A quick report of a short trip I made last weekend.
I trail over to Schiphol a little after 09:00. Which leaves me time to warm up for the flight a little in the lounge.
The food isn't too bad in the lounge this time. It's the non-Schengen one that I don't visit often. Not been impressed with the food in the past. The rostis are really nice. Scrambled egg could do with some seasoning.
But there's free-pour whisky. Of which I take advantage. Though don't abuse. It's a thin line that you need to walk when you're an enthusiastic drinker like me.
I bump into Ferry at the gate. He's judging in Grodzisk, too. Though we both live in Holland, we first met in Brazil.
When my boarding pass is checked before getting on the bus, there's a beep and I'm given a slip of paper. I've been upgraded to business class. I guess because the flight is overbooked. Now there's a win.
After waiting on the tarmac for a while the bus return to the gate. Two vehicles have collided close to our plane. We have to wait for that to be sorted out. We depart quite late.
The food is definitely better than the usual KLM slop. And I get a couple of whiskies to wash it down. Which also helps.
After landing in Poznan, we're whisked off in a bus to our hotel Along with other just-arrived judges. It takes a while to get to Nowy Tomyśl. After just about enough time to drop of our bags, it's back on the bus to go to Grodzisk.
Where we're judging in the former malt house of the last brewery to make Grodziskie before the style's extinction in the early 1990s. Which is pretty cool. And it's right next to the brewhouse of Browar Grodzisk. Current brewer of Grodziskie
We don't have to judge a stupid number of beers - my table has 17. Just as well, as the judging kicks off in the early evening. There are some pretty good examples in the ones we judge. And a few not so good ones. But there are always a few duds, whenever you judge.
I'm judging with two Polish men, Michal Kopik and Jan Lepek and a German/Greek woman, Dafne Peppa_boy. We have some robust discussions about some beers. Which is part of the fun of judging. If everyone 100% agreed, int would be a pretty dull process.
For those of you that haven't experienced the Grodziskie style, here's an overview of its characteristics.
colour: very pale
grist: 100% oak-smoked wheat malt
hops: Polish varieties
yeast: top fermenting
OG: 7.7º Plato
ABV: 3.1%
The last two I've taken from the Classic version brewed by Browar Grodzisk. It's also usually bottle-conditioned.
 |
I like versions where the hops and smoke are in balance. Combined with a light body, making them very drinkable. Quite a few of the beers I judge fit those parameters perfectly. And are a pleasure to drink.
I already know quite a few of the other judges. Which makes things easier. Catching up with Evan Rail after many years is fun. Great to learn that U Rotundy remains a s wonderful as ever. Plus lots of other great stuff about beer in Czechia.
Judging is scheduled to end at 21:00. It's a while after that when all the tables are done And it's pushing 10:00 when we hit the restaurant Schabowy & Salata.
Our, quite late, evening meal is very decent. What I expect in Poland, where the food is usually pretty good. I do like a good Schnitzel. One made out of actual meat. Unlike the shttty ones made from reconstituted gunk they sell in the supermarkets in Holland.
(I was wondering about the name of the restaurant: Schbowy & Salata. I could get the second bit But what about the first? Kotlet schabowy turns out to be what I called a Schnitzel. It's the Polish version of a fried, thin, breaded piece of pork. Like I said earlier, it was excellent.)
Of course, there's also Grodziskie to drink. From the beautifully elegant, slender glasses.
It's after midnight when I get my head down Aiming for an 8:00 start tomorrow. A gulp or two of hotel whisky whisks me off rapidly to sleep.
Browar Grodzisk
Poznańska 16B,
62-065 Grodzisk Wielkopolski,
Poland.
https://browargrodzisk.com
Schabowy & Salata
Osiedle Wojska Polskiego 18D,
62-065 Grodzisk Wielkopolski,
Poland.
Here's a video report of my trip:
Posts
3 comments:
But Poland is in Schengen, what were you in the non-Schengen lounge for?
I meant Schengen. My mistake.
Grodziskie sounds great, thanks for the description.
I wish in the US we could have a couple fewer standard IPAs and more of this. I'm guessing smoked wheat malt isn't easy to get at affordable prices for large scale brewing.
Post a Comment