Browar Nepomucen

Piotr and Mateusz Musielak founded the brewery in 2014 in Szkaradowo, a small village in the Barycz Valley near Milicz. They started with a small brewhouse they built themselves, working from a restored building that had served as the local bakery for over a hundred years. The location matters. The Barycz Valley is known for traditional craftsmanship, and the Musielak brothers embraced that ethos, foraging ingredients from the surrounding landscape.

Their signature? Pine needles. While other breweries were chasing hops from the American Pacific Northwest, Nepomucen looked to the forests on their doorstep. Their pine needle beers became a calling card, with Forest Sea, a Baltic Porter brewed with foraged needles, standing out as a particular favourite among enthusiasts.

Now trading as Nepo Brewing, the brewery has become remarkably prolific. They've produced hundreds of different beers across styles ranging from traditional Baltic Porters to fruit-laden pastry sours. The annual Echo imperial porter has become something of a tradition, returning each year since the brewery's early days.

The alcohol-free range reflects the same adventurous spirit. FOR.REST brings hoppy character to a non-alcoholic IPA, while FREE PAN DA offers a sour option for those wanting something sharper. HOPOLLO showcases Polish hop varieties including Marynka and Książęcy, proving that interesting AF beer doesn't require imported ingredients.

Nepomucen sits at the heart of Polish craft brewing's collaborative culture. They're part of the Polish Craft Mafia alongside Maltgarden and Deer Bear, regularly joining forces for special releases. International partnerships have included brews with Smog City from Los Angeles.

Finding Nepomucen in the UK takes some hunting. Specialist craft beer retailers stock their beers, and the brewery ships direct from Poland. Polish craft brewing doesn't get much attention on UK shelves, which makes Nepomucen a useful place to start.