Piwa I have Sampled

While in Europe I have had the opportunity to sample different types and brands of the local staple call piwo. Or, as we call it in the States, beer.

(Beer is a generic name for beverages made by fermentation of extracts of cereal grain, particularly barley, or other starchy material. Beer is a beverage known since antiquity and next to wine is probably the oldest of prepared food drinks. In modern times the countries of northern Europe set the style of beer as it appears today. In fact, the words "beer," "brewing," and "lager" are all of German origin.)

Almost every restaurant, pub and café sells piwo on tap as well as in bottles. The ubiquitous Polish beer is a Pilsner. The Czech Republic is the cradle of Pilsner with the name coming from the town of Plzen (Pilsen) in the province of Bohemia. It can be described loosely as any golden-colored, dry, bottom fermenting beer of conventional strength. Now back to Poland.

There are 4 major piwo brands in Krakow. Ranked in my preference are Okocim, Tyskie, Lech and Zywiec. Most places here have only one on tap so they advertise their beer with a sign outside. But since I like to try new things, I would often sample a beer just because it was new to me. So, what follows are the piwa I have sampled over the past 17 months.

Poland:
Okocim
Warka
Lech
Redd’s
Tyskie
Zywiec
Namyslow

England:
Bombardier

Hungary:
Borsodi
Gosser
Dreher Classic

Czech Republic:
Gambrinus
Pilsner Urquell
Primus
Vratislav Premium
Staropramen
Branik
Perta

Holland:
Heineken

Ireland:
Guinness
Murphy’s Irish Stout

Germany:
Hofbrau
Paulaner Hefe-weibier
Hubertus Brau
Berliner
Landskron
Airbrau
Ayinger
Veltins
Andechser Klosterbiere
Duckstein
Beliner Kindl
Franziskaner Weissbier
Schneider Weisse
Schultheiss

Denmark:
Carlsberg