Today was meant to be the day for – Pendragon – alas, I knew before I left Scotland that the gig was cancelled, Friday 13th.
A lunchtime train to Lodz (“Woodge”) was chosen to occupy the gap between check-out and check-in. A taxi was necessary to ferry me from Lodz Widzew to the Hotel Ibis in the heart of the city.
Having consulted ontapl.pl, it was with a merry gait that I headed off to PiwPaw a few minutes away on Piortrkowska, the main drag in Lodz.
Rowing Jack (Ale Browar, Polska) was reportedly on Tap 26, just the ninety seven taps to choose from, plus cans.
Rowing Jack was aff, why had nobody updated the usually reliable website? I chose Hula Hop (Ale Browar, Polska) a 5/% white IPA. Gold, slightly hazy, whatever was in it, a case of – no thanks. The taste on the top palate sensed – almost Weizen – thereafter it was neither one thing or another.
The bar was remarkably quiet, people choosing not to go out on a Friday night. The staff were all wearing gloves, no direct contact with customers.
Fortunately, my next choice was better. Wilcy Szlak (Browar Markowy, Polska) a 6.9% AIPA was gold and clear. This dry Pivo had a decent body and a definite Polish after-taste. With no astringency, this was quite a decent Bier.
Ninety seven taps, actually space for a hundred, and no recognisable – Milkshake NEIPA. I decided to take my chances elsewhere.
Pub Spolzielczy Lodz was effectively round the back from PiwPaw but required a walk around the block, in the rain. There were more bar-staff than customers when I entered, I balanced the tally. I liked this place, the brewing process illustrated on the wall with quite a new take.
Just the twenty taps, still no NEIPA. I opted for Hopman (Browar Szpunt, Polska) 6.0%, a muddy milkshake, the sought for taste was not there. Despite the presence of Nelson Sauvin (NZ), Citra (USA), Equanot (USA), and Galaxy (Aus) hops, this was very much in the style of a Polish Pivo.
With that, it was Curry o’clock. Had it not been raining I may have ventured further, alas I went to the nearest venue – Touch of India. I wish it hadn’t been raining.
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Between Starter and Main Course, what I feared most, happened. As of midnight tomorrow, when I am due to be in Warszawa, the Polish border closes. Bars and restaurants have been ordered not to open, though restaurants can serve food to take away. Faced with boredom and possible starvation, I knew I had to get out of Polska as soon as. I found one flight for tomorrow morning from Katowice at 11.00 for £236.00. I doubted that I could get there in time. I booked a flight to Manchester on Tuesday at stupid o’clock. I then spent an age deliberating on how best to get to Modlin Airport in the middle of the night.
Back out in the rain, I checked out the third Craft Beer Bar in this cluster. Chmielowa Dolina was closed, back to PiwPaw. The barman attempted to give me something close to – the style.
Piwo Na Miodze Wielokwiatowym Z Imbirem (Manufaktura Piwn, Polska) at 5.0% was being sold as an AIPA. This was occupying the tap that may once have had Rowing Jack. Gold, with a slight haze, this was suitably dry with a decent body for the abv. Nothing special, nothing nasty.
I had finished my Bier, the rain was so heavy it looked like a tropical downpour. Given that, I knew it couldn’t last, I sat it out. Whilst I waited, a Doris stuck a sign on the door, I needed no translation.
Back at the Ibis, the best Bier on offer was in bottle and by a well known Polish brewery. APA (Zywiec, Polska) at 5.4% was amber with a muddy haze. There was a slight sweetness, one was enough. And thus Hector began writing up a Blog.
The venues visited today:
PiwPaw – Piotrkowska 147, 90-440 Lódz
Pub Spolzielczy Lodzal – Tadeusza Ko?ciuszki 80/82, 90-437 Lódz
Ibis Hotel – al. Marsza?ka Józefa Pi?sudskiego 11, 90-368 Lódz
Touch of India – Ludwika Zamenhofa 3a, 90-431 Lódz
… back to Day #1 of how many in Polska?
… continue to Day #3 of how many days in Polska?