Beer in Poland

Hand-sculpted ceramic beer mug from Dębno, Poland

Following World War II, most breweries were nationalized under the communist regime. After the collapse of the communist regime, a market economy was introduced, international beer companies moved in and a period of consolidation followed. Three companies now control 80% of the Polish beer market (according to data at the end of 2014). At the end of 2013, there were 97 breweries in Poland, including microbreweries and contracted breweries. The most popular Polish beers are Żywiec, Okocim and Tyskie.

Beer from small regional breweries, grouped in the Association of Polish Regional Breweries (Stowarzyszenie Regionalnych Browarów Polskich), crafts, contracted breweries and brewpubs it has become very popular and desired by consumers.

Industry

According to a 2009 Ernst & Young report, Poland is Europe's third largest beer producer. Poland produces 36.9 million hectolitres, coming after the UK with 49.5 million hl and Germany with 103 million hl.[1]

Following consecutive growth in the home market, Związek Pracodawców Przemysłu Piwowarskiego (the Union of the Brewing Industry Employers in Poland), which represents approximately 90% of the Polish beer market, announced during its annual brewing industry conference that consumption of beer in 2008 rose to 94 litres per capita, or 35,624 million hectolitres sold on the domestic market. Statistically, a Polish consumer drinks some 92 litres of beer a year, which places it third behind the Czech Republic and Germany.[2]

In 2009, beer sales paid some PLN 3.097 bn in excise taxes to the Polish government. Total employment due to beer production and sales is 207,900.[3]

Brands and varieties

Żywiec Porter
Various Polish beers in can

Poland is well known for its beer culture and many varieties. Large breweries are majority owned by multinational companies. However, since 2011, craft beer has become more and more popular each year.[4] There are over 40 brewpubs and several dozen craft brewers in Poland nowadays. Many multitap pubs serving only craft beer and dedicated shops have opened since 2012.[5] Craft brewers brew beer in many different styles. In 2014, Polish craft breweries brewed about 500 new brands of beer.

It is majority owned by SAB Miller. It operates three breweries in Poland:

  1. Tychy Brewery
  2. Lech Brewery Wielkopolski
  3. Dojlidy Brewery

Żywiec is 61% owned by Heineken Group. It operates five breweries in Poland:

  1. Żywiec Brewery is one of the most well known brands. It has three varieties: Żywiec, Żywiec Bock, Żywiec Porter.
  2. Elbrewery brews Specjal Jasny Pełny, Specjal Mocny, Warka Gdańskie, and Hevelius Kaper. The "EB" brand is available for export only.
  3. Leżajsk Brewery brews Leżajsk Pełne, Leżajsk Mocne, Podkarpackie, Tatra Jasne Pełne and Tatra Mocne.
  4. Warka Brewery brews Warka, Warka Strong, and Królewskie.
  5. Cieszyn Brewery brews Double IPA, Żywiec Porter, Porter Cieszyński, Brackie, Brackie Mastne.
  1. Okocim Brewery brews Carlsberg, O.K. Beer, Harnaś, Piast, Książ and Karmi.
  2. Kasztelan Brewery brews Kasztelan Jasne Pełne, Kasztelan Mocne and Kasztelan Niepasteryzowane.
  3. Bosman Brewery brews Bosman Full and Bosman Specjal.
  1. Ciechan Brewery
  2. Lwówek Brewery
  3. Bojanowo Brewery
  4. Tenczynek Brewery
  5. Biskupiec Brewery
  1. Van Pur Brewery in Rakszawa brews Van Pur and Karpackie
  2. BROK Brewery in Koszalin BROK and Kowal
  3. Łomża Brewery in Łomża brews Łomża and Dock
  4. Jędrzejów Brewery which brews Strzelec (Sagittarius)
  5. Upper Silesia Brewery in Zabrze brews Śląskie
  1. Browary Lubelskie in Lublin brews Perła and Goolman
  2. Zwierzyniec Brewery

Images of selected breweries

Popular beer types

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ernst & Young - Europe remains world's top beer producer according to Ernst & Young report". Ey.com. 2009-10-08. Archived from the original on 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  2. ↑ "PMR.com - Decline in beer market continues in 2010". Polishmarket.com. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  3. ↑ "Ernst & Young - Contributions to the Beer Market". Brewersofeurope.org. 2009-10-08. Archived from the original on 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  4. ↑ http://www.kpmg.com/PL/pl/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/Documents/2014/Rynek-napojow-alkoholowych-w-Polsce-2014-czesc-I.pdf
  5. ↑ "Craft Beer Places". Polish Craft Beer. Retrieved 2016-01-30.

External links

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