Primátor Maibock - Privovar Náchod, Náchod

Primátor's Maibock comes in a very unassuming bottle. Looking like it hasn't seen a redesign since the last major war in Europe, you'd certainly be forgiven if you didn't give this beer more than a second glance at the store. Once you take a good long look at this boring label you'll notice the fine print above the Primátor name says, "2008 World's Best Lager." That's either a big claim or a prestigious honor, you can never really tell with these Eastern European beers. If they really did win the 2008 World's Best Lager competition it must not have come with an prize money because this beer looks rather low budget... I know, packaging isn't everything but when this is just one of thirty beers on the shelf in front of you, package means a lot. But enough about the label. Is this beer really "World's Best Lager" caliber?

In a word, yes.

When I poured the Primátor Maibock into my glass I noticed the aroma seemed off... This Maibock smelled quite a bit like a Weissbier, with hints of banana and other sweet fruits. There's also quite a bit of malt on the nose, which creates an odd combination that I've never come across. Odd though it may be, the Primátor smells amazing. I was afraid it would be too sweet because the aroma was akin to a box of caramel candies lined with straw...

The flavor of the Primátor is definitely sweet, at least it is at first. When this Maibock hits your palate its very sweet, like caramel or butterscotch. The texture is creamy and the sweetness is very enjoyable. Just as you lower your glass, the flavor of the beer on your palate goes from sweet to bitter... It's bizarre, but really REALLY fun. Your palate isn't left with a hoppy finish after being butter(scotch)ed up by that sweet start because this beer finishes with a malty follow up that is absolutely delicious.

The Primátor Maibock is a bit of a roller coaster ride, but it really pays off. This is an excellent beer which certainly doesn't taste or feel like it's 7.5% ABV. The caramel sweetness and hoppy bitterness make this beer an absolute pleasure to drink. There aren't many beers that I remember having this sort of flavor profile, this is truly a unique Maibock and I'm glad I have two more bottles waiting for me to drink.