PINTA Brewery, Wieprz near Żywiec: tours and taproom

PINTA is the brewery that Poles associate with the start of the “beer revolution”; it calls itself the country's first craft brewery. It all began in May 2010, when Grzegorz Zwierzyna and Ziemowit Fałat, as private individuals, brewed 5 hectolitres of Grodziskie, the old Polish smoked wheat beer. Its success led to regular brewing, and in March 2011, already as PINTA, they brewed Atak Chmielu (“Hop Attack”), Poland's first commercial American IPA. The name was coined over breakfast in Cieszyn: first came the English “pint”, then the Polish “PINTA”.

In its early years PINTA brewed on other breweries' equipment, and in 2016 it bought a plot in Wieprz near Żywiec and built its own brewery, by its own account the largest craft brewery in Poland. The same year it began ageing beer in wooden barrels: first into twenty ex-Oloroso sherry casks went Imperator Bałtycki, a strong Baltic porter. Today the separate PINTA Barrel Brewing operates next to the brewery.

Why go

• A tour with a brewer: 60 minutes through the PINTA brewery and PINTA Barrel Brewing with its barrel hall. It appeals both to those who know brewing technology and to those simply looking for an unusual stop in the Beskids. The price includes one beer from the taproom and a souvenir glass.
• The brewery taproom: eight taps of draught PINTA (and Czech Kofola for drivers), views of the brewery and the Beskids, and a beer garden. Wednesday to Sunday they bake pizza, including a “pizza of the month” to go with the “beer of the month”. The brewery updates the tap list live online.
• The brewery shop: bottled and canned beer, gift sets and souvenirs; on days when the taproom is closed you can still drink a pint from the mobile beer wall.

What to taste and buy

A must is Atak Chmielu (American IPA, 6.1%), where it all started. Then Beskidy Pils, the Bavarian-style wheat Bawarka, the Australian-style Aussie, the strong Porter Bay Baltic porter (9%), and first-year classics A'la Grodziskie, Pierwsza Pomoc and Jak w Dym. Fans of aged beers should look for barrel-aged releases from PINTA Barrel Brewing.

Practical information

Address: ul. Przemysłowa 4, 34-382 Wieprz, in an industrial area on the edge of Żywiec, a few minutes' drive from the town centre. Tours: individuals on Friday and Saturday, groups of 10+ Monday to Thursday; 36 zł per person, tickets booked online (gift vouchers available). Taproom: Wednesday to Sunday; table bookings +48 577 009 790, [email protected]. The brewery is open Mon–Tue 9:00–15:30, Wed–Fri 9:00–17:00, Sat 9:00–14:00; the shop Tue–Wed 9:00–16:00, Thu 9:00–17:00, Fri 9:00–18:00, Sat 9:00–15:30 (closed Mon), phone +48 536 726 878; groups +48 576 677 886.

Nearby

• The castles of Żywiec and the Habsburg park, 10 minutes by car.
• Lake Żywiec with its promenades.
• Bacówka na Bukowinie with sheep's cheese in Żabnica.
• The Castle Brewery in Cieszyn, the historic elder of Beskid brewing.

Official website: browarpinta.pl

Photos: browarpinta.pl.