Authentic Czech Dark Lager Recipes You Can Brew

If you’re a fan of rich, dark beers, then you absolutely have to try making Czech Dark Lager, also known as dunkel. This style of beer hails from the Czech Republic and boasts a deep color, a smooth mouthfeel, and flavors that perfectly balance sweetness and bitterness. In this post, we’ll walk you through the ingredients and instructions needed to brew this delightful lager at home. You’ll enjoy every step of the brewing process, culminating in a beer that’s not only flavorful but also a great conversation starter.

Czech Dark Lager: Prague’s Dunkel

Picture this: the aroma of roasted malt wafting through your kitchen, as the rich, dark liquid brews to perfection. With each sip of this Czech Dark Lager, you’ll experience a medley of flavors that dance on your palate – from chocolate and caramel to a hint of coffee. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started with the recipe!

Ingredients

To brew approximately 5 gallons of Czech Dark Lager, you’ll need the following ingredients:

9 lbs Munich Malt
1 lb Crystal Malt (60L)
0.5 lb Carafa II
0.5 lb Chocolate Malt
1 oz Hallertau Hops (bittering)
1 oz Saaz Hops (flavor)
1 packet of lager yeast (such as Wyeast 2124 or Saflager W-34/70)
Priming sugar (for bottling)

Instructions

Follow these steps to brew your own Czech Dark Lager:

Mash the Grains: Begin by heating 3 gallons of water to around 165°F. Add your crushed grains (Munich, Crystal, Carafa, and Chocolate Malts) and maintain the temperature at approximately 150-155°F for 60 minutes. This process will help extract the sugars necessary for fermentation.
Sparging: After mashing, rinse the grains with hot water (around 170°F) to collect the wort. Aim for a total volume of about 6.5 gallons.
Boil: Bring the wort to a boil and add the Hallertau hops at the start of the boil, then add the Saaz hops with 15 minutes left in the boil. Boil for a total of 60 minutes.
Cool the Wort: Once boiling is complete, cool the wort quickly using a wort chiller or an ice bath until it reaches around 70°F.
Fermentation: Transfer the cooled wort to a sanitized fermenter, pitch your yeast, and seal with an airlock. Allow it to ferment at a temperature between 50°F and 55°F for about 2 weeks.
Bottling: Once fermentation is complete, prepare the priming sugar. Dissolve it in a small amount of water, add it to the beer, and then transfer it to sanitized bottles. Cap the bottles and let them condition at room temperature for another 1-2 weeks.

After the waiting period, chill your Czech Dark Lager and enjoy its unique flavors with friends and family. Cheers to brewing at home!