Whitelakes’ head brewer Sean Symons has an affinity for lager, in all its iterations, as anyone familiar with his career will well know. And it’s the classic Czech take on the style which is the inspiration here. Cold conditioning, or lagering, allows such beers to develop rich and subtle nuances that just can’t be rushed. And while brewers of the archetype Urquell suggest five weeks, for this beer Whitelakes have upped the ante with a full 100 days of conditioning before canning.
Pouring with a gorgeous golden clarity, the fine, moussey white head’s appeal is just crying out for you to get your nose stuck in, conjuring visions of cobblestoned streets and low-ceilinged bars. What arrives on the tongue is everything you’d expect plus a subtle modern touch of melon/ tropical for the observant. For the gleeful, there’s a classic herbal edge – Whitelakes suggest pepper – plus a touch of minerality balancing Munich malt, and a firm Czech-style bitterness elevated by lengthy dry finish. Na zdraví!
Guy Southern
Published March 30, 2022 2022-03-30 00:00:00
