Beer in Poland has been brewed for well over a thousand years and has a significant history of tradition and commercial beer production. Poland is Europe's third largest beer producer, producing 36.9 million hectolitres, coming after the United Kingdom with 49.5 million hl and neighboring Germany with 103 million hl. [1]
Following the Second World War, most breweries were nationalized by the Communist Government of the Polish People's Republic. After the collapse of communism and return to capitalism, the market economy returned, 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.
Beer from small regional breweries, grouped in the Association of Polish Regional Breweries (Stowarzyszenie Regionalnych Browarów Polskich), crafts, contracted breweries and brewpubs has become very popular and desired by consumers.
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]
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] Many multitap 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. In 2017 the number of breweries in Poland exceeded 200.
Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer, than larger "macro" breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, new flavours, and varied brewing techniques.
Żywiec Brewery is one of the largest breweries and beer producers in Poland. Founded in 1856 in the town of Żywiec, the brewery manufactures pale lager with a 5.5% alcohol volume. Grupa Żywiec S.A. consists of five main breweries: Żywiec Brewery, Elbrewery, Leżajsk, Warka Brewery and Browar Namysłów. Currently, the Dutch Heineken Group, with a 99% shareholding, has control over its major operations. The brewery has the capacity of producing 5 million hls a year, making it the largest brewery in Grupa Żywiec.
Tyskie is a Polish brand of beer. Its name comes from the brewery located in the Upper Silesian town of Tychy. It is brewed by the Tychy Princely Brewery, part of the Kompania Piwowarska brewery group, which was acquired by Asahi Group Holdings in 2017.
Kompania Piwowarska is a Polish brewing group based in Poznań, established in 1999. Since 2017 it has been owned by Asahi Breweries. Kompania Piwowarska currently has three breweries: Lech Browary Wielkopolski in Poznań, Tyskie Browary Książęce in Tychy and Browar Dojlidy in Białystok. Tyskie Browary Książęce, one of the oldest breweries in Europe, was founded in 1629.
The Elbląg Brewery is a major brewery in Elbląg, Poland. It belongs to the Żywiec Group.
Royal Unibrew is a brewing and beverage company headquartered in Faxe, Denmark. Its brands include Ceres, Faxe, Albani, Thor, Karlens and Royal. Royal Unibrew also has a strong presence in the Baltic region, where it owns Vilniaus Tauras, Kalnapilis, and Lāčplēša Alus. As of 2018 it owns the brewery in France that produces the Lorina soft drink brand. It also brews and markets Heineken and Pepsi in Denmark.
Dojlidy Brewery is a brewery located in Białystok, Poland, and owned by Kompania Piwowarska SA, the Polish subsidiary of Asahi Breweries. The brewery was modernized between 1997 and 1999, then in 2003 it was purchased by Kompania Piwowarska SA. The Dojlidy Brewery used to make many different brands of beer, after being bought by Kompania Piwowarska S.A. their main product is Żubr. Żubr is one of the most popular beers in Poland and is also on sale throughout Europe.
Beer in the United Kingdom has a long history, and has quite distinct traditions. Historically the main styles were top-fermented Bitters, Porters, Stouts and Milds, but after World War II lagers took over half the market by volume. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was founded in 1971 and has encouraged the preservation and revival of traditional styles of ale. In particular CAMRA has promoted cask conditioned beer, which completes its maturation in casks in the cellar of the pub rather than at the brewery. As of 2014 the UK drank 634 million imperial pints of cask ale, representing 60% of ale in pubs and restaurants and 17% of all beer in pubs. In total 42.42 million hectolitres of beer were produced in 2013 of which 48% was sold in the off-trade.
Okocim Brewery, in Brzesko in southeastern Poland, is a brewery founded in 1845.
Haberbusch i Schiele was a Warsaw-based brewery holding created in 1846. By the end of 19th century, the company had grown to become the largest beer producer in Warsaw and one of the largest in Poland. Destroyed in the Warsaw Uprising during World War II, the brewery was then nationalized by the communist authorities of Poland and partially rebuilt for the Browary Warszawskie company.
Carlsberg Polska is the Polish subsidiary of the Danish multinational brewing company Carlsberg. Carlsberg has 1/3 control of the Okocim Group, which included the Okocim Brewery, in 2004.
Brewpole B.V. is a defunct company. It was a Dutch holding company for Polish breweries founded in March 1993. During the period from March 1993 through December 1997, Brewpole acquired controlling shareholdings in four leading Polish breweries: Elbrewery, Heveliusz, Warka and Lezajsk. The combined market share of the Brewpole Group in 1998 was 28%. Brands within the Brewpole Group included EB, Hevelius, Warka, Warka Strong, Lezajsk, Specjal, Gdanskie and Kaper.
The Leżajsk Brewery is one of Poland's oldest breweries and belongs to the Żywiec Group. Żywiec Group has four main breweries: Żywiec Brewery, Elbrewery, Leżajsk Brewery, and Warka Brewery, and is majority owned by the Dutch Heineken Group. The brewery is located in the historic downtown of Leżajsk.
The Warka Brewery is one of Poland's oldest breweries and belongs to the Żywiec Group. Żywiec Group has four main breweries: Żywiec Brewery, Elbrewery, Leżajsk Brewery and Warka Brewery, and is majority owned by the Dutch Heineken Group. The brewery is in the historic center of Warka, Poland.
The Browar Łomża is Poland's fourth largest brewery. Browar Łomża Sp. z o.o. launched the plant in 1968. In 2007, it was purchased by Royal Unibrew. In 2011, it was sold to Polish Brewery Van Pur of Warsaw. The Browar Łomża brewery is located in Łomża, Poland.
The Cieszyn Brewery is a historic brewery in Poland and belongs to the Felix Investments. It is the longest continuously operating brewery in Poland. The brewery is located in the border town of Cieszyn, on the Castle Hill in the Classicist palace.
Browar Van Pur is a limited liability company based in Poland. The company operates 5 breweries in Jędrzejów, Koszalin, Łomża, Rakszawa and Zabrze. The headquarters of Van Pur is located in Warsaw.
Browar Jędrzejów is a brewery in Jędrzejów, Poland. It is currently owned by Van Pur. It is well known for its Strzelec brand, which translates into Sagittarius.
Browar Koszalin is a brewery in Koszalin, Poland that is located in a Neo-Gothic building, built in the second half of the nineteenth century, that brews BROK beer. It belongs to the Van Pur brewery conglomerate.
The Upper Silesia Brewery, also called Browary Górnośląskie w Zabrzu, is a brewery in Zabrze, Poland, owned by the Van Pur brewery conglomerate.