Zywiec Porter
Zywiec Breweries PLC (Heineken)


- From:
- Zywiec Breweries PLC (Heineken)
- Poland
- Style:
- Baltic Porter
Ranked #153 - ABV:
- 9.5%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #20,362 - Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 12.53%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 511
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 24, 2026
- Added:
- Nov 01, 2001
- Wants:
- 51
- Gots:
- 146
Dark, porter-type beer was brewed in Żywiec as early as 1881. It owes its intense color and clear flavor to four types of malt.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by dafla67:
Rated by dafla67 from Pennsylvania
3.83/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aug 22, 2025
3.83/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aug 22, 2025
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Spankyrightus from Maryland
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 500ml bottle into a stemless snifter.
Ample head with high clarity and a collar that produces some light lacing. A fairly robust Porter at 9.5%.
Roasted malt on the nose and palate. Caramelized malt dominates. Robust, creamy and substantial roasted flavors are very enjoyable. Notes of vanilla, molasses add interest.
A somewhat complex and interesting Porter that is very satisfying.
Mar 21, 2026Ample head with high clarity and a collar that produces some light lacing. A fairly robust Porter at 9.5%.
Roasted malt on the nose and palate. Caramelized malt dominates. Robust, creamy and substantial roasted flavors are very enjoyable. Notes of vanilla, molasses add interest.
A somewhat complex and interesting Porter that is very satisfying.
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota
3.92/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A - A dark body, deep brown, toward black, with some transparency around the edge and opacity in the center. The head is light tan, pretty quick to fade, and minimal lacing.
S - Strong hits of malty sweetness and alcohol warmth, licorice and chocolate highlights. A bit sharp, honestly, but with a lot of interesting notes.
T - Very direct malt core, roasted, with vanilla and dark bread predominating, strengthening doughy bread and molasses in the middle, and a sharper bitter bite of roasted malts, suggesting a bit of char smokiness, over alcohol warmth in the finish.
M - Moderate weight for the ABV, very strong carbonation for the style, alcohol warmth, and a lingering prickliness in the finish.
O - A big burly brew, with a lot of great flavor. The feel is a bit sharp, and so I cannot imagine adding this into the regular rotation, but I am glad I picked one up.
Feb 15, 2026S - Strong hits of malty sweetness and alcohol warmth, licorice and chocolate highlights. A bit sharp, honestly, but with a lot of interesting notes.
T - Very direct malt core, roasted, with vanilla and dark bread predominating, strengthening doughy bread and molasses in the middle, and a sharper bitter bite of roasted malts, suggesting a bit of char smokiness, over alcohol warmth in the finish.
M - Moderate weight for the ABV, very strong carbonation for the style, alcohol warmth, and a lingering prickliness in the finish.
O - A big burly brew, with a lot of great flavor. The feel is a bit sharp, and so I cannot imagine adding this into the regular rotation, but I am glad I picked one up.
Reviewed by LoftusTheBeerEngineer from Wisconsin
2.78/5 rDev -28.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.78/5 rDev -28.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Smells like licorice, sherry, dried grape...ooh ho... This is not what I expect in a porter or even a Baltic parlor which I have scored another in this style very high
Taste:
It's very sweet... It's quite oxidized... I think these are off flavors And if they're intentionally just don't fit my palate... The taste is Quite busy... This is the fourth porter I've had today and this is one is the least Delicious according to my pallet...
Feel: is very heavy...9.5%. feels very burdensome.. Baltic Porter? hmm This one Is very heavy... I'm at 48° and I'm waiting for it to open up I'm afraid it might be a shit show When it does and I need to check the date, I keep tasting these oxidative notes that are not what I expect... maybe in a stout at an imperial level. I loved third space Baltic Porter... And I now understand as far as Baltic porters go they can be greatly different.... To me this isn't beer.... It's more of a barley wine which is not even good wine to me... Not what I expected... I poured More than 16 oz down the drain... This was not enjoyable for me
Feb 04, 2026Taste:
It's very sweet... It's quite oxidized... I think these are off flavors And if they're intentionally just don't fit my palate... The taste is Quite busy... This is the fourth porter I've had today and this is one is the least Delicious according to my pallet...
Feel: is very heavy...9.5%. feels very burdensome.. Baltic Porter? hmm This one Is very heavy... I'm at 48° and I'm waiting for it to open up I'm afraid it might be a shit show When it does and I need to check the date, I keep tasting these oxidative notes that are not what I expect... maybe in a stout at an imperial level. I loved third space Baltic Porter... And I now understand as far as Baltic porters go they can be greatly different.... To me this isn't beer.... It's more of a barley wine which is not even good wine to me... Not what I expected... I poured More than 16 oz down the drain... This was not enjoyable for me
Reviewed by Dan2213 from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A dark pour leaves minimal off white head. Smells is roasty and sweet with a bit of licorice. Taste follows, with hints of coffee. It's remarkably smooth for the ABV. Only a touch of heat. A very fine porter I'm glad I tried.
Feb 01, 2026Reviewed by Some_Beer_Sometimes from California
3.78/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Surprisingly smooth at 9.5% abv. Still lots of apples, just like their standard lager. Coffee and chocolate with red fruits resembling cherry and raspberry. Bit of molasses. Fresh spring water minerals. Comparable to Samuel Smith Imperial Stout. This is a bit better.
Jan 21, 2026Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.73/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Międzyzdroje 20/7 2019. 50 cl bottle from Restaurant La Spezia. Black and golden label. A big Crown and the year 1881 in gold on Black background.
Pours clear opaque dark brown with a big light beige head. Settles as 4 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Crawling up the sides of the glass. Substantial lacing.
Aroma is medium intense, dark and sweet. Caramel, brown sugar, dry Tobacco, coffee, dark chocolate. Sour notes and hints of lightly roasted malts.
Light carbonation. Medium thick, soft, oily, creamy texture.
Flavor is heavy sweet followed by a medium coffee bitterness. Aftertaste is sweetish with a strong bitter twist. Lingering. Light Alcoholic burn.
Robust, creamy, solid porter with a healthy ABV.
Sep 30, 2025Pours clear opaque dark brown with a big light beige head. Settles as 4 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Crawling up the sides of the glass. Substantial lacing.
Aroma is medium intense, dark and sweet. Caramel, brown sugar, dry Tobacco, coffee, dark chocolate. Sour notes and hints of lightly roasted malts.
Light carbonation. Medium thick, soft, oily, creamy texture.
Flavor is heavy sweet followed by a medium coffee bitterness. Aftertaste is sweetish with a strong bitter twist. Lingering. Light Alcoholic burn.
Robust, creamy, solid porter with a healthy ABV.
Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark brown with a 1/2F tan head and light lacing.
Smells and tastes of toasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate with a lightly bitter, boozy warm finish.
Medium heavy body with light carbonation. Lush syrupy mouthfeel.
This one is a sleeper. I didn't know what to expect but this brew is surprisingly good. Bitter and sweet while not overdoing either. No problem with getting it again.
Sep 12, 2025Smells and tastes of toasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate with a lightly bitter, boozy warm finish.
Medium heavy body with light carbonation. Lush syrupy mouthfeel.
This one is a sleeper. I didn't know what to expect but this brew is surprisingly good. Bitter and sweet while not overdoing either. No problem with getting it again.
Rated by Copper-Still from Illinois
4.83/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.83/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
One of the few beers I buy by the case. Poured into a glass tankard is my preference. Purchased at Binny'y, Rockford, IL, USA
Jun 05, 2025Rated by CoasterRider from Washington
4.39/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Don't remember where or when I had this beer but gave it an excellent rating. Think I may have gotten it at TW&M.
Jun 03, 2025Rated by beervarianmotorworks
4.69/5 rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.69/5 rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Smells like chocolate
Apr 14, 2025
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!