A holiday invented by beer lovers
Most beer styles never get their own day. Baltic Porter has one — and it's proudly Polish-made. Baltic Porter Day grew out of the portery.pl blog, whose author loved the style so much he decided it deserved its own celebration. The first edition took place on 16 January 2016 (as the Baltic Porter Festival, soon renamed to give it an international reach), and it's been held on the third Saturday of January ever since.
The date was picked on purpose: deep winter is Baltic Porter season, and mid-January sits far enough from other beer events to own the calendar. It worked. What started as a Polish idea was celebrated in 15 countries on three continents by 2024 — with breweries releasing special one-off porters, and pubs hosting tastings, panels and homebrewing shows.
Why Baltic Porter is Poland's treasure
Porter was born in early 18th-century London and exported around the world — including to the ports of the Baltic Sea. Local brewers made it their own, fermenting it cold like a lager and brewing it strong to survive the northern winters. The result is the Baltic Porter: dark, smooth and warming, with notes of dark fruit, chocolate and gentle roast.
Classic Polish examples sit at 20–22° Plato and 7–10% alcohol, and imperial versions go well past 30° Plato. While IPA dominates the modern scene, Polish craft Baltic Porters regularly win medals at international competitions — brewers abroad genuinely treat the style as a Polish national treasure. If you want the full background, read our guide to Polish beer styles.
How to celebrate
The tradition is simple: drink a Baltic Porter on the day. Bars and multitaps across Poland put them on tap — many brewers prepare special editions released just for the occasion, from classic takes to versions aged on bison grass, smoked pear or chili. Check the tap lists of your local multitaps a few days ahead; most publish live on ontap.pl.
Drinking it properly helps too. Take it slightly warmer than fridge temperature, in a glass with some room for aroma, and give it time — a good Baltic Porter opens up as it warms. It pairs beautifully with chocolate desserts, blue cheese and slow winter evenings.
Celebrating in Gdańsk or Warsaw?
Both cities go all in. In Gdańsk, the Old Town multitaps line up special porters within walking distance of each other; in Warsaw, the Nowogrodzka pub street does the same. And if you'd rather understand what you're drinking than just drink it, our fun and friendly local beer guides run tastings and tours in both cities — Baltic Porter included.
Common questions
When is Baltic Porter Day?
Baltic Porter Day is celebrated every year on the third Saturday of January. The next edition falls on 16 January 2027.
What is a Baltic Porter?
Baltic Porter is a strong, dark beer style from the Baltic Sea region. Unlike English and American porters, it is bottom-fermented. Classic examples have 20–22° Plato and 7–10% alcohol, with flavours of dark fruit, chocolate and gentle roast.
Where can I celebrate Baltic Porter Day in Poland?
Craft beer bars and multitaps across Poland put Baltic Porters on tap for the day, and breweries release special one-off editions. In Gdańsk and Warsaw, check the tap lists of the multitap bars a few days ahead — many publish them live on ontap.pl.
Rather have someone show you?
Our Tastings pour 6 Polish craft beers in 1.5 h at one venue; our Tours cover 2–3 venues over 2.5 h with more samples and snacks. A fun and friendly local beer guide handles everything — in Gdańsk or Warsaw.