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Polish Beer
Polish Culture: Polish Beer
Polish Beer
Vodka may be Poland's national drink much as sake is to the Japanese but beer (piwo) is by far the most commonly drunk alcoholic beverage and available in bars, pubs, supermarkets and off licenses - look out for the "Alkohole" sign - but not on many Polish trains.
Poland is Europe's third largest beer producer after Germany and the UK and also third in the beer drinkers' league after Germany (again) and the Czech Republic with the average Pole knocking back 92 liters a year.
The big national brewers include Zywiec, Tyskie, Lech and Zubr who all produce bottled and draught lagers as well as a variety of darker beers and porters (a 19th century taste acquired from exports from Britain). The biggest Polish breweries are majority owned by the large European multi-nationals such as Heineken and Carlsberg. Tyskie and Lech (brewed near Poznan) have the largest market share and highest visibility of beers in Poland.
Beer in Poland often has a higher alcohol content than beer in other European counties. Beer in Poland is served in 33cl or half-liter glasses. Ask for jedno male for a small glass or jedno duze for a half-liter.
Polish beer is predominately of the lager variety and comes in half-liter or 33cl glasses
Poland's breweries and beers are often named after the place they were first produced. Thus Żywiec and Tychy (Tyskie) are places in Poland, though Żubr is named after the European Bison.
Other beers include Lezajsk (part of the Żywiec group) where beer has been brewed since 1525 and Zwierzyniec, which has been producing beer since the 18th century.
Polish beers have also become quite popular in the UK with Lech and Żywiec popular with the Polish diaspora as well as British drinkers, who are drawn to their higher alcohol content.
Many supermarkets and liquor stores will stock more unusual beers such as the strong Baltic porters and wheat beers which go well with Polish food.
However, visitors to Poland should be warned that public drunken disorderliness can lead to an unpleasant night in the drunk tank and a fine.
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| Baltic Porter and Cornelius Honig Weizen | Debowe Mocne - literally translated as "Oak Strong" |
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