Beers and cheers from ‘The Land of Fields’
Chopin, Curie, Pope John Paul II – all famous names given to the world by that wonderful Central European nation, the Republic of Poland. But this being The Early Whistle, we’re not going to talk about classical music, science or religion – although we could mention Robert Lewandowski (oh look, we did) – but rather lovely, lovely beer.
Poland is in fact the world’s ninth-biggest producer of the stuff, so there’s bound to be a few gems. As there’s quite a settlement of Polish in the UK – and as long as Foster’s is on the shelves – it seemed fertile ground for a taste-test. So without further ado, here’s a rundown of five of their very best.
Lech
Let’s begin with the one I’m most familiar with, and the one that introduced me to Polish beer in the first place. Despite taking on the appearance of a can of 7UP, there’s nothing soft about this drink. It tastes how a carbonated alcoholic beverage should, and is one you could happily pair with any of the entries in our very own Snacks from the Dead. Mark (out of 10) 9
Warka
A light beer but with a very subtle malty aftertaste. Possibly too subtle, which is surprising at 5.2%, but it does the job nonetheless. The fact that the word ‘beer’ is displayed around the top of the can in 20 different languages, means you get a drink and an educational experience rolled into one. All I need to do now is find out which languages they are… 6
Zubr
This is actually the native word for ‘bison’, but it seems every native mammal gets its mug on the can now, be it a wolf, bear or lynx. Ever so slightly flat and, at 6%, a bit stronger than most of the rest, it’s almost got a taste of its own. If you’re a fan of lighter, more modern lagers then this probably isn’t for you, but if you’re after more than just liquid refreshment, look no further. 7
Tyskie
Possibly the most familiar Polish beer to Brits, as a trip to your local Wetherspoon will confirm. It’s easy to taste why, as it has all the hallmarks of a classic lager, and is one of those annoying smart-arses that’s good at everything it does, be it on draught, by the can, or bottle. 8
Perla
Perla by name and a pearler by nature? This being a pilsner, it’s solid and reliable without being spectacular, so not quite. That also means it’s going to be on the stronger side, and it matches Zubr in the percentage stakes whilst, dare I say, is probably a bigger hit with the young guns that frequent the Warsaw nightspots. 7
So for my money, the winner of this Polish poll is Lech, but which one are your zlotys on? Let us know in the comments below.
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