Subcarpathian Birophiles Club

We have been operating since 2013 and are one of the most active birophiles club in Poland and Europe. At the moment, the club consists of 17 collectors and enthusiasts of items related to beer and breweries, who live permanently in different parts of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship or are significantly connected to it. In our collections we have thousands of caps, coasters, labels, openers, all kinds of glasses, mugs and other more or less obvious items related to beer and breweries. The main goal of our activity is to integrate the local birophiles community and enable them to contact other collectors through joint trips to breweriana collectors meetings. Every year in spring we organize a meeting in Rzeszów, which attracts collectors from all over Poland, as well as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine and Lithuania. Our club bases its activity solely on the voluntary work of its members.

Breweriana collectors meetings

An integral part of our activity is the organization of breweriana collectors meetings in the Podkarpacie region. From the very beginning of the club’s activity, we have been organizing a meeting in Rzeszów, which is one of the most important events for us every year. Initially, the meeting was held in the Kuźnia Pub, located in the very center of the city, but due to limited space and great interest in our event, we were forced to look for a location offering more space. So in 2015, the meeting moved to the Community Cultural Center “Akwarium” on Pułaskiego Street, where two editions were held. Then we went to a room belonging to the Per Tutti Restaurant (later Oro Ristorante), where the meeting was hosted until 2022. Each subsequent edition attracts more and more participants, so in 2023 we decided to move the event again. Currently, it is still held on Krakowska Street, but a little further from the center – in the building of the Subcarpathian District Chamber of Civil Engineers.

In 2013-2015 we also organized a meeting in Leżajsk. The second and third editions were held in cooperation with the Museum of the Leżajsk Region and the Leżajsk Brewery. Event took place in the open air, on the square in front of the Museum. Thanks to the support of sponsors, participants had the opportunity to visit the brewery exhibition for free, as well as taste fresh beer straight from the brewery.

In 2023, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Subcarpathian Birophiles Club, for the first time in our history we organized a two-day exchange meeting, which we combined with the anniversary celebrations. Meeting took place in Rakszawa, on August 4-5, and its main sponsor was Van Pur Brewery.

Trips to breweriana meetings

Every year we visit around 15 breweriana collectors meetings. We participate in both the largest and most important events, as well as small, local ones. Our passion knows no bounds, which is why we are regular visitors to foreign meetings. We regularly go to events held in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany. We also had the opportunity to participate in meetings in Hungary, Latvia, Ukraine, Belarus and Great Britain. In this way, we combine collecting with learning about local culture and heritage, focusing especially on objects related to brewing. An inseparable element of each trip is delving into the local beer market and discovering it through numerous tastings. Considering our international activity, in 2016 we gave up traditional T-shirts with a logo printed on the chest in favour of polo shirts with an embroidered logo and the Polish flag on the sleeve. Dark brown T-shirts have become our characteristic trademark both in Poland and around the world.

Cooperation

For years, we have been building a comprehensive network of cooperation, connecting brewing enthusiasts, owners of breweries, beer shops and brewery products, as well as individuals and organizations from various beer industry environments and beer enthusiasts. We have cooperated with small home breweries and brewers associated with the Polish Home Brewers Association (PSPD), as well as with renowned craft breweries such as Browar Łańcut, Browar Rzemieślniczy Wojkówka, Karpaty Zdrój and Revolta. We are also open to cooperation with large industrial breweries such as Van Pur or the now defunct Leżajsk Brewery, looking for joint development opportunities. Our activities also often include cooperation with pubs, specialist beer shops or cultural institutions such as the Museum of the Leżajsk Region, whose resources include a brewery exhibition. We have also cooperated with the Roxart marketing agency, which helped us build an image in the initial phase of the club’s existence and thus reach a wider audience. Our openness to various forms of cooperation allows us to effectively achieve common goals, bringing satisfaction to both parties.

In 2015, we purchased a dedicated exhibition tent with the club’s logo measuring 2.7 x 4m. Thanks to this, we can participate in various events (beer festivals, local events), presenting our collections and promoting the club’s activities. Moreover, by participating in breweriana collectors meetings held outdoors, we can create an independent stand, which increases our visibility. It is worth emphasizing that we are the only birophiles club in Poland with this type of facilities.

International activities

Over the course of several years of our activity, our club has established numerous contacts with beer-related clubs and organizations from all over the world. This cooperation includes the exchange of information, collectors exchanges, and mutual visits to meetings organized in various countries. Thanks to these relations, our members have the opportunity to expand their collections with unique exhibits, as well as to enrich their knowledge and build an international community of beer-related collectors.

We are a proud member of the international organization Brewery Collectibles World Convention (BCWC), associating breweriana collectors clubs from all over the world. We joined BCWC in 2017 during the 3rd edition of the meeting in Tychy. The organization founded in 2012 by Juan Carlos De Marco from Argentina brings together about 80 clubs from different countries, and its main goal is to organize a world breweriana collectors exchange, which takes place every two years – alternately in Europe and America. Our club participated in the first BCWC in 2013 in Martin, Slovakia. Subsequent editions took place in the cities of Milwaukee (USA, 2015), Tychy (Poland, 2017), La Plata (Argentina, 2019), Istanbul (Turkey, 2022) and Lima (Peru, 2023). The next 7th edition will take place in June 2025 in France, in the city of Haguenau.

Charitable activities

Our activity is not limited to initiatives related to breweriana collecting – we are also involved in charity activities, with the aim of supporting people in need. For many years, we have been organizing collections for people from the Podkarpacie region. At our auctions, collectors can bid on unique bottle caps or coasters, and the total income from their sale is allocated to charity. Thanks to our joint efforts, we have collected and donated several thousand złoty to charity. We have also participated in campaigns such as Szlachetna Paczka or Pajacyk. Each of these initiatives is a chance for us to really help and support those who need it the most.