Polish Amber Ale & Czech Polotmavy

I've had exactly one Polish beer in my life. Served in a mug, it was a Pils and I thought it was really, really good. Good Eastern Euro take on the style. A little foamy, but it was tasty. Sorry, but I don't remember the name. But it was fairly cold and in a mug. Typical Euro Pils, but I was impressed. Had it on my Last Trip to Tulsa. I am partial to Czechs, also. The girls are world-class and the beer is divine.

 

I'd like to name the beer I had, zid. But in all honesty, I can't. I was dating a gorgeous Polish-American girl at the time, and we went to a Polish festival and before you know it we were eating sausages and drankin' beer. Somebody scored sum Polish beer, It was pretty dam good. Zywiec does ring a bell, tho. Perhaps that could have been it?

 

Polish can't do beer. Fact

 

The other Polish import brand commonly found in the US over the years has been Okocim (now a Carlsberg brewery). Okocim has sometimes been called "O.K. Beer" and "Stawski's Beer" - the latter after the one time Chicago importer. They apparently lost the rights (probably after the Carlsberg take-over) and now have a different "Stawski" brand contract-brewed for them.

Both Zywiec and Okocim have marketed their high ABV porters in the US (and usually at a bargain price, as well) but they have come and gone from the market frequently. Pretty sure Zywiec Porter is again avialable in the US.

Besides, Stawski aother major importer of Polish (and other eastern Euro) beers is Amtec. Lots of those beers available in little liquors stores in Polish neighbors in (former) factory towns all over the northeast and midwest.

 

I beg to differ. Fritz Briem puts out a piwo grodziskie which is a polish beer and it was well done. Polish in style and origins.

 

You obviously have never had Okocim baltic porter, Zywiec BP or Big Boss porter. Get out of your comfort zone. Fact.

 

I've had these. They were both decent and seemed on the higher gravity side of a pils (~6%). Green bottle must have been kept well because it was not light struck.
Wyborowe
Browar Łomża


Perla Chmielowa
Perła–Browary Lubelskie S.A

 

I've usually liked most of the Polish beers I've had. The darker ones seem to suffer (at least on my palate) from too much diacetyl, but I'll never say no to a bottle of Black Boss or Zywiek porter.

 

I can get Zywiec porter and Big Boss porter at Total Wine stores, but, sadly, no Okocim, which IMO, is the best porter of the three.

 

This thread pleases me. Except for the guy who doesn't know what a fact is. I have had all the above except the Grodziskie that was mentioned. Are any Grodziskies easily available around Mass/CT?

 

Me too and your handle is sweet.

I can't remember a majority of the beers I had while traveling around Poland in 09 but I was impressed with almost all of them. Most were region specific and fresh. Only one to avoid in my opinion is Tyskie.

 

This may not be a direct match for Grodziskie/Gratzer but it's pretty close: http://www.sheltonbrothers.com/beers/freigeist-abraxxxas/
It's a smoked Berliner Weiss with some tartness. You should be able to find it in Mass.

 

^^^This is good to know. Thanks for the info Seacaost.... Thanks Polishkaz, I enjoy my handle as well.....

 

You will soon be able to purchase a Grodziskie (Gratzer) as part of the Sam Adams Longshot 6-pack:

“Cesar Marron’s Gratzer is a light, Polish smoked wheat beer that packs a punch of smoky sweet flavor from the heirloom smoked malt used and spicy and herbal notes from Saaz hops. This beer draws its inspiration from Cesar’s fond interest in the unusual, yet traditional, Polish smoked style.”

Cheers!

 

Did you check here?:
http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/polbrew.htm

(Edited)

 

I picked up a bottle of Harpoon's Polskie Mastne and found it so congenial that I've been periodically buying more; at my neighborhood packy I think I'm the only one buying it. (I think the person who entered it on this site misread the label, which, as I recall, uses "old ale" as a descriptive term rather than to denote style.)

I'm waiting for Notch Brewing to put out another iteration of their Polotmavy, which was very good but gone all too soon.

 

Interesting thread. We are planning a trip to Poland next year so I'm interested in hearing about the styles.

 

Okocim is O.K. beer