Beer Styles

What does Grodziskie taste like? Straw-colored and clear, with a firm white head that lingers. The oak smoke sits in the background at first and carries through into the finish without being harsh. The beer is light, dry and effervescent, with a fine bitterness that rounds out the smoke and fades quickly after the sip.

How much alcohol does Grodziskie contain? According to the US competition guidelines, the BJCP, the range runs from 2.5 to 3.3 percent ABV with an original gravity of 7.1 to 8.0 degrees Plato. Historically, just over three percent was typical. Modern recreations sometimes exceed this. Original gravity refers to the amount of dissolved malt sugar before fermentation.

What sets Grodziskie apart from wheat beer? Bavarian wheat beer is hazy, fruity with notes of banana and clove, and made from unsmoked malt. Grodziskie stays clear, tastes of smoke, and is noticeably weaker. It's also lighter and livelier than a smoked beer made from barley malt.

Alongside the Grätzer, the region offers an entirely different beer. Lech Premium from Poznań is a pale lager—mild, smooth and highly drinkable—that sells very well in Poland. Beyond sharing the same homeland, it has little in common with the old Grätzer and belongs to the broad family of pale lagers. Construction of the Poznań brewery began in 1975, production started on May 15, 1980, and Lech has been the flagship brand since 1982. Today the brewery belongs to Kompania Piwowarska, which has been owned by the Japanese company Asahi since 2017.