Celebrating their 10th year of life, the Warsaw Beer Festival have unveiled a un-beer-leviable project that crosses craft beer with music…
Celebrating their 10th year of life, the Warsaw Beer Festival have unveiled a un-beer-leviable project that crosses craft beer with music…
A milestone birthday calls for a special celebration. Born ten years ago, the Warsaw Beer Festival will be marking ‘the perfect ten’ by unveiling ten novel beers that will each come supported by their own unique anthem.
“We wanted to do something a bit different,” says festival founder Paweł Leszczyński. “To meet that end we’ve invited ten of our favourite breweries to brew ten unique beers.” Giving these breweries a free rein to interpret this challenge in their own way, the only guidelines were to make the beer connect to Poland in one way or other.
“On top of that,” says Paweł, “we wanted these beers to be enjoyed by everyone – they had to be brewed with not just the beer geek in mind, but also the more casual beer fan. I hope the results speak for themselves, but I’m certain we’ve got ten beers that all will find incredibly drinkable.”
Birbant
“Birbant began life as a brewery the same year the beer festival was created,” says Paweł. “They introduced a Black IPA made with American hops. This time, they’ve remade this beer but also using Polish hops.” Twinned with this beer, continues Paweł, will be “a dark tune” created by DJ Anusz.
Dziki Wschód
Using traditional, new wave and experimental Polish hops, we’re promised a light, everyday beer that’s “dressed in modern clothes”. Grypsy$Gypsy provides the accompanying sound.
Funky Fluid
Insider favourite Funky Fluid have taken the number 10 to heart and brewed this New England IPA using ten varieties of hops. “We’re taking you on a journey through the various hops that we use in the most popular styles featured in the beer revolution,” say the brewers. The musical journey, meanwhile, has been overseen by DJ Rockpoll
Genys
A foreign signing, and what a super star this is. Known as Lithuania’s best craft brewery, the Genys team visited the first edition of the WBF before their brand was even born. “It’s great to welcome these guys back now they have their own brewery,” says Paweł. To drink, they’ve created their take on what beer geeks sometimes call ‘Polish Champagne’: Grodziskie beer. As for the music track, that’s supplied by co-owner and DJ, Lauris Lee.
Browar Kazimierz
“This brewery created an award-winning Baltic Porter, announced as the Best Craft 2023,” says Paweł. “What they’ve done is scale down its alcohol content so that you can start or finish your day with a sip of this light beer – it’s 6% as opposed to the usual 9% or so!” Find it twinned with music by Błażej Grygiel, where “ethno meets d’n’b and together they go exploring the concrete jungle”. For the ultimate souvenir, the track will be available on a retro cassette tape so that you can listen to it on your treasured Walkman!
Browar Markowy
Brewed in cooperation with the fab Same Krafty pub, this is Markowy’s first ever fruity sour. “We wanted it to have a regional and Polish accent,” they say, “and since there are many blackcurrant plantations close to us we opted for this fruit.” DJ Gustavo Mordeaux provides the musical accompaniment.
NEPO
Intensely hopped and touting the addition of pine needles, NEPO have brewed a complex beer that, they say, “combines fruit notes such as mandarin, orange, red grapefruit, lime, blackberry, peach, apricot, pear,” with exotic background notes of coconut, pineapple and mango. “On the finish,” they add, “we have the taste and aroma of spruce and pine needles.” As for the music, that’s come courtesy of the Warsaw Jungle Massive and the owner of the Stan Umysłu craft beer store.
Piwne Podziemie
“Pink and delicious,” say the brewery, and if it drinks as beautifully as it sounds then you’re in for a treat. Describing their tipple as “a hop and fruit bomb”, this juicy NEIPA has been made with a blend of strawberry, beetroot, cheery, blueberry, blackcurrant, raspberry and pomegranate, as well as a series of red fruit flavoured hops. The sound comes from brewery owner Darek Piecuch.
ReCraft
“They have a brilliant IPA series, and this one looks set to have the same brilliant taste only with less percentage,” says Paweł. Encapsulating the magic of Polish hops, the masterminds behind this brew are sure you’ll be returning for more! Music: Cez14.
Browar Tarnobrzeg
“Intriguing,” say the brewers, and we’re not going to argue. Expect to find a beer brewed in the Hefeweizen style, only with the addition of Physalis. “In order to add some fireworks,” say the brewery, “we went crazy and added gold glitter to the beer!” Music comes from festival favourite micemerve, a Turkish DJ recognisable for her pink hair and mouse ears!
BLOCK THE DATE
What: 17th Warsaw Beer Festival
Where: Legia Stadium (Łazienkowska 3)
When: March 21st to March 23rd
Tickets: available online from PLN 25 (single-day pass) to PLN 45 (three-day). Premium and super premium packages also available from PLN 90.
