Stary Krakow Amber Ale
Browar Stary Kraków

Purchased this at a liquor store in Krakow, Poland for 3.7pln based solely on the cool dragon on the front "Smocza Gtowa"

Not really knowing what I was going to get I was happy to see the nice amber color with a 1/2in off-white head when I pour this into my handy hotel room pint glass. This beer had a bit of a roasted malt smell with hints of some sweetness, maybe hazelnut. This had a smooth taste with a light nutty finish. Very pleased with the randomness of my decision to purchase this brew as it was the best of what I had in Poland.

Purchased 500ml special edition bottle at a Beers of the World store in the Kazimierz district in Krakow, Poland. June 2006.
Limited edition bottle in celebration of the city's 750th anniversary. Same Stary Krakow label but with bold '750 Lat' printed across the center. Because I can't read any of the Polish discription, this beer was a opened as a complete surprise. I enjoyed my way through this gem while watching the Poland/Germany Euro Cup match.

Pours a transparent firey amber colour, fine level of head. Not bad looking. First sniff - wow, hops? What, hops? In a Euro amber? Indeed...plenty of fresh, lightly resiny hops, I think I can even detect some wheat, certainly some pale malts. Smells like an APA. A very clingy, metallic taste. Finely balanced with some edge. Slight bitterness on the front of the tongue. A really chalky, mineral rich water; gives it fair bit of boldness. Medium bodied with a lot of mineral in the mouthfeel. Good deal of crystal/amber malt under the hops. I'd place it high for an amber.
This was like a (slightly) watered down, experimental rough print at an American Pale Ale. I found it a great offering, an attempt met with considerable success. One of my favourite of my Poland trip.