Bernard Amber Review

“You Shouldn’t Judge A Beer By Its Colour”

Country: Czech Republic 

Brand: Bernard Amber

Bottler: Rodinny Pivovar Bernard AS, Humpolec 
Package: Nice Bottle (500 ml) 

Type: Semi-Dark Yeast Lager  (Non-Filtered - Unpasteurised)

Age: NAS

ABV: 4.7 %

Ingredients, Water, Malted Barley from own production, Special Malts, Prepared Saaz Hops, Yeast and Hop Extract.
Antioxidant: Not Indicated 
Stabiliser: Not Indicated

Colour: Dark Reddish Amber (Beautiful Colour)

Foam: Creamy Beige Foam that dissolves too quickly unfortunately. Only a Thin Head remains while drinking your glass. No Laces are left once you've finished the glass.

Nose: Relatively Light with Malt, Toffee, Treacle, light Hops, Grass, Yeast, Bread Dough and traces of Red Fruits, Citrus and Dried Herbs.

Palate: It's more Watery than I would have thought. On the Palate, this Bernard Amber is Medium-Sweet and Bitter at the same time. I don't think it's Well-Balanced. It doesn't seem to know where it's going. I find loads of Caramel and Toffee as well as Malt, Dried Herbs, Toasted Barley, Earthy Hops, light Citrus, Coffee Liqueur and a Metallic Off-Note. 

Finish: Short, Watery, Dry, Bitter Sweet and slightly Sour with Red Berries, Grass, Earth, Treacle, Caramel and the same Metallic Off-Note as on the Palate.

Rating: *****  (Five out of Ten)

General Remarks: The first Beer Brewery in the city of Humpolec was founded in 1597. In October 1991, Stanislav Bernard and two Czech business partners acquired the bankrupt Humpolec Brewery via auction. In 2001 Duvel-Moortgat from Belgium bought a 50% participation in Bernard. Today, Bernard Beers are exported to around 30 countries, including Brazil. The Brewery produces all kinds of Beers like Pilsen, Lager, Dark and Non-Alcoholic versions. The Amber was launched in 1995.

Drinking Experience: Average/Okay 

Conclusion: Let me start on the Positive side. The colour of this Bernard Amber is really spectacular. A beautiful dark Amber that combines extremely well with the Beige Foam. The Foam dissolves much too quick however. And on the Palate, the Bernard Amber pales quickly. It's too Watery and it misses Balance. Sweet and Bitter notes are at war with each other. I can't find any Harmony. And finally there's that slight Metallic Off-Note that should not be there. The Bernard Amber once again proves that you should not judge a book by its colour! It's not a Beer I will buy again.

Jan van den Ende                                                                      May 20, 2015