Piwo - a short guide to Polish beer

Probably most of the people imagine Poland to be a pretty much vodka country. Which is not far from truth, as you can read here. However, we Poles are only people, not spirit-drinking, booze-binging shenanigans who have no mercy for their livers. No, very often we simply take it easy and we are quite content with beer.

The thing is: it can’t be just any beer. The most popular type r will be a lager, especially the ones that seem to have been around for ages. Tyskie, Żywiec and Lech are definitely some of the most popular brands you can find in Poland and abroad. Very often however, it will not be just any lager. Sometimes we will go for the good old pilsner. A type of a pale lager that originated in Czech Republic and conquered hearts of Polish people. It is really popular everywhere, especially amongst those drinking the much beloved Perła beer.

LIFE AND BEER HAVE THEIR FLAVOURS

But it doesn’t mean that beer in Poland has to be made in only certain ways or with only certain ingredients. In fact the imagination of brewers and inspirations from local cuisine and products as well as the immense popularity of the drink have brought some fruitful and tasty results. Fruitful especially, so with brands like Cornelius and Fortuna you’re bound to discover some of the most wicked flavours. You will find these beverages perfect when you’re up for something light and somehow summer-like. Try then the one called Fortuna Mirabelka - the mirabelle plum beer. There is something to this yellow type of plum that instantly makes you smile and what’s more, it is the summer fruit that is not so famous abroad. It is definitely something unique to try out! Both as a beer and as a fruit. And if it is boiling hot then the best thing would be to grab a Lech Shandy or Warka Radler and head to one of the Polish lakesides (you can read about them here).

However, it is not the end of different flavours you can find across breweries in Poland. My personal favourite is the honey infused lager like Łomża Miodowa or the ones from independent craft beer companies. Honey is one of the tastes of my childhood and together with beer they account for something really special now that I’m older. I mentioned craft beer above and this is something you should definitely go for if you’re a true beer fan.

Many of my friends are into craft beers, some of other people I know are trying to brew it themselves and each time I talk to them I’m astounded by the knowledge they’ve got. Following their advices I’m always trying to have a look at something different and check out new brands regardless whether they’re totally independent or belonging to larger companies. This is how I discovered the brilliant, tasteful and fresh classic types of beer produced and bottled by Browar Miłosław. I would definitely recommend their Marcowe (March, like the month). In fact the choice is endless and one of the most interesting brands I’ve encountered recently is Smaki Ogrodu and their melonowe beer (yeah it is a melon flavoured beer that I honestly enjoyed).

When there is craft beer mentioned I cannot resist the temptation to talk about my hometown brewery and restaurant Jan Olbracht, where you can try a unique gingerbread lager. (You can read more about what the gingerbread means to my hometown here).

I know that sometimes it is not a good moment for a flavoured beer, and one doesn’t always feel like having a standard lager. This is when probably my favourite type of beer comes in handy: the wheat beer! It is slightly sweeter, lighter, a bit soury and it doesn’t leave the bitter gentian on your palate after you swallow each golden sip. And it comes in fancy, tall glasses! How can you not love it? Well, my father has got some strong arguments about it…  but for everyone else who is more likely to survive a day without having a meat platter the wheat beer is absolutely perfect! I would definitely recommend Pszeniczniak and Żywiec Białe.

And if you want something darker, sweeter and (in my opinion) more bitter then you will probably enjoy Porter and Bock and the easiest ones to find will be the ones produced by Żywiec. I’ve had it on several occasions and to be perfectly honest…  after one sip I was more than happy to give the bottle to my mum who absolutely adores such ‘full beers’.

CULTURE

Each country has got their own culture when it comes to beer. Ireland will mesmerize you with their pure love for Guiness and live music in the legendary Temple Bar spots. The United Kingdom will surprise you with the importance of their pubs for local people, and the fact that even in the London’s city full of financial advisors and other “serious” people these places are the most lively corners. Belgium has got mesmerizing foy to their brands and each bar will serve each beer in a specially designed and branded glass. In Czech Republic you’re more likely to starve to death than not to have a sip of the famous Pilsner. I personally admire the merry and friendly atmosphere of German beer places, where you sit by the long table outside, with some strangers often joining you (but leaving considerable space to avoid breaching your comfort zone).

And in Poland?

Maybe our beer culture is not this colourful as in the countries I mentioned but there are some quirks that for sure will make the corners of your mouth go up. First of all, pub beer drinking is very much linked to student culture, so many places offer student deals that are really really good! So make sure you don’t forget your student ID next time you pop into Pasaż Leopolda in Wrocław or Dwa Światy in Toruń, where you can enjoy a student pint for 5 złoty (more or less 1.2€)!

There is a fair chance you’ll be surprised in Polish pubs as well. It is very popular for bartenders to put a plastic straw in pints served to girls! Even more taking aback might be the fact that many Polish women order their pints with a dash of fruit syrup!

Surprised? I told you!

But apart from that you won’t be really startled when you enter a Polish bar….

Unless you’ll see some guys skillfully holding a shot glass full of vodka and a full pint of beer in one hand and thus making a cascade where vodka is instantly flushed down the throat with a lager.

Maybe I was wrong?
Maybe sometimes we simply are reckless shenanigans?

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