Some good Polish beers?

[pie_man_25]

Hey TB,

I've recently gotten an e-mail from a friend whom I've known for quite a long time. He is Polish, and in our town there is basically this little "Polish fest" where Polish people celebrate Polish culture. He needs some extra volunteers for this year's event, for people working with food and such, and since I volunteered last year, he's asking me to volunteer again this year. Apparently the people organizing this festival order a whole ****load of beer from Poland. This is basically making the little beer geek inside of me excited to try a few - spread throughout the day of course . Of course, I've never heard of any brands of Polish beer and I've really never gotten a taste of any worthwhile beers from mainland europe (I've really only had Stella and Heineken, pretty standard fare). Can you guys mention some good beers from poland? Perhaps even what styles I should be expecting, or a a couple breweries I could do some reading on?

[Gard]

...I just mentioned this one in the "beer drinking/rating" thread:



Excellent brew.

[bassybill]

Paging TBer Antek Stalich...

[dj150888]

I've only had the really obvious Polish beers, Tyskie, Lech and Zubr. All three were pretty tasty. Lech is very good for a lager. Nice and crisp.

[pie_man_25]

Originally Posted by Gard

...I just mentioned this one in the "beer drinking/rating" thread:



Excellent brew.

I saw that just before starting this thread, it looks amazing!

[Bombel]

First of all - Tyskie, Lech, Zywiec, Specjal, Warka, Zubr, Wojak, Debowe Mocne, Tatra, Krolewskie, Lezajsk (and some more) are produced by two companies (Kompania Piwowarska & Grupa Zywiec), that hold the majority of polish beer market. Every shop has some of them and it doesn't mean, they're tasty... quite the opposite (for me and people a little bit more interested in taste, than just alcohol in beer ;-) ).

Here you have a nice choice of polish beers, that have something man call taste (under Piwa Polskie)
http://www.degustatornia.pl/images/butelka.jpg

Personally I like Ciechan (Wyborny, Pszeniczny, Miodowy), Zywe Niefiltrowane, Amber Naturalny, Kozlak, Perla Chmielowa & Export, Irish Beer (from Poland, yup :-P ).
If I don't have a choice, I drink Specjal (actually it's a very good beer, but only from the keg - it has a really different taste from canned or bottled one).

How's this fest called?

[superbassman2000]

I have only had tyskie, and I like it...although it never really tasted terribly unique as far as beers go...their vodka, now that's something special!

[pie_man_25]

Originally Posted by Bombel

How's this fest called?

I've only heard it being called "Polish fest", it's a part of what's called the "carousel of nations" if memory serves me right - it's basically just one among a series of events that celebrate the many cultural communities that can be found in the city I live in. I've heard people call it something else too, but they've either said it in Polish or in a really thick Polish accent, and since I'm not Polish I couldn't tell you what it is exactly.

[Relic]

Where do I start..
OK, Warka Strong is good, Tyskie is decent Steer clear of Zywiec - it's like the Polish Budweiser...


Edit - Ignore me, and just listen to Bombel, he knows what he's talking about!

[bassrique]

I tired a Polish beer in NYC years ago. I wish I could remember the name of the bar. They had all kinds of little noticed [at least by Americans] brews before it was cool. They had hundreds of beers. I don't remember the name of the Polish beer, but I think i remember it being good. I think.

[DwaynieAD]

this thread title just screams for some kind of joke.. i'm just not that smart

[AntekStalich]

Originally Posted by bassybill

Paging TBer Antek Stalich...

Hello, Bill! Thank you for paging me.

Bombel appears to be a beer connoisseur, his opinions must be valid because similar are opinions of many of my friends who are beer lovers here in Poland.

I'm not that critical. The major point pinned to general Polish beers is the market has been monopolized by two capital groups. Still, different brands are different and some are quite good. For example, I often drink ZUBR and think it is really decent one (this is what we normally drink at home). Lech is good, too, and of beers mentioned by Bombel, Perla Czarna is indeed fantastic. On the other hand, neither I nor my wife like Zywiec and we don't buy Okocim, either. Bombel likes Specjal; the same keg beer gives headache to us, so it is just the matter of personal choice

People abroad may love Polish beer or hate it. It is very different from German or Czech lagers: it is slightly sweet, strong and full taste, decidedly not that bitter or watery as pilsners.

However, Bassybill, you've asked the wrong person. What I love is Real Ale ;-)

[Relic]

Lech is good for sure.

Pie-Man, where is this festival taking place? I was at one in Chicago about a year and a half ago, it was great.

[pie_man_25]

Originally Posted by Relic

Lech is good for sure.

Pie-Man, where is this festival taking place? I was at one in Chicago about a year and a half ago, it was great.

Its in Windsor, Ontario - in Canada.

Originally Posted by AntekStalich

However, Bassybill, you've asked the wrong person. What I love is Real Ale ;-)

I thought you liked vodka

[AntekStalich]

I know my vodka. This makes the difference