Brewery launches new 'Copernicus beer' on astrologer's birthday

Brewer Maciej Mielęcki tests the first production run of the new Copernicus beer: photo - PAP/Tomasz Waszczuk

The beer is “made with lavender” says the traditional Browar Kormoran brewery in Olsztyn, who has launched the new line in cooperation with the regional Warmian-Masurian Museum in celebration of the legendary monk who first discovered the heliocentric universe.

Born in the city of Torun in 1473, Copernicus published his revolutionary De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres) in 1543, shortly before he died.

The beer, which started coming off the production line yesterday, will be allowed a few weeks to mature so as to be ready for market in the spring.

The inclusion of lavender in the beer is in accordance with recopies for the drink used at the time that Copernicus was alive.

But what does a beer made from lavender and not hops actually taste like?

“I must admit that we were pleasantly surprised. It has an aroma of baked apples with cinnamon” with a grassy, grapefruit flavour”, Browar Kormoran's master brewer Paweł Błażewicz told the Polish version of Newsweek magazine.

Meanwhile, search engine giant Google revealed its Copernicus doodle on Tuesday, in celebration of the astronomer’s birthday. (pg)