Zywiec Porter
For years I’ve been told that, if I should ever run into it, I need to definitely check out Zywiec Porter (a company that is majority owned by Heineken). As a huge Baltic Porter fan, it was a no-brainer to buy a few bottles, if only I were available to find it in my area.
Well, the day has arrived. I came across a few bottles of this brew late last month and excitedly grabbed them in a flurry of clinking glass. Would it live up to all the hype from those who have suggested it? Would it be up to snuff when compared to my favorite Baltic, Sinebrychoff Porter?
Yes, and no.
Not the best photo, but you get the idea
Appearance
This porter from Poland pours a dark, dark brown with a mahogany edge. The large mocha head faded slowly and had a decent retention.
Aroma
A combination of lightly roasted malt, chocolate, an earthiness and a touch of dark fruits come together for a pretty nice smelling brew.
Taste
This is a darn tasty brew. It’s got a rich and sweet character with a decent bit of roast going on that presents itself upfront before fading to chocolate and a slight hop bitterness in the lasting finish. It’s not a really robust beer, but does have some nice depth and fullness. It’s a bit on the sweet side for my liking though. The 9.5% ABV is hidden nicely, but don’t worry it’s definitely in there.
Overall
I enjoyed the Zywiec Porter, but when all is said and done, I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on anything over the past couple of years of hearing about the brew. It’s a solid Baltic Porter, but I think there are better ones out there (the Sinebrychoff for instance) that are more readily available to me. That said, it’s still a darn tasty brew that I’m glad I finally got to experience. I can see why folks kept recommending it.
Rating: 4/5