Godspeed Goodies--Svētlÿ Ležak 12’ Czech Premium Pale Lager

My darling readers, if you’re a fan of pilsners and other crisp pale lagers and a resident of Toronto, then listen to your ol’ pal the Stout Man and get a-hold of some 355mL cans of Svētlÿ Ležak 12’ Czech Premium Pale Lager from Godspeed Brewery. Run! Don’t walk.

This is a 5% pale lager. It’s a clear, amply carbonated golden ale that pours with a thin layer of white suds. It’s got a sharp, grainy, hoppy nose, with understated mown grass sweetness for balance. Big for a 5% pale lager, the flavour has a fast-moving sweet to hoppy flow. It goes from cereal sweet to noble hop bitterness in a near instant, and the transition is precise and admirable.

The vibe of this classic, Euro-style lager is crisp and flavourful, with a cracklin’ dry, hoppy finish. This isn’t really a session-friendly pale lager, despite its average stats—the beer has too much oomph to bust into more than two in a row. However, as Ontario pale lager a go, it’s a thing of damn beauty.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.