Beer inPoland has been brewed for well over a thousand years and has a significant history of tradition and commercial beer production. Poland isEurope's third largest beer producer, producing 36.9 millionhectolitres, coming after theUnited Kingdom with 49.5 million hl and neighboringGermany with 103 million hl.^[1]

Following theSecond World War, most breweries were nationalized by the Communist Government of thePolish People's Republic. After thecollapse of communism andreturn to capitalism, the market economy returned, international beer companies moved in and a period of consolidation followed. Three companies now control 80% of the Polish beer market (according to data at the end of 2014). At the end of 2013, there were 97 breweries inPoland, includingmicrobreweries and contracted breweries.

Beer from small regional breweries, grouped in the Association of Polish Regional Breweries (Stowarzyszenie Regionalnych Browarów Polskich), crafts, contracted breweries and brewpubs has become very popular and desired by consumers.

According to a 2009Ernst & Young report, Poland is Europe's third largest beer producer. Poland produces 36.9 millionhectolitres, coming after the UK with 49.5 million hl and Germany with 103 million hl.^[1]

Following consecutive growth in the home market, Związek Pracodawców Przemysłu Piwowarskiego (the Union of the Brewing Industry Employers in Poland), which represents approximately 90% of the Polish beer market, announced during its annual brewing industry conference that consumption of beer in 2008 rose to 94 litres per capita, or 35,624 million hectolitres sold on the domestic market. Statistically, a Polish consumer drinks some 92 litres of beer a year, which places it third behind theCzech Republic andGermany.^[2]

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.^[3]

Poland is well known for its beer culture and many varieties. Large breweries are majority owned by multinational companies. However, since 2011, craft beer has become more and more popular each year.^[4] Many multitap serving only craft beer and dedicated shops have opened since 2012.^[5] Craft brewers brew beer in many different styles. In 2014, Polish craft breweries brewed about 500 new brands of beer. In 2017 the number of breweries in Poland exceeded 200.

• Kompania Piwowarska (market share in 2014 - 33%)

It is majority owned byAsahi Breweries. It operates three breweries in Poland:

1. Tychy Brewery
2. Lech Brewery Wielkopolski
3. Dojlidy Brewery

• Grupa Żywiec S.A. (market share in 2014 - 27%)

Żywiec is 61% owned byHeineken Group. It operates six breweries in Poland:

1. Żywiec Brewery is one of the most well known brands. It has three varieties: Żywiec, Żywiec Bock, Żywiec Porter.
2. Elbrewery brews Specjal Jasny Pełny, Hevelius Kaper. The "EB" brand is available for export only.
3. Leżajsk Brewery brews Leżajsk Pełne, Tatra Jasne Pełne and Tatra Mocne.
4. Warka Brewery brews Warka, Warka Strong, and Królewskie.
5. Cieszyn Brewery brews Double IPA, Żywiec Porter, Porter Cieszyński, Brackie, Brackie Mastne.
6. Browar Namysłów brews about 1.7 million hl of beer per year and runs two breweries inNamysłów andBraniewo and under the brands Namyslów, Braniewo, Zamkowe and Kuflowe.^[6]

• Carlsberg Polska (market share in 2014 - 20,5%)

1. Okocim Brewery brews Carlsberg, O.K. Beer, Harnaś, Piast, Książ andKarmi.
2. Kasztelan Brewery brews Kasztelan Jasne Pełne, Kasztelan Mocne and Kasztelan Niepasteryzowane.
3. Bosman Brewery brews Bosman Full and Bosman Specjal.

• Browary Regionalne Jakubiak

1. Ciechan Brewery
2. Lwówek Brewery
3. Bojanowo Brewery Brands : BOJAN, BOJANOWO.
4. Tenczynek Brewery
5. Biskupiec Brewery

• Van Pur

1. Van Pur Brewery inRakszawa brews Van Pur and Karpackie
2. BROK Brewery inKoszalin BROK
3. Łomża Brewery inŁomża brews Łomża
4. Jędrzejów Brewery which brews Strzelec (Sagittarius)
5. Upper Silesia Brewery inZabrze brews Śląskie

• Perła - Browary Lubelskie

1. Browary Lubelskie inLublin brews Perła and Goolman
2. Zwierzyniec Brewery

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  Browar Tyskie
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  Okocim Brewery
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  Browar Łomża
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  Cieszyn Brewery
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  Browar Żywiec
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  Browar Lech
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  Elbrewery
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  Browar Haust inZielona Góra
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  Brewpub Spiż inWrocław
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  Upper Silesia Brewery
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  Traditional open vast fermentation in historicalBojanowo Brewery

• Eurolagers of light, full and high strength. Called 'Piwo jasne lekkie', 'Piwo jasne pełne', 'Piwo jasne mocne'. ABV 3-9% depending on type, these most common beers found in Poland especially from 5%-6% ABV.
• Pilsner.
• Baltic porters, classic style originating from countries surrounding theBaltic Sea, having its roots inporter andstout. Called 'Porter' or 'Piwo ciemne mocne'. Usually of high strength of around 8-10% ABV. Commercial example: Komes Porter Bałtycki, Ciechan Porter, Lwówek Porter, Porter Warmiński, Grand Imperial Porter, Porter Cieszyński, Żywiec Porter, Okocim Porter, Perła Porter, and many others.
• Amber lager styles - Vienna, Marzen, etc.
• Bock styles, mainly Doppelbock. Known as 'Koźlak' as well as 'Bock' in Poland. Commercial examples: Amber Koźlak.

• Beer and breweries by region
• Festival of Good Beer
• Grodziskie
• Mead in Poland
• Polish wine

• Polish beer caps (in Polish and Russian)
• Map of polish craft beer places (brewpubs, multitaps, beer shops)