structure/Reinheitsgebot only additive.

Between the malty sweetness that becomes apparent into the the second half of the bottle and the really bitter finish it was alright. Alright. No more or less.

An OK runner up if you need a Bitburger and their isn't a German Pils in sight.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 14:03:47 | More by Fermented42

janubio

Spain

3.2/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330 ml. bottle, pours a deep clean golden colour. Head dooeosn't hlod too long, though there's always a ring arouond. Smell of herbs, flowers, but nothing really special. Malty flavour, medium body, and tastes of malts, although there's dome hops bitterness, flowery, and a hint of honey. It's not bad, but it's not much interesting either, and of course, not the best of the Czech beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 15:53:22 | More by janubio

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz green bottle. Freshness date on back label.
Pils serving glass.
Pale golden in color with a foamy white on top and loads of sticky and trailing lacing. A clean fresh-mowed lawn smell mingles with dried spicy Saaz hops. A mild malt aroma is in the background throughout. A very lightly roasted slightly sweet maltiness gives way to sharp, edgy metallic and resinous hop bitterness. Very drinkable brew!

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 16:29:01 | More by BeerResearcher

yesyouam

New York

2.38/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Staropramen Premium Lager is sparkling, clear and golden with a thin, creamy, blotchy white head that leaves outstanding lacing. It has a funky aroma, fruity and grassy. It's pretty light bodied and quite smooth with a little grit in the finish. There's not much flavor at all-- just a touch of funk and a lightly bitter finish. It has a lingering herbal bitterness. This doesn't taste that great, but it goes down smoothly. The lingering bitterness lets me know I'm drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2011 15:52:31 | More by yesyouam

gatornation

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a clear golden yellow color with a solid 1 finger white head lingering lacing on glass

S- is bready malts wet grass ,floral citrus hops

T- follows the nose its grainy and malty with a floral noble hop tatse that is followed by wet grass and lemon

M- is crisp well carbonated with a tart pleasant taste

D- this is very easy to drink and a pure crisp czech pils..not bad

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 21:55:46 | More by gatornation

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a medium golden colour with an insane amount of carbonation and a fluffy white head that's sticking around nicely and leaving quality lacing. Looks like a fluffy pillow in the sky. Bright. I wanna judge this harder but this is a great looking lager.

S - Lot's of noble hop, corn, honey, grassiness, really grainy like the beer I used to beg my Dad to let me try when I was 13. Mostly grainy and skunky noble hop.

T - Way more noble hop here. Honey is alot more upfront in the taste too to compliment that graininess. Decent stuff.

M - Lot's of active carbonation, light bodied. Coats the tongue nicely, no complaints.

D - Quite high but after one or two I'd probably lose interest and move on to something more exciting. That said, a very drinkable, refreshing, little pilz.

Serving type: can

02-03-2011 22:25:04 | More by tbeckett

jhtipton

Spain

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served into a Lowenbrau pint glass from a 500 ml can. Gives a small white foamy head with some mild lacing. It is a medium golden color. Smells slightly sweet, a little metallic and malty. Taste is somewhat bitter and malty. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied and carbonated. Drinkability is fine, probably even better ice cold on the beach but I'll have to wait a few more months for that.

Serving type: can

01-22-2011 17:31:02 | More by jhtipton