Grodziskie is a traditional Polish top-fermented wheat beer made with smoked wheat malt. Originating from the town of Grodzisk Wielkopolski, it has an alcohol content of 3.2-4.3%.
History
Grodziskie beer has been brewed in Greater Poland since at least the 16th century, with some sources mentioning wheat beer production from 1301. Before World War I, the town had five breweries exporting to Germany, China, and the US. During World War II, production continued for German troops. After the war, the brewery was nationalized and production gradually declined until closure in 1993. In recent years, some microbreweries in Poland, Czech Republic, and US have attempted to revive this traditional style.
How it is made
Grodziskie is made using wheat malt smoked over oak or beech wood, with local Lublin hops. The wort is fermented at 15-20°C. After bottling, a special yeast strain is added for secondary fermentation, and the beer matures for one month. This process results in highly carbonated beer with visible yeast sediment and a characteristic woody aroma from the smoked malt.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Гродзис, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.