What is "grodziskie"

Grodziskie (; other names: Grätzer, Grodzisz) is a historical style of beer from Poland that is typically made from oak-smoked wheat malt. It is a style that is unique to Poland, featuring a clear, light golden color, high carbonation, low alcohol content, low to moderate levels of hop bitterness, and a strong smoke flavor and aroma. The taste is light and crisp, with a strong character coming from the smoked malt, the high mineral content of the water, and the strain of yeast used to ferment the beverage. It was nicknamed "Polish Champagne" because of its high carbonation levels, and because it was valued as a high-quality beer to be used for special occasions.

Grodziskie was brewed from wheat malt that was dried by circulating oak smoke through the grains. The smokiness of the grain and the mineral profile of the water used to brew the beverage gave the style its characteristic flavor. Breweries typically used locally produced hops in the beer and used one or two strains of brewer's yeast in its production. Before packaging, the beer was filtered to remove suspended proteins that may cause cloudiness in the final product. The breweries allowed fermentation to finish in the casks or bottles, which resulted in its high carbonation.

The beer was originally produced by brewers in the town of Grodzisk Wielkopolski in the 14th or 15th century. A brewers' guild was established to maintain high quality standards and the product developed a good reputation in the surrounding cities and neighboring countries. At the peak of its fame, it was exported to 37 countries and was regarded as an exceptionally good beer. The brewing industry in the town flourished. After the Second World War, the brewery was nationalized, and the beer entered a period of decline under the Communist government of Poland. By 1993, the last brewery that was producing the style was shut down. After a period of years when the style was not available from any commercial brewers, several breweries began producing seasonal or year-round recreations of the historic style, spurred by interest in the style from the homebrewing community around the world.