Stawski Premium Lager - Stanley Stawski Distributing

steveh

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been seeing this around the area and it interested me because of 2 things; its tagline: :The only Polish Craft beer," and that it's brewed for a local importer.

Half liter brown bottle, no real freshness date to decode.

A -- Clear, deep gold color with a dense white head that holds up well.

S -- Light spicy hops, even a little - skunk? From a brown bottle? Light DMS. Pretty mild all around.

T -- Light bready malts with the vaguest of spicy and citrus hops back, finishes with the soft, slightly sweet breadiness and has a lightly hop-bitter aftertaste.

M -- Mouthfeel is smooth and soft with a light to light-medium body and a semi-dry finish.

O -- Not as bad as I thought the nose might lead you to believe. Pretty refreshing and drinkable with a good balance between truly bready malts and spicy very Saaz-like, hops.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 21:01:08 | More by steveh

TheRevMatt

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -3.5%

04-26-2013 11:33:43 | More by TheRevMatt

prisoner1572

Illinois

2/5  rDev -35.7%

04-23-2013 14:52:30 | More by prisoner1572

BamfBacon

Ohio

3/5  rDev -3.5%

04-18-2013 09:13:23 | More by BamfBacon

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +12.5%

11-11-2012 22:16:00 | More by leprechaunandfatman

MaxOhle

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +4.5%

11-10-2012 06:30:37 | More by MaxOhle

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

2.75/5  rDev -11.6%

10-15-2012 03:24:28 | More by M_C_Hampton

wattoclone

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -3.5%

09-12-2012 13:56:20 | More by wattoclone

jsisko01

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a clear, dark golden color with an inch thick, creamy white head that dissipates instantly. Leaves a nice, creamy lacing behind.

Smell - Pale malts, grains, and bread.

Taste - Pale malts, grains, a slight skunk, bread, and spicy hops.

Mouthfeel - Has a medium, creamy body with medium carbonation.

Overall - This is a little different than the average pale lager.. It's good. The hops are a little spicy.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 02:20:49 | More by jsisko01

DoubleJ

California

2.2/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I imagine it doesn't get much warmer than this in Poland, but Stawski lager should be able to refresh in any warm weather. Let's pop open the 500 ml bottle, and on to the beer:

A darker shade of yellow, almost crossing over to gold. Carbonation bubbles rise through the beer, a semi-soapy head sits on top. The aroma is erratic, sometimes good, sometimes unappealing. DMS and grainy, but also features some grassy and honey notes.

I'm not wild about it. Dull grains provide a bland sweetness. Steeley edges make it something of a chore to get down. Its light bodied and somewhat watery.

Meh, nothing special here. Bring on some Gatorade....

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 23:20:54 | More by DoubleJ

beerluvr

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Just came into the beer store today so I said 'why not'?

Poured vigorously into a pokal style glass exhibiting a nice white rocky head that leaves a nice lace as it recedes. Nice light golden color once all settles. Lightly malty and grassy nose.

The taste is sweet malt, with very slight hop bitterness, fine and smooth mouthfeel. The finish is short-lived...all in all it's a nice lawn mower beer to cut thru the dust and heat of a hot Summer's day...that's a bout it though.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 00:34:49 | More by beerluvr

soju6

Missouri

3.1/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: pours a light golden color with a good head that fades to bits of lacing.

S: Aroma of grain, fruit sweetness and hint of citrus.

T: Similar to the aroma. Flavor of grain and a mild fruit sweetness and bit of citrus. Has an easy bitterness and a clean finish.

F: Light body, quite smooth and somewhat refreshing.

O: Decent Euro Lager. Good for a few.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 21:36:40 | More by soju6

ruckus232

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330 mL brown bottle poured into a pilsner glass

Appearance: Nice yellow color with 1 to 2 fingers of white head that doesn't leave much lacing.

Smell: Sweet corn scents but there is a slight earthy bitterness present to make it not too sweet smelling.

Taste: It has a slight sweetness at first that changes quickly in to a very slight bitter taste that leaves a little bit of a dry aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 23:12:46 | More by ruckus232

PaBeerLover

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -3.5%

01-05-2012 21:59:58 | More by PaBeerLover

Shumj

Illinois

3/5  rDev -3.5%

12-23-2011 00:39:16 | More by Shumj

bluesplit63

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -3.5%

12-05-2011 14:25:56 | More by bluesplit63

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Chicago Bears shaker pint glass.

Random pickup from the local Binny's for the sake of it. It pours a clear pale straw topped by a finger of white foam. The nose comprises wheat, light minerals, light corn, and the lightest possible touch of flowery grass. The taste does not deviate from this plan very much, though the grass is a bit stronger now. The body is a hefty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a watery feel. Overall, the epitome of an average little beer. It was nothing tasty, but it was nothing offensive. It was just kinda there.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 01:29:12 | More by TMoney2591

Redrover

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500 ML dark brown bottle. Poured into a standard pint, the beer is gold with a very slight chill haze. It has a fluffy white head.

The aroma is of grains and bit of tropical fruit (or is it Wrigley gum?).

There is also a bit of tropical fruit in the taste. It complements the grains and slight spice in the finish. No off, odd or old tastes which is always good to see in an import.
The mouth is solid for the style. I think this one would be easy to pair with food.
All-in-all an enjoyable find at a decent ($1.19) price.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 01:01:45 | More by Redrover

rsdaugherty

Colorado

3.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle into pint glass
A – 1 finger white head on top of a very carbonated golden straw colored brew, kept a thin layer on top but likely only because of the amount of carbonation, no lacing 3.5
S – Nothing more than a bit of grain and very slight florals 2
T – Pale malts and some quite apparent grassy hops and a bit of fruit fade to a sweet finish. Just better than average. 3.5
M – Light body with an interesting end, perhaps a bit over carbonated but it works 3
O – Drinkable but I would not but or seek this beer out again, notable if you have a free one offered to you but otherwise pass this up for a better brew 3

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 03:19:20 | More by rsdaugherty

scoobybrew

Iowa

3.13/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - clear light straw color with a thick white head that is very well retained; leaves a nice lacing

S - light malt aroma with a touch of hop and a slight amount of spicy phenols

T - fairly clean malt with slight clove phenol aspect; crisp, moderate bitter hop finish

M - medium-light body with moderately high carbonation

D - This is a drinkable beer, but not much past that. It's certainly not the cleanest lager I've had from Poland. It's not terribly interesting either. The best part about it is the appearance.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 22:09:41 | More by scoobybrew

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a clear, golden pale straw with a 1.5 finger white head that slowly sinks into a thin cap. Average lacing for the style.

S - Pale malt, lightly fruity, grassy mild hops.

T - Some earthy mineral sweetness, old grass, chalky yeast, a descent amount of hops for the style, finishes crisp and doesn't really dry out that much.

M - Medium bodied, moderate airy carbonation.

Average for the style except for the hops. It seemed to be stepped up. Good mouthfeel as well.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 23:16:31 | More by StaveHooks

PokerGod

Minnesota

2.42/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

330ml bottle poured into a pint glass

Appearance- Straw color, transparent, little bit of head that started to dissipate right away but never really left. not much lacing.

Smell- smells appetizing, sweet, bready, malty.

Taste- not bad, but certainly not great. Tastes a bit flat. Never really has any bite to it other than a bit of carbonation, some maltiness there, but nothing distinct about it.

Overall- Not a great beer. If I were thirsty on a hot day, I could drink a few, but I'd probably prefer an AAL, which isnt saying much.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 04:21:03 | More by PokerGod

CHickman

New York

3.18/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear yellow color with a slight haze and a nice 1 finger foamy white head that faded quickly and left minimal lacing.

Smells of sweet malt, corn, grains, light floral hops, grass and a slight funk; pretty much smells like a macro Euro lager.

Tastes of sweet malt, biscuit, caramel, grains, floral hops, light grapefruit, yeast and wet bread or cardboard; pretty basic flavor that's generally sweet.

Mouthfeel is light, crisp and dry, with a medium body, average carbonation and a finish that's a combo of grains and sweet malt.

Highly drinkable if you're looking for a basic tasting lager, and on par for the style. Overall it's good I guess if you like malt heavy beers, but just not the most flavorful beer that's not well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 03:35:00 | More by CHickman

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

2.58/5  rDev -17%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Lemon yellow with straw hued highlights and a whipped creamy crown of bone colored froth that has a surprising amount of stick-to-it-iveness. The fact that the head is gently rocky and doesn't descend too fast helps as well.

The nose is comprised of metal shavings and musky-earthy Euro hops. Thankfully, the beer doesn't smell old and the mild skunkiness that was present on the pour is now nowhere to be found. Still, no great shakes.

The best that can be said of Stawski Premium Lager is that it's slightly better than Stawski Export Ale. Neither one is worth a damn... unless you feel a need to drink crappy Polish beer and nothing else will do.

There is probably more malt sweetness and less hop bitterness than in most versions of the style. That makes SPL different than the hordes of EPLs that are sent to this country, though far from better. On the palate, the metal is now more of a hard water mineral-like quality that isn't horrible.

The mouthfeel is thin, but is helped immensely by carbonation that keeps things inflated from start to finish, thereby making it seem... not so thin. The second half of the bottle doesn't fare as well.

How in the world can a brewery that is capable of brewing the righteous Zywiec Porter, also brew the dreck that is Zywiec Beer, Stawski Export Ale and Stawski Premium Lager? This bottle was on-sale for $2.50. I'd like at least $2.00 back, please.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 12:13:31 | More by BuckeyeNation

bristol2120

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 500ml bottle. pours a medium deep golden, with a moderate head that quickly subsides, leaving a thin layer of foam, but also with considerable lacing. Aroma is considerably less assertive than hoped for with only the faintest of hops and malt detectable. Taste features some decent maltiness, but seems haeveir because it lacks a hoppy counterpoint. Mouthfeel is decent with a pleasant roundness, and an acceptable level of carbonation. Overall, decent for a euro-lager, but could use a bit more hops to offset malty sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 21:29:12 | More by bristol2120