Polish beers began to appear in the UK in greater numbers already at the beginning of the 21st century. . So are Polish beers different from British beers? Yes, and the main difference is ... the alcohol content - Polish drinks are stronger and it is apparently the "power" of the golden drink that Poles in the UK longed for. As it turned out, however, also the native inhabitants of Great Britain quickly appreciated the artistry of Polish brewing and took a liking to some beers native to the Vistula River.
So which Polish beers have managed to occupy a comfortable place in the UK market? Please see our small list below, inspired by the most-bought and rated items.
TYSKIE BEER
Tyskie, which belongs to the Kompania Piwowarska concern, is an absolute Polish favorite on the foreign market - including the British one. It is probably the most recognizable Polish beer in the UK, and thanks to its popularity in 2014, it was even included in the top 10 World Beer Ranking, which includes the best-selling foreign beers in the entire UK. Indeed, it is not difficult to find Tyskie, be it in a local shop or in large Tesco hypermarkets. The British appreciated its taste and ... the aforementioned strength, exceeding 5% alcohol content. Interestingly, when a version of beer with a reduced alcohol content was released to the British market more "adapted" to the local consumer, it was met with great dissatisfaction ... of the British themselves.
BEER ZUBR
Another beer that has gained recognition in the UK is the Polish lager with the image of the king of the Białowieża Forest. Żubr, next to Tyskie, is one of the most-bought Polish beers on the British Amazon website. They were appreciated for their unique taste and - as in the case of Tyskie - for "power".
OKOCIM BEER
A Polish beer brand owned by the Danish Carlsberg brewing concern, which certainly facilitates its distribution in Western Europe. In Great Britain, this Polish lager tempts with its 5.6% alcohol content, which once again confirms the theory that stronger beers appeal to not only Polish immigrants. Interestingly, some liquor stores in the UK also sell collectible mugs with the Okocim beer logo.
BEER LOMZA EXPORT
As you can see, the name of the export Łomża, a brand from the Polish brewing company Van Pur, fulfills its task because it is a beer that is recognized abroad - also in Great Britain. It is another "strong" Polish proposition, appreciated by consumers for its fresh and balanced taste and the right amount of gas. Interestingly, Łomża Export is often associated in the UK as "European beer", and as practice shows - there are plenty of supporters of golden drinks produced on the Old Continent in the UK.
PREMIUM LAGER KARPACKIE BEER
Although Karpackie Premium (from Van Pur, like Łomża) is not the most popular beer in Poland itself, it easily found its supporters in Great Britain. Consumers associate it as "real, continental beer", and many beer drinkers compare it to traditional (and highly liked) Czech and German beers.
WARKA STRONG BEER
Strong, dark beer, which also won the recognition of British beer lovers. It is a bit more difficult to access than the popular Tyskie or Łomża, but where it appears, it does not stay on the store shelf for long. Consumers liked (again) the great power of Warka, which perfectly matches the delicate and not bitter taste of the drink.
HALNE BEER STRONG
As the name suggests, a fairly strong (especially for British conditions) lager proposition with 7% alcohol content, also being a proposition from Van Pur. Considered as "real Polish beer" with a good and deep taste, which, according to some buyers, is missing from British beers. As you can see, there is quite a large group of supporters of strong beers with a continental soul ...
LECH PREMIUM LAGER BEER
Lech Premium is another, after Tyskie, offer from Kompania Piwowarska, which is easy to find in British stores. A Polish classic, which - like other lagers - is appreciated for its taste and alcohol content exceeding 5%. Interestingly, in the case of Lech, it was also combined with the distribution of a slightly weaker version of beer and again… British beer lovers did not like it.
PIWO ŁOMŻA LEMON RADLER
Despite the disclosure of a large group of lovers of stronger beer, many people in Great Britain still choose more delicate items. But here too Polish items can cope, which has been proved by the Van Pur brewing company: one of the eagerly bought and appreciated Polish products is Łomża Lemon Radler (2% alcohol content), appreciated for its refreshing lemon flavor.
ŁOMŻA BEER WITHOUT ALCOHOL
In this case, departing from the stereotype of a strong Polish lager is almost drastic, but the non-alcoholic offer from Van Pur also gained recognition in the UK. Consumers like not only the taste (assessed as better than their British non-alcoholic counterparts) but also… the "optimal" capacity of the can, amounting to 440 ml.
As you can see, both Polish classics and even less popular or "weaker percentage" items can find their supporters in Great Britain, not only among Poles themselves but also among other inhabitants of the Islands. And although many importers of Polish beers are certainly based on a solid target group of "strong continental beer" enthusiasts, as you can see, it is sometimes worth diversifying the offer, because Polish offers can show what they can do in the segment of weaker and non-alcoholic beers.
If you are interested in placing an order for the best Polish breweries, please contact us and we will prepare an optimal offer for you.