Best Polish Beer Brands: The Most Popular Beers from Poland

Poland has a long and rich history of brewing, dating back to the Middle Ages. The Polish word for beer is “piwo,” which comes from the Slavic word “pivo.” Since then, Poland has become known for its delicious beer brews, with a particular brand of pale lager taking the lead. In this blog post, we will explore the history of beer in Poland and some of the most popular Polish beer brands.

Poland’s beer industry took off in the 19th century during the industrial revolution. At that time, brewing became more industrialized, and big beer producers like Kompania Piwowarska and Grupa Żywiec emerged. These breweries still dominate the Polish beer market today, with a significant market share in the country. Poland’s beer industry has survived through many hardships, including German occupation during World War II and Communist rule after the war. Today, the country is Europe’s third-largest beer producer, with a thriving brewing industry.

Polish brewers are also known for their specialty brews. Baltic porter, for example, is a dark lager with a rich history in Poland. This type of beer was first brewed in the 18th century in the southern part of the country. Today, Polish porters are known for their complex flavors that include hints of dark chocolate and roasted coffee.

Wheat beer is another popular type of beer in Poland. Żywiec Białe is a perfect example of this type of beer. This beer has a light color and a thick head, and it’s brewed using a particular type of yeast that gives it a unique flavor.

Craft beer has also now become popular in Poland, with many Polish breweries experimenting with different flavors and types of beer. Kormoran Imperium Prunum, for example, is a honey beer that has won international awards. Ciechan Pszeniczne is a wheat beer that has won a silver medal at an international beer competition.

The 18 Most Popular Polish Beer Brands

Żubr

Żubr is a traditional Polish Lager beer brewed by the Kompania Piwowarska brewery, which is located in Poznań, Poland. It is a light-bodied beer with a clean, crisp taste and a slight hop bitterness. The beer is made with Pilsner malt and Saaz hops, which give it a classic European lager taste. It has an ABV of 6%, and was first produced in 1768. The Żubr brand is named after the European bison, which is known as Żubr in Polish. The beer is often enjoyed with traditional Polish food, such as pierogi and kielbasa.

Tyskie

Tyskie is a popular Polish beer produced by Tyskie Browary Książęce, which is located in Tychy, Poland. It is a pale lager style beer made with Pilsner malt and Saaz hops. The beer has a light, refreshing taste and a smooth finish, and an ABV of 5.6%. Tyskie was first brewed in 1629, and has a long history of being one of the most popular beers in Poland. It has won numerous awards and is often enjoyed with traditional Polish cuisine.

Amber Koźlak

Amber Koźlak is a Polish beer produced by the Amber brewery, which is located in Bydgoszcz, Poland. It is a dark lager style beer, also known as a Koźlak, made with Munich and caramel malts, and Saaz and Lubelski hops. The beer has a deep, malty flavor with hints of caramel and chocolate, and an ABV of 5.8%. Amber Koźlak was first produced in 1995 and has since become a popular beer in Poland. It is often enjoyed during the colder months and pairs well with hearty Polish dishes.

Lech Premium Lager

Lech Premium Lager is a Polish beer produced by the Lech Brewery, which is located in Poznań, Poland. It is a pale lager style beer made with Pilsner malt and Saaz hops. The beer has a light, refreshing taste with a slight hop bitterness and an ABV of 5.2%. Lech Premium Lager was first produced in 1982 and has become one of the most popular beers in Poland. It is often enjoyed with traditional Polish cuisine and is also exported to other countries.

Żywiec Białe

Żywiec Białe is a Polish beer produced by the Żywiec Brewery, which is located in Żywiec, Poland. It is a wheat beer style beer made with wheat malt and Saaz and Lubelski hops. The beer has a cloudy appearance and a fruity, spicy flavor with hints of banana and clove, and an ABV of 5.6%. Żywiec Białe was first produced in 2006 and has become a popular beer in Poland. It is often enjoyed during the warmer months and pairs well with traditional Polish dishes.

Ciechan Miodowe

Ciechan Miodowe is a Polish beer produced by the Ciechan Brewery, which is located in Ciechanów, Poland. It is a honey beer style beer made with honey, Pilsner malt, and Lubelski hops. The beer has a sweet, malty flavor with a hint of honey and an ABV of 6%. Ciechan Miodowe was first produced in 2001 and has since become a popular beer in Poland. It is often enjoyed as a dessert beer or paired with cheese and fruit

Okocim O.K. Beer is a pale lager brewed by the Okocim Brewery in Brzesko, Poland. This beer has a light body and a golden color with a thin, white head. It is made with Pilsner malt and Saaz hops, giving it a slightly sweet, malty flavor with a subtle hop bitterness. Okocim O.K. Beer has an ABV of 5.6% and has been brewed since 1993.

Królewskie Jasne Pełne

Królewskie Jasne Pełne is a popular pale lager brewed by the Kompania Piwowarska brewery in Poznań, Poland. This beer is made using a combination of Pilsner and Munich malt, along with traditional Polish hops. It has a light, refreshing taste with a balanced hop bitterness and a slight sweetness from the malt. Królewskie Jasne Pełne has an ABV of 5.5% and has been brewed since 1994.

Tatra Jasne Pełne

Tatra Jasne Pełne is a classic Polish pale lager brewed by the Grupa Żywiec brewery in Żywiec, Poland. This beer is brewed using a blend of Pilsner malt and two types of hops, Lubelski and Saaz. It has a crisp, refreshing taste with a subtle hop bitterness and a light malt sweetness. Tatra Jasne Pełne has an ABV of 5.2% and has been brewed since 1930.

Warka

Warka is a popular Polish lager brewed by the Warka Brewery in Warka, Poland. This beer is made using Pilsner malt and a blend of hops including Lubelski and Saaz. It has a crisp, refreshing taste with a mild bitterness and a light malt sweetness. Warka has an ABV of 5.5% and has been brewed since 1478.

Perła Chmielowa

Perła Chmielowa is a classic Polish lager brewed by the Perła Brewery in Lublin, Poland. This beer is made with Pilsner malt and Lubelski hops, giving it a light, crisp taste with a mild bitterness and a subtle sweetness from the malt. Perła Chmielowa has an ABV of 5.6% and has been brewed since 1846.

Kormoran Imperium Prunum

Kormoran Imperium Prunum is a unique Polish beer brewed by the Browar Kormoran brewery in Olsztyn, Poland. This beer is a Baltic porter, a dark lager brewed using dark malt and Saaz hops. It has a rich, complex taste with notes of dark chocolate and coffee, balanced by a slight bitterness from the hops. Kormoran Imperium Prunum has an ABV of 8.5% and has been brewed since 2003.

Ciechan Pszeniczne

Ciechan Pszeniczne is a wheat beer brewed by the Browar Ciechan brewery in Ciechanów, Poland. This beer is made with a blend of wheat and barley malt, along with Hallertau and Saaz hops. It has a light, refreshing taste with notes of citrus and a subtle spiciness from the yeast. Ciechan Pszeniczne has an ABV of 5.6% and has been brewed since 2004.

Namysłów

Namysłów is a Polish beer made by the Browar Namysłów brewery in the town of Namysłów in southwestern Poland. This beer is a lager, characterized by its golden color and crisp, refreshing taste. It is made from a blend of pale and caramel malts and hopped with traditional Polish hops, resulting in a smooth and balanced flavor. Namysłów has an ABV of 5.2% and was first produced in 1995. Interestingly, the brewery is located in a former monastery that was founded in the 13th century.

Harnaś

Harnaś is a popular Polish beer produced by the Zakłady Piwowarskie w Bielsku-Białej brewery, located in the southern Polish town of Bielsko-Biała. It is a classic lager beer with a rich and malty flavor, brewed with a combination of Pilsen and Munich malts and Saaz and Lubelski hops. Harnaś has a moderate ABV of 5.2% and is known for its smooth and clean finish. This beer was first produced in 1993 and takes its name from the Harnaś mountain range in the Tatra Mountains, which are a popular destination for hikers and skiers.

Kasztelan

Kasztelan is brewed by Kompania Piwowarska, which is one of the largest breweries in Poland. It is made in the town of Sierpc in north-central Poland. Kasztelan is a classic Polish lager that has a light and refreshing taste. It is brewed using barley malt and hops, and has an alcohol by volume percentage of around 5%. The beer was first introduced in 1993 and quickly gained popularity in Poland. The name “Kasztelan” comes from the Polish word for “castellan,” which is a nobleman who was responsible for the defense of a castle or town.

Książęce

Książęce is brewed by Browar Belgia, which is located in the town of Bielkowo in northern Poland. Książęce is a popular Polish beer that is brewed using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients. It is a classic European-style lager that has a crisp and clean taste. The beer is made using high-quality barley malt and hops, and has an alcohol by volume percentage of around 5%. The beer was first produced in 1993 and has since become one of the most popular beers in Poland. The name “Książęce” means “princely” in Polish and reflects the beer’s high quality and regal heritage.

Piwo Z Grodziska

Piwo Z Grodziska, also known as Grätzer, is brewed by Grodziskie Browar Klasztorny in the town of Grodzisk Wielkopolski in western Poland. Piwo Z Grodziska is a unique beer that is brewed using smoked wheat malt and Saaz hops, which gives it a distinct smoky flavor and aroma. The beer has a light and refreshing taste and has an alcohol by volume percentage of around 4%. Piwo Z Grodziska is a historic beer that has been brewed in Poland since the Middle Ages. The beer was first introduced in the United States in 2014 and has gained a cult following among beer enthusiasts.

Komes

Komes is brewed by Browar Fortuna in the town of Miłosław in western Poland. Komes is a strong, dark beer that has a rich and complex flavor. It is brewed using high-quality barley malt and hops, as well as a special blend of spices and herbs. The beer has an alcohol by volume percentage of around 9%. Komes was first introduced in 2009 and has since won several international awards for its unique flavor and high quality. The name “Komes” is derived from the Slavic word for “count” and reflects the beer’s noble heritage.

Polish beer has a long and rich history, with many types of beer to suit all taste buds. From traditional Polish lagers to specialty brews, Poland has something for all beer lovers. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing lager or a strong Polish beer, there’s a particular brand that will suit your needs. The next time you’re in Poland, be sure to try some of the best Polish beer brands and experience the taste of this delicious beer for yourself!

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