- Beer in Poland
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Beer in Poland has always been important for the Poles. There are 70 breweries in Poland (including 27 microbreweries). Most breweries in Poland are named after the city in which they were founded. Following World War II, after centuries of financial independence, most breweries were nationalized under the communist regime. After the collapse of the Soviet empire, market economy was introduced and many international beer companies moved in, and a period of consolidation followed. Poland might be considered a beer market with a high degree of enterprise concentration: three companies control 86% of the market share.[1] Some traditional Polish beers (Polish: piwo) are Tyskie, Warka, Żywiec, and Okocim although Polish tastes have greatly expanded, as shown in the introduction of porters and flavored beers (like the Karmi brand from Okocim).
Contents
Industry
According to a 2009 Ernst & Young report, Poland is Europe's third largest beer producer: Germany with 103 million hectolitres, UK with 49.5 million hl, Poland with 36.9 million hl and Spain with 33.4 million hl[2]. Following consecutive growth in the home market, Związek Pracodawców Przemysłu Piwowarskiego (Union of the Brewing Industry Employers in Poland), which represents approximately 90% of the Polish beer market, announced during the annual brewing industry conference that consumption of beer in 2008 rose to 94 litres per capita, or 35,624 million hectolitres sold on domestic market. Statistically, a Polish consumer drinks some 92 litres of beer a year, which places it a third behind Czech Republic and Germany [3].
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 [4].
Varieties
Poland is well known for its beer culture and many varieties. Many breweries are majority owned by multinational companies.
- Kompania Piwowarska controls 45% of the Polish beer market.[5] It is majority owned by SAB Miller. Its flagship brands include Tyskie, Lech and, from the Dojlidy brewary, Żubr.
- Grupa Żywiec S.A. controls 35% of the market[6]. Żywiec is 61% owned by Heineken Group. It operates five major breweries in Poland:
- Żywiec Brewery is one of the most well known brands. It has three varieties: Żywiec Full, Żywiec Porter, and Żywiec Light
- Elbrewery brews Specjal Jasny Pełny, Specjal Mocny, Warka Gdańskie, and Hevelius Kaper. The "EB" brand is available for export only.
- Leżajsk Brewery brews Leżajsk Pełne, Leżajsk Mocne, Podkarpackie, Tatra Jasne Pełne and Tatra Mocne.
- Warka Brewery brews Warka, Strong, and Królewskie.
- Cieszyn Brewery brews Żywiec Porter and Brackie.
- Carlsberg Polska owns 14% of the Polish beer market[7].
- Okocim Brewery brews Carlsberg, O.K. Beer, Harnas, Signature, Mocne, and Karmi.
- Kasztelan Brewery brews Kasztelan Jasne Pełne, Kasztelan Mocne and Kasztelan Niepasteryzowane.
- Bosman Brewery brews Bosman Full and Bosman Specjal.
- Łomża Brewery is the fourth largest, but significantly smaller, brewery in Poland. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Royal Unibrew. It has three brews: full, mocne, and niepasteryzowane.
Selected breweries
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Bosman Browar, Szczecin
See also
- Category:Beer and breweries in Poland
References
- ^ Ernst & Young - THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY BEER TO THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY
- ^ Ernst & Young - Europe remains world’s top beer producer according to Ernst & Young report
- ^ PMR.com - Decline in beer market continues in 2010
- ^ Ernst & Young - Contributions to the Beer Market
- ^ SABMiller News & Media
- ^ PMR.com Carlsberg Grupa Zywiec results reflect condition of Polish beer market
- ^ Carlsberg - Poland
External links
- Polish beer caps (in Polish and Russian)
Beers of the world Africa Asia Europe Americas Oceania Beer and breweries by region · List of countries by beer consumption per capita · Alcohol belts of EuropeCategories:- Beer and breweries in Poland
- Economy of Poland
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