8 Great Polish Brews! (and a few mediocre ones too)
In this segment we are taking our shot at evaluating a handful of polish macros. This is a follow up to our popular article on Balkan Brews. For those less familiar with the region, Polska lies on the Beer-Vodka line. In this land the hard and the hoppy stuff aligns in terms of quality, a rare scenario indeed. I promise you if you find the beer good just wait till you try the homemade vodka. This article covers macro’s but for a little extra information I have also added a short paragraph one some delicious micro brews you may want to check out.
Without further ado here are 8 delicious polish beers!
Table of Contents
- 1. Żywiec
- 2. Książęce
- 3. Warka
- 4. Leżajsk
- 5. Okocim O.K.
- 6. Tyskie Gronie
- 7. Tatra
- 8. Zubr
- Bonus: Browar Amber
- A Little Mediocrity:
- But what about the Micro’s?
1. Żywiec
At number one, we have the undisputed king of Polish Macros, Zywiec. This bottle features a couple dancing the Krakowiak, a traditional polish dance. Operated since 1856 this classic polish drink has graced tables in central Europe for a long time. While under occupation by the Austro-Hungarian Empire this Polish beer began exportation through Habsburg lands, supplying many towns with a beer worth drinking. The Porter, in production since 1881, is also worth a mention for those that have a palette for strong beers. The brand is now under majority ownership by Heineken, a sad turn of events as I would much rather drink this beer than its Dutch ownership’s mainstay beer.
My favorite Zywiec moment was having a cold one in Krakow, under a tree in a courtyard in Kazimierz during 35°C weather. Never has such a cold beer tasted so good. Luckily for me this delicious summer beer can be found in Canada. It can usually be found as a lager but their porter is very popular, both are worth a try.
Lager (5.6%), Porter (9.5%)
2. Książęce
Ok, so you can’t pronounce the name of this beer… No problem, nor can I! Just point at the tap and say Pivo! It’s too good a beer to pass up.
The classic version is called Książęce Złote Pszeniczne. This hazy wheat beer with an unconventional taste is like nothing I’ve had before. Brewed at the Tyskie Brewery (see the entry for Tyskie lower on this list), it is, bar down, the tastiest of the brews on this list. Pszeniczne is just polish for wheat beer but Tyskie produces many variations of the Książęce including a red (Czerwony) lager, Dark & Mild (Ciemne Łagodne) or Dark Lager, a Golden Ale and an IPA. The wheat beer (Pszeniczne) remains the most popular offering and can be found at almost any bar in Poland, although the red lager is quite popular as well.
Wheat Beer (4.9%), Red Lager (4.9%), Dark Lager (4.1%), Golden Ale (5.2%), IPA (5.4%)
3. Warka
Yes, it sounds a little like Warsaw. Is it good? I will let you be the judge but I enjoy this beer very much.
One of Poland’s oldest beers, it is brewed in the town of Warka, south of Warsaw. It has been part of the Żywiec Group since 1999 and is now unfortunately owned by the Dutch Heineken Group. This brewery was founded in 1478 when prince Bolesław V of Mazovia (the central region of Poland that surround Warsaw) gave the brewery the exclusive right to supply his court.
The brewery produces 3 beers, Warka Classic, Warka strong (sometimes found under the label premium) and Warka Królewskie (royal). This beer is a little stronger than some of the other mainstream polish brews.
Classic (5.5%), Strong (6.5%), Royal (5.6%)
4. Leżajsk
If you are looking for a proper lager, with a balanced taste, this beer takes the cake. Granted an exclusive charter to brew beer by the polish king Sigismund I the Old, this storied beer can be seen in pubs around the country. This light beer is crisp, refreshing and goes down easy on a summer day. Although the lager is the most popular of this brewery offerings, they also brew a Pilsner, although I haven’t tried it. The beer is brewed in historic downtown Leżajsk as the name would suggest. Try one, I guarantee you will enjoy it!
Lager (5.5%), Pilsner (5.0%)
5. Okocim O.K.
This old school brew has been produced in the town of Brzesko since 1845. It has the distinction of being founded by a German (Johann Evangelist Götz) and an Austrian (Joseph Neumann) while being financed by a Polish noble (Julian Kodrębski). All three of them are from different ethnic groups that have dominated certain parts of Poland over the centuries. The ownership group was very close and during the period of Rabacja, when peasants rose up against serfdom and slaughtered businessmen and nobles alike, the workers of this brewery vouched that the owners payed well and the work conditions were good, thus sparing their lives. After the death of Neumann, the brewery was modernized and the founder of the Danish Carlsberg Brewery even visited. Götz’s son, Jan Albin Götz, married into the Polish Okocimski family of nobles. At the turn of the 20th century the brewery was the largest in the former Poland-Lithuania and money was flowing. Jan took advantage and became a great philanthropist and a proud supporter of polish culture. A polish patriot, he was elected to parliament when Poland regain its independence. Sadly, in communist years, the family was kicked out of the country and the brewery nationalized. When the brewery assets were re-privatized in the 90’s the family home was returned to the Okocimski’s. Bringing things full circle, Carlsberg now owns the brewery under its subsidiary Carlsberg Polska. The brewing facilities are gorgeous, meticulously preserved, and can be visited by the general public.
All this too say that in a country with so much tragedy its nice to hear a great story over a cold, well crafted beer. Wouldn’t you agree?
Classic (5.6%), Premium (7.0%)
6. Tyskie Gronie
This polish classic, easily recognized by a large crown design on the bottles, is brought to you by one of the largest macro’s in the country, Tyskie Brewery. Located in the town of Tychy south of Katowice in the south-western region of Silesia. The Tyskie brewery has the oldest continued use brewhouse in all of Poland and has open to the public since 1905. In older times all those crossing the street to the brewery would be offered a free beer. Although this practice has been abandoned, go and visit the enormous industrial complex for yourself, drink to your heart’s delight in a brewery that was voted one of the “7 Wonders of Silesia”. The Książęce beer, mentioned above, is also produced in this facility.
Although this beer’s illustrious past has allowed it to acquire an 18% market share in Poland, the brewery is constantly reinventing itself. Like Zywiec and Warka, it now exports much of its product to Germany, Canada and the United States.
Classic (5.2%)
7. Tatra
If this was not Poland this would beer would have been bumped up a few spots, unfortunately for this Macro it is. Like many beers this pint allures to a soaring mountain range, the Tatra mountains. This beer has strong taste.
No snarky comments for this one.
Lager (6.0%)
8. Zubr
This mighty polish lager sports a European Bison, a prized animal of the eastern forests of Poland, on the can. In ancient times this animal was hunted for it’s hyde and the horns used for…well… drinking of course! Although not my favourite beer it does pack a good punch for a light macro at 6%. It has been brewed since 1768, historically near Białystok but now in Poznań as well. It is the second most popular polish beer.
Lager (6.0%)
Bonus: Browar Amber
Stuck somewhere in the center of Macro and Micro’s are the regional breweries, one of witch is Browar Amber. There were once over 400 breweries operating in the Polish city of Gdasnk, the Baltic port with a historic German population. The Soviet occupation put an end to the Germans and their love of beer. Until the 90’s the Poles were known for their Vodka but not so much their beers… no more! Like the rest of the country Gdansk has come back from the brink. This brewery is solid and nothing to be ashamed of.
A Little Mediocrity:
I have not come across a bad polish beer yet, but a few were of disappointing quality.
EB:
Brewed in the old German city of Elbing, this beer recognizable by its iconic “EB” logo became the most popular polish beer of the nineties (90’s) before falling from grace. The EB brand was introduced in 1993 as a product aimed at young consumers, as such it became a legendary party beer with many found memories forged from its drunken haze. The brewery’s history actually extends much further into the past then most people think. It was opened in 1309 under charter by the Teutonic knights and had the exclusive rights to ship Pilsner to the court of German Emperor Wilhelm II.
Although not the best beer on this list, this polish icon is much better than most American beers… mind you almost anything is better than American macros.
Lager (5.4%)
Kasztelan:
Again, not a bad beer by any stretch of the imagination, it’s just forgettable compared to some of the beers listed above. Still plenty drinkable.
Lager (5.4%)
Harna
Ok, this is my least favorite polish beer on this list. Harna and me don’t get along. At least at 6% you can drink the taste away.
Lager (6.0%)
Lech
This light beer is more modern than many of the entries on this list. The brewery was completed in 1980 and holds the Guinness world record for most people drinking out of the same beer mug when the brewery built a giant mug and filled it with beer. Pretty cool if you ask me!
Unfortunately for this beer it is very bland and forgettable.
Lager (5.0%)
But what about the Micro’s?
Poland has great microbreweries with creative craft brews and would need a separate article to cover them. Some of my favourites were the Calamipa Milkshake IPA from Wrężel brewery that I enjoyed while watching the sunset at Charles de Gaulle roundabout in Warsaw, the Staro-Gdanskie Classic from Browar Gościszewo that I had at the Karczma Irena restaurant in Sopot and the Cherry cider I had at Weźże Krafta in the Tytano district of Krakow.
Finally, if you want to try something a little different Raciborskie beer comes in a green variety. It sounds cool, but not a big fan of the taste.
