Brewery
History of the brewery
Beer from Miłosław was first mentioned in 1626 by an official entering the original brews into a register. Miłosław turned into a dynamic beer centre, best exemplified by the contemporary beer tax (equivalent to excise). It was paid by as many as thirty six brewers.
In 1794 the widely recognised beer from Miłosław was first dispatched to Gdansk from where it was sent out into the world in wooden barrels.
The year of 1889 marked a new era in Miłosław when the local burghers managed to build the modern steam-powered “Fortuna” brewery. It was an inheritor of the town’s nearly three hundred years of brewing tradition.
In 1939 the brewery was seized by the Nazis; eleven years later, it was nationalised by communists. In the decades to follow, it would gradually fall into ruin, while the excellent, widely renowned Miłosław beer would slip into oblivion.
In 1995 the ruined, exploited brewery, stripped of its renown, was handed back to the heirs of the pre-war owners. Two years later Browar ”Fortuna” Sp. z o.o. was established with the intention of restoring it to its original splendour and reviving the hundreds of years of brewing tradition in and around Miłosław.
The spring of 2011 marked another milestone in the brewery’s history when it was purchased by beer lovers and experts who had been operating in the beer industry in Poland and abroad for years. In this way the brewery has acquired considerable expertise and experience in beer production and distribution. A policy of brewing speciality beers has been consistently administered by the new owners.
The brewery today
We still brew beer in a way very similar to how it was produced back in the 19th century. Browar Fortuna in Miłosław is among a dozen or so breweries in Europe where traditional, open fermentation vats are used. When yeast is added, the beer ferments as nature intended, without being subjected to pressure or temperature. This makes the yeast happier as it is not distressed and has the ideal conditions for growth. The result is a unique, fresh flavour and a rich aroma.
Our production philosophy is based on natural ingredients of top quality and artisan production methods like traditional, unhurried open fermentation. It takes highest quality ingredients as well as our brewers’ art and involvement topped with valuable time to offer unique beer.
Beer produced at Browar Fortuna enjoys considerable popularity among consumers on the lookout for non-mass products brewed by means of traditional methods and offering a variety of flavours more extensive than typical lagers marketed by mass brewers.
Our brands
Miłosław beers are brewed according to the traditions of the craft - from top quality raw materials, without haste and with attention to the flavour and aroma. Miłosław variants include a wide selection of beer styles, brewed using traditional methods.
Fortuna beers are based on our original recipe using natural ingredients. The intriguing, bitter-sweet flavours are offered to consumers looking for unique tasting beer inspired by nature.
Beer with a very complex flavour and rich aroma that changes over time before tasting. The secret of Komes is the unique, labour-intensive brewing methods, which require the highest brewing craftsmanship. Re-fermentation in the bottle, long storage, special varieties of hops and malts make Komes a unique beer that you can enjoy unhurriedly.
Fortunatus is made in a barrel room that Fortuna Brewery is successively and passionately developing. By acquiring more wooden barrels that once held fine spirits, including French red wine, cognac, and whisky, we create limited editions of these exceptional beers. Fortunatus is sold in hand-labelled and numbered bottles.
The harmonious combination of fruity acidity with a slight sweetness contributes to the perfectly balanced character of our ciders and perries. As a result, we offer refreshing, light drinks the consumption of which the consumers are happy to repeat.
Awards
Third place at the International Beer Cup 2019 competition in Japan in the Baltic-Style Porter category for Komes Baltic Porter
Third place in the Baltic Porter category at the World Beer Cup 2014 for Komes Porter Bałtycki
Gold Medal in the European Beer Star 2020 competition in the Wood & Barrel Aged Sour Beer category for Fortunatus III: Flanders Red
Gold Medal in the European Beer Star 2013 competition in Munich for Komes Porter Bałtycki
Silver Medal at European Beer Star 2018 for Komes Barley Wine
Bronze Medal in the 2013 International Beer Cup competition for Komes Porter Bałtycki
Quality and Tradition Certificate awarded to high quality traditional products
Third place at the Kraft Roku 2022 competition in the Fruit beer category for Miłosław & Makłowicz ARCYIPA beer.
First place in the Belgian Strong ALE category at the 2019 Kraft Craft Beer of the Year Competition for Komes Potrójny Złoty
Second place at the 2019 Kraft of the Year competition in the Belgian Sour Ale category for FORTUNATUS II: Sour Cherry Wild Ale Barrel Aged
Second place at the 2019 Kraft of the Year competition in the Wood & Barrel aged beer category for FORTUNATUS I: Wild Barley Wine Barrel Aged
Third place at the 2019 Kraft of the Year competition in the Ice Beer category for Komes Wymrażany Barley Wine COGNAC Barrel Aged
Third place at the Kraft of the Year 2019 competition in the Baltic Porter category for Komes Porter Bałtycki
Second place in the 2016 Craft Beer Competition for Komes Russian Imperial Stout
Second place for Komes Imperial Stout aged over two years in a Glen Moray Whisky cask in the Baltic Ports barrel-aged category
Third place for Komes Potrójny Złoty in the Belgian strong beer category
2nd place in the category of iced beers during the Greater Poland Beer Cup 2021 for Komes Wymrażany Porter Baltycki Glen Moray Barrel Aged
Third place in the non-alcoholic beer category of the Greater Poland Beer Cup 2021 competition for Miłosław Bezalkoholowe IPA
Third place in the category of light beers in the European Lager style with extract 11-12.9 Blg. in the 2022 Konsumencki Konkurs Chmielaki Krasnostawskie competition for Miłosław Niefiltrowane
First place in the category of light Pilsner style beers with extract content of 11.1 - 12.9° Plato in the 2016 Konsumencki Konkurs Piw Chmielaki Krasnostawskie competition for Miłosław Pilzner
First place in the category of Belgian ALE style beers with increased extract over 14° Plato in the 2016 Konsumencki Konkurs Piw Chmielaki Krasnostawskie competition for Miłosław Blonde ALE
Third place in the Belgian Witbier style White Beers category with an extract of 11 - 12.5° Plato in the 2017 Konsumencki Konkurs Chmielaki Krasnostawskie competition for Miłosław Witbier
Third place in the category of pale beers in the Marcowe style with an extract of 13 - 16° in the 2016 Konsumencki Konkurs Krasnostawskie Chmielaki competition for Miłosław Marcowe
First place in the 2019 Konsumencki Konkurs Chmielaki Krasnostawskie in the category of dark beers in the Porter Bałtycki style with extract over 18° and a GRAND PRIX in the Konsumencki Konkurs Chmielaki Krasnostawskie competition for Komes Porter Bałtycki
Second place in the Pilsner category with an extract of 11-12.9 Plato in the Konsumencki Konkurs Chmielaki Krasnostawskie competition for Miłosław Pilzner
Third place in the Witbier category with an extract of 11-12.5 Plato for Miłosław Witbier Bezalkoholowy
Third place in the 2019 Konsumencki Konkurs Chmielaki Krasnostawskie competition in the category of American Pale Ale, Summer Ale, Golden Ale for Miłosław Sosnowe APA and in the category of Sweet/Milk Stout style beers with an extract of 12-18° Plato for Miłosław Warzy Śmiało Klonowy Milk Stout
Gold medal in the Non-Alcoholic Beer - Top Fermented category at the Concours International de Lyon for Miłosław Bezalkoholowe IPA
Silver Medal in the Specialty Beer category at the Concours International de Lyon for Komes Wymrażany Porter Baltycki Glen Moray Barrel Aged
Silver medal in the Triple category at the Concours International de Lyon for Komes Triple Gold