A wise man once said that wherever you go, there you are. I
suppose this is true, but if you’re going to travel the world, even if in a
bottle, one of the most important things you can possibly know is how to
order a beer. Knowing the local name for beer is a big help in that regard,
and knowing the names of a few local brews to ask for couldn’t hurt either.
Fear not, faithful readers, its Bruguru to the rescue! Catchy eh?
Most
of us think of beer as beer. Here in the United States, that is indeed what
it is, though regional accents may seem to beg difference with that
statement. Back in New England, where I was born, beer is correctly
pronounced as bee-yah, much to the consternation and often confusion of our
fellow countrymen. Here in Georgia, it’s usually called bear. In England you
will hear the term beer used, or perhaps ale, bitter, or stout. The word
beer is likely descended from the Latin bibere, the verb to drink. What
better to drink than beer?
The Germans and Austrians use the term Bier, which is almost identical in
pronunciation. A Konig-Pilsner, Warsteiner, or Erdinger might be a Bier you
would order in Germany. The Dutch call Heineken Bier too. In nearby France,
you would ask for biere (bee-yair). Kronenbourg or Fischer are popular
brands here. The Belgians call it that too, and have more of it than you can
possibly imagine. In Italy, birra or bierra (I have seen it both ways) are
what to ask for. Moretti is a good one, especially their exceptional La
Rossa doppelbock.
In Japan, asking for a biru might get you a Kirin or a Sapporo. It’s Biyar
in India, where Gymkhana is a popular brand. Bior in Israel often means
Macabee. It’s Ubhiya in Africa, where N’Goma is popular.
Norway’s Ringnes or Aass beers are called Ol (awl). It’s the same in
Denmark, where Carlsberg is ubiquitous. Sweden and Iceland use the same
term. In Finland you want olut. The Lithuanians call beer alus and are fond
of Utenos Porter, the Estonians use the same term for their Saku brand. The
Spanish speaking world calls beer cerveza, a term in use from Mexico
(Corona, Tecate, Does Equis) down to Brazil’s slight variation of cerveja (Tijuca).
That variation is Portuguese, Brazil’s major tongue, and in the mother
country of Portugal you might find a Unicer or Sagres when looking for
cerveja. The Philippines is a big serbesa drinking country, almost always
San Miguel.
In the Slavic lands, beer is pivo. In Russia, that might mean kvass, not a
brand but a style of beer brewed with rye. The Czechs love their pivo too,
and produce world-class brews the likes of Pilsner-Urquell and Budweiser
Budvar. In Poland, beer is piwo, though the pronunciation is the same.
There, you don’t want to miss Zywiec Porter, a Baltic porter with a
formidable alcohol content of 9.5% by volume.
Baltic Porters like Zywiec’s version are a bit different than most of the
English and American versions you will find. That’s because they are bottom
fermented like lagers; most porters are ales. It’s also much stronger than a
standard porter, and generally more complex. Just before the turn of the
century, the Zywiec brewery was acquired by Holland’s Heineken. The beer is
a steal at its current price; I picked up a half liter bottle for just
$2.49, an incredible bargain.
Zywiec porter pours to a deep, jet -black color with a thick and creamy tan
head and a potent licorice nose. The palate is big and rich, full bodied and
thick as it rolls over the tongue. The palate is packed with strong
suggestions of cocoa, prune, licorice, coffee, and then lingering, warming
strong alcohol in the finish. Tasting notes from seven years ago are
identical to tonight’s tasting, so it’s good to know that Heineken has still
not messed with the recipe.
A great beer to sip on a cold winter evening (or even an unseasonably cool
April one), it is restoring and warms the soul. I don’t recommend it with
food, but it is delightful after a meal, and an effective nightcap just
before bed.
Zywiec Porter truly is a classic example of Poland in a bottle.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler