Europe Archives - Pale Ale Travel

What Tourists Need to Know About Poland’s Legal Drinking Age

December 27, 2024February 19, 2025Beer & Breweries, Destinations, Europe, Poland BigBody Leave a Comment

During my three months in Poland, I may or may not have consumed enough alcohol to kill a bull elephant. The only comparable time in my life was when I spent 3 months in Japan and tossed back nama beerus (draft beers) with the best of them…nightly.

To be fair, it was somewhat of Poland’s doing, as it was home to some of the best beer and hard liquors I’ve ever had the pleasure of tossing back. So, a Poland bacchanalian was inevitable. The boozing prophecy had been written well before my brother uttered the words ‘Poland trip’ to me just 5 months prior.

The variety of beer, liquors, wines, and other spirits across Poland is a force to be reckoned with. From the countless innovative (and quirky) craft beer bars that lined the streets of most old towns, to regional smoked beers and ever-so-drinkable lagers, clean and crisp vodkas, and even plum brandies, if you can dream it, you can drink it in Poland.

Poland has garnered particular acclaim and attention (justly so) from tourists over the past decade, becoming a Central European hotspot for living the dolce vita. Frankly, after my 3 month “hot boy summer” in Poland, I still consider it one of the most underrated travel destinations in the world. It’s an absolute gem.

And what better way to experience this vibrant, resilient country (and culture) than by tossing back some local booze over a plate of pierogi, schabowy (schnitzel), steak tartare, or other delicious Polish staples?

To ensure that you don’t miss out on Poland’s highly revered and full-bodied drinking culture, as a tourist it’s important to cross your drinking t’s while dotting your i’s by familiarizing yourself with the legal drinking age in Poland and other laws and/or potential faux pas you should be mindful of.

So, whether you’re a university student making the pilgrimage for a debaucherous weekend, a couple on their honeymoon looking to elegantly sip fine European wines at a rooftop bar, or someone in between (like me), here is everything you need to know about Poland’s drinking age and important alcohol laws everyone should know.

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7 of the Best Craft Beer Bars in Warsaw For T-Pain to Buy U a Drank

December 1, 2024February 19, 2025Beer & Breweries, Destinations, Europe, Poland BigBody Leave a Comment

If you had told me that Poland just so happened to be home to over 300 breweries before I embarked on my 3-month stint in the country, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

As a country geographically and inwardly between Eastern Europe and Central Europe (the latter if you ask a Pole), the stereotype of vodka flowing freely and cheap, canned lagers comparable to the water we’ve come to expect in the U.S. was unfortunately what I anticipated.

I’m sorry Poland–mea culpa.

Consider this my letter of contrition and a celebration of the 300-plus formidable breweries that make up the country’s robust ethanol ecosystem. It truly is one of the best countries in the world for everything beer (I’m even a fan of ice-cold Żywiec).

And, no better place represents the strength and variation of this burgeoning booze landscape than the capital – Warsaw.

Here are 7 of the best craft beer bars in Warsaw that solidified in my rapidly aging mind and body that Warsaw is a true craft beer lover’s paradise.

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Several beers that remained constant and always on rotation for me during my time in Warsaw were those by Warsaw-based (and surrounding) breweries like (a) Funky Fluid, (b) Magic Road, and (c) Browar Monsters, the former being potentially my most consumed beer while there. So, if you see a beer by either brewery on tap, I implore you to order it!

Before I begin, I filmed two videos (Part 1, Part 2) which cover 6 of the 7 Warsaw craft beer bars on this list – so give these a watch if you’re more of a visual person!

Power of the Pivovar: 2 Breweries to Eat & Drink at in Bratislava

January 29, 2020February 19, 2025Beer & Breweries, Destinations, Europe, Slovakia BigBody 2 Comments

A generic name for “brewery” in several Slavic languages, a pivovar is so much more than that (in my book). Not only are pivovars incredible spots to drink your fill of Bratislava’s finest lagers (and countless other beers) but they are also great spots to load up on traditional Slovakian dishes and experience a lively pub-atmosphere.

Below are three of my favorite pivovars to eat and drink at in Bratislava, Slovakia!