A True Sunday Beer – Bernard Sváteční ležák
Sváteční ležák roughly translates into “Holiday lager” / “Celebration lager” or in German “Festtagsbier” and this is what the Bernard Sváteční ležák truly is. It starts with the bottle itself but of course it does not stop there. When having a beer on a special occasion like a special holiday, the attractive bottle design with its flip top is very inviting The brewery actually hold a patent on the bottle and flip top design.. Looking at the bottle, one does get the feeling that what you are holding in your hand is indeed something special.
Upon opening the bottle, the beer enthusiast is greeted by a rich aroma of malts and hops. A stunning golden colour and a thick & creamy foamy head do the beer’s name justice. A celebration of all aspects that beer lovers appreciate in a good beer. Of course, it looks even better when pouring it into an original Bernatd beer glass. As mentioned in the video, Bernard has launched new glassware not too long ago. An absolutely stunning retro-style glass that goes by the name of Karol Maier. However, for the Sváteční ležák, I wanted to use my Bernard Original glass as I do find the appearance of it more appealing.
Next to the rich hop aroma, the aroma is yeast is very present which likely comes from the fact that during the bottling process, the Bernard brewers add fine yeasts to each bottle. This means that the fermentation process continues while the beer is already bottled. Already during the first sips, the hop bitterness is very present. Unlike in some other beers, while the bitterness is present, it is not overwhelming. There is an element if maltiness too, however, the hop bitterness is slightly more dominant and does remain until the finish. Overall, all elements do play their part and in my opinion, this is a very well balanced beer.
Overall, the Bernard Sváteční ležák is a well done, well balanced and well presented beer. It does not surprise that the brewery keeps winning awards for their beers. This year (2025), the brewery was once again named “Czech Brewery of the year” by the Czech Friends of Beer Association. Bernard Sváteční ležák can rightly call itself a Premium Lager with a justified price tag. Bernard beers tend to be more expensive than their counterparts on the supermarket shelves, however, quality does come at a price.
Basic Information:
Brewery: Bernard , Humpolec CZ
Beer style: Pale Lager
EPM: 12
ABV: 5%
IBU: 37
About the brewery
When Stanislav Bernard and his parterns took over the Humpolec based brewery in the early 1990s, it was technologically dead, the beer’s reputation was deplorable, its sales were at rock bottom. The new owners enthusiastically began to fulfill their dream of a brewery that would brew honest Czech beer. But they also built the Bernard brand, which became a household name nationwide. Nowadays, the Bernard brand brews several types of beer styles. From different strengths pale lagers such as their 10, 11, and 12 , the brewery also offers an amber lager, a dark lager, an Ale as well as an India Pale Ale. In addition to the alcoholic beers, Bernard also started to cater for the non-alcoholic drinks market launching several different non-alcoholic beers and beermix drinks, most recognizable their non-alcoholic plum beer. In restaurants and pubs around the country, the Bernatd alcohol-free pale beer has become a popular choice among those who can not drink alcohol for whichever reasons. Additionally, Bernard also caters for those depending on gluten-free option with its 12 degrees gluten-free pale lager.
