You don’t need to memorise a list of Polish breweries before ordering a beer. Start with the flavours you already enjoy, then try something you wouldn’t normally choose. Our suggestion? Pick a familiar style, a modern craft beer and something with a distinctly Polish story. Here’s where to start.
For something crisp and familiar → a Polish pilsner
There’s nothing wrong with starting with a lager. A good pilsner offers a crisp finish, some grainy malt flavour and a noticeable hoppy bite. It can be more bitter than a standard international pale lager, so don’t assume a pale colour means a mild taste. BJCP
One to look for: Miłosław Pilzner, brewed by Browar Fortuna. The brewery uses additional hops during fermentation to give it an aromatic, pleasantly bitter character. A straightforward introduction without jumping straight into the strongest beer on the menu. Browar Fortuna
For less bitterness → a wheat beer
If bitterness is what puts you off beer, try a Polish-brewed hefeweizen. This German wheat-beer style typically has a soft, fluffy texture, low bitterness and aromas of banana and clove. (Fun fact: These aromas come from fermentation!) BJCP
One to look for: PINTA Bawarka, a Polish interpretation of the style with the characteristic banana-and-clove aroma. It’s a useful starting point for exploring beer beyond lager without heading towards intense hop bitterness. PINTA
For citrus and a hoppy kick → a Polish IPA
An IPA is where to head when you want bolder hop flavours. American-style IPAs can have citrus, pine, resin or tropical-fruit aromas, usually alongside pronounced bitterness. Importantly, fruity doesn’t necessarily = sweet: an IPA can smell like tropical fruit and still finish dry and bitter. BJCP
One to look for: PINTA Atak Chmielu, an American IPA first brewed in 2011. Its citrusy, resinous character makes it a good reference point for this side of Polish craft brewing. Choose it because you enjoy hops, rather than because you assume craft beer has to mean IPA. PINTA
For something distinctly Polish → Grodziskie
This is the one we’d encourage curious visitors not to skip! Grodziskie originated in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, and its defining ingredient is oak-smoked wheat malt. Expect a pale, light-bodied beer with lively carbonation, a dry finish and a gentle smoky character. It’s quite different from the cloudy, banana-scented wheat beer described above. BJCP
One to look for: Piwo Grodziskie from Browar Grodzisk. At 3.1% ABV, it shows that a beer doesn’t need to be strong to be distinctive. The brewery makes it entirely from oak-smoked wheat malt and referments it in the bottle for that characteristic fizz. Browar Grodzisk
For dark, rich flavours → Baltic porter
If chocolate, toasted malt and dried-fruit flavours sound more appealing than citrus and hops, try a Baltic porter. Our Polish beer styles guide explains its place alongside Grodziskie and Polish hops. This is a strong, dark style with a brewing tradition shared across several countries around the Baltic Sea, including Poland — not an exclusively Polish invention. BJCP
One to look for: Żywiec Porter, a Polish example at 9.5% ABV. That strength makes it a very different proposition from a light lager, so choose a smaller serving where available and take your time. Grupa Żywiec
For a fruit-led alternative → a sour beer
Prefer the idea of cherries or tropical fruit to toasted malt? Consider a fruit sour.
Polish brewery Funky Fluid makes Cherry, a cherry sour, alongside its Gelato range, which includes combinations such as passion fruit, mango and peach. These are examples of contemporary Polish brewing rather than traditional Polish beer styles. Funky Fluid
Ask the bartender whether a particular beer is sharply tart or more dessert-like before ordering. “Fruity” alone doesn’t tell you which experience you’re getting.
So, what should you actually order first?
For a familiar starting point, we’d choose the pilsner or wheat beer. For a more distinctive introduction to Poland’s brewing traditions, we’d make room for Grodziskie and a Baltic porter. You don’t need to work through everything in one evening. Choose contrasting styles, try smaller pours where available and notice what you genuinely enjoy — not what you think you’re supposed to like.
For help choosing, explore our beer Tastings and Tours in Gdańsk and beer Tastings and Tours in Warsaw. They’re a chance to discover Polish beer with a guide, rather than spend the evening guessing from the labels.
“I usually like lager” is plenty of expertise to arrive with.
Rather have someone show you?
Try the styles with context on a guided Tasting or Tour in Gdańsk or Warsaw. Tell your guide what you normally drink and what you prefer to avoid.