Introducing the new TWØBAYS Czech Dark Lager
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our latest brew: TWØBAYS Czech Dark Lager - a beer that balances darkness and light, tradition and innovation, artistry and ease.
Dark & Light - The Dark Beer for Hot‑Days and Balmy Evenings
If you think dark beers are reserved for winter, Czech Dark Lager is here to prove you wrong. Though the lager pours a deep, inviting hue - the richness you expect from a dark beer - it’s brewed with gluten‑free malts (millet and rice) to deliver a lighter body and easy drinking experience.
The “dark” in dark lager is there: the colour, the subtle roastiness.
The “light” is there too: in the body, the drinkability, the ease with which it slides down on a hot day. And of course being gluten free, there’s not that beer bloat that often comes with other beers.
Bohemia & Brewing: A History of Artistry Meets Unconventional Brewers
We’ve drawn inspiration from the homeland of great lagers - the region of Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic - where brewing is not just craft, but culture. Bohemia’s brewing heritage goes back centuries: hop cultivation in the region dates back to at least the 12th century. The region’s reputation for brewing excellence is built on tradition, innovation and artistry.
In classic Bohemian brewing you’ll find:
- Celebrated hop varieties such as Saaz hops, one of the noble hop types cultivated in Bohemia and prized for their flavour contributions.
- A deep respect for malt, water and yeast - the essential ingredients, treated with craft and care.
- The notion of brewing not just a product, but an experience and a legacy.
Here at TWØBAYS, we embrace the “unconventional” in that legacy. We worked with gluten‑free malts - millet and rice - stepping away from the usual barley malt path, but still honouring the style, flavour and heritage of a Czech‑inspired lager. We believe craft is creativity, and brewing with alternative malts is its own artistic statement.
Can Design – Symbolism in Black and White
The TWØBAYS Czech Dark Lager can features bold black and white checks, echoing the beer’s central theme of dark and light. It's a visual metaphor for contrast and balance - much like the lager itself.
Woven into the design are two powerful symbols:
- The Czech Lion: A proud symbol of Bohemian heritage, the double-tailed lion has been the emblem of the historical Kingdom of Bohemia since the 13th century. It stands for strength, resilience, and national pride - a nod to the beer’s stylistic roots and the enduring legacy of Czech brewing culture.
- Hops Motif: Hops are not just an ingredient; they’re an identity. The Czech region of Žatec (Saaz) is one of the oldest and most celebrated hop-growing regions in the world. By featuring hops prominently, we honour both the ingredient itself and the centuries of craftsmanship that have defined Czech lagers.
The design blends tradition with bold modernity - just like the beer inside.
About the Beer - Recipe, Style & Drinking Notes
Here’s what makes TWØBAYS Czech Dark Lager special:
- Malt bill: Millet malt and rice malt. These gluten‑free grains give us the freedom to craft a beer with light body, yet dark character.
- Hops: Saaz hops for late aroma and flavour - the classic Bohemian choice - and Magnum hops for bittering to keep it balanced.
- Yeast: We’ve used White Labs Munich yeast strain, delivering that clean lager backbone with subtle malt character.
- Style & ABV: A dark lager style, brewed at 4.8% ABV. Easy enough for extended sipping, yet robust enough to carry the dark malt nuance.
- Tasting notes: Pouring a deep bronze‑brown with a creamy off‑white head. On the nose: gentle roast, a touch of dark chocolate, subtle biscuit, and a thread of Saaz floral/earthy hop aroma. On the palate: light‑to‑medium body, smooth and refreshing; the roast malt gives a whisper of cocoa and caramel, while the Saaz hops keep it lively - not heavy. The finish is crisp, clean, and invites another sip.
- Ideal drinking moment: This is another surprisingly easy drinker designed for hot days and into those warm evenings - the sunset hour on the patio, paired with BBQ skewers, wood‑fired pizza, or simply good company on a warm evening.
Why We Brewed It
At TWØBAYS we believe in making beers that most beer drinkers take for granted. Gluten free options are limited, so we love to explore historical and modern beer styles to bring the same experience to anyone who wants a beer. We wanted to bring together:
- The dark beer character - the colour, the subtle roastiness - but without the heaviness that often comes with dark styles.
- The drinkability for warm weather - we hear it, “dark beers are too heavy on hot days” - so we flipped that expectation.
- A nod to tradition - the heritage of Czech / Bohemian brewing - yet with a twist: gluten‑free malts, modern sensibility, accessible ABV.
- A celebration of unconventional brewing and craft as art - choosing alternative malts, balancing hops, yeast, and process to create something expressive yet approachable.
Where can you get it?
As with all our limited releases, it’s a one off, and when it’s gone, it is gone forever. We’d love for you to be among the first to taste this new release. Limited stock is on its way to independent bottle shops around Australia.
UPDATE 09/02/2026:
Czech Dark Lager will be available in ALL Dan Murphy's stores in Victoria, hitting shelves from 16th February 2026.
Select BWS stores in Victoria will also be receiving stock around the same time.
| Sorrento BWS |
| Rye Hotel BWS |
| Rye BWS |
| Rosebud Central BWS |
| Rosebud BWS |
| Mornington BWS |
| Mount Eliza BWS |
| Hawksburn BWS |
| Richmond (VIC) BWS |
| Preston BWS |
| Patterson Lakes BWS |
A Final Word
In a world where dark beers often feel heavy and reserved for winter nights, we’re flipping the script. TWØBAYS Czech Dark Lager is our invitation to enjoy dark character without the heaviness. We draw from Bohemia’s deep brewing roots and infuse it with creative, modern craft - gluten‑free malts, light body, but full flavour.
Here’s to dark meeting light, tradition meeting innovation, and the moments in between. We can’t wait to raise a glass with you. Sláinte! 🍻
