Degrees Plato: What the “10°”, “11°”, “12°” Mean
In Czech beer, the degrees (°) refer to °Plato, not alcohol. It’s a brewing measurement of sugar content in the wort before fermentation.
- More degrees = more malt = more body = usually more alcohol
- Common Czech strengths:
- 10° = a light session beer (approx. 4.0% ABV)
- 11° = slightly fuller, still very drinkable (around 4.5%)
- 12° = the gold standard ležák (~5.0%)
- 13°+ = stronger specials (up to ~6.5%+)
🔍 Important: 12° ≠ 12% alcohol!
It’s a common tourist mistake — the ABV (alcohol by volume) is usually much lower than the degree number.
