Beer # 35 Żywiec

Howdy Sportsfans! Today is St. David's Day so I am celebrating by Catching up on a few reviews I have started and a new review later today I'm a little excited about. Who is St. David? Dewi Sant is the Patron Saint of Wales the small country in the United Kingdom from which my family hails from. So to start off we are taking another trip today into Polish beer territory. Żywiec www.zywiecusa.com (or Zyweic in Polish) was started in 1856 by the Hapsburg Family. The brewery operated under the same family until just after World War II when Poland was brought under communist rule. The new government wished to control all of the industries so under the guise of "Nationalisation" the Brewery's assets were seized and the government controlled the brewery until Communism collasped and the brewery privatised once more. Now Called Grupa Żywiec the Brewery operates five locations:  Żywiec, Elbrewery, Leżajsk, Warka, and Cieszyn Breweries. Heineken International Beheer B.V. owns a 61% controlling interest in Grupa Żywiec. 20 years ago the decendants of the original line of the Hapsburg Family that owned the brewery sued the government of Poland for $77 million USD for losses suffered under Nationalisation and the use of their family crest in Żywiec's marketing campaigns. The two parties settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Onto tonight's tasting

Clear gold with a vibrant white head made up of small bubbles. 5.5% ABV Nose is herbal and sweet with a little fruit in the background. First sip gives us light fruity notes backed up by a srong herbal flavour. Slightly astringent, giving over to a light crystal malt. Aeration brings out mild malt citrus. A long finish mildly bitter and herbal ending with sweet wine notes lingering on the palate.

Overall results: (Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional)

Taste: Pass
Cost: Pass (In Ontario it is $2.45
Colour: Pass
Beer Style: Pass
Re-order: Pass
Experience: Pass

A decent Euro-lager I think I would prefer to have it with food I can imagine this going very well with pirogies.... Hmm... I'm hungry now.

Cheers

Chris