I’ve long been a fan of Slow Hand Beer Company and its “simple styles done well” approach (its West Coast Pale Ale is for my money the best of its kind in the city). So I had a good amount of faith that it would deliver on one of my favourite types of beer—the dark lager.

In this instance (as in most), I have no problem saying I was right. The Tmavý Pivo 13 Czech Dark Lager is a riff on a type of beer that is apparently sweeping the Czech Republic. That’s right, with this recommendation you also sorta kinda get to imagine you’re travelling central Europe.

But Slowhand’s take is incredibly smooth for a 5.5 percent dark lager and throws in a hint of roasted chocolate; perfect to look out at the blustery weather outside and be glad you’re stuck indoors (take that, pandemic).

-- Nathan Caddell, Vancouver Magazine, 2020