Finnish beer: features, varieties and reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

In any country (and in this case we are interested in Finland) there will always be beer lovers. Someone just uses it for pleasure, and some amateurs, being true patriots of the producing country, are proud of the unique taste of Finnish beer.

It's a well-known fact that this country produces a quality drink. According to annual statistics, each person living in the territory of this state consumes about 80 liters of this unusually tasty alcoholic product. The Finns consider the drink almost a national pride. And the history of this beer is quite interesting.

Historical background

Finland and Russia are neighboring countries. This arrangement of the two states has made a huge contribution to the development of both countries. Nikolai Sinebryukhov, a Russian businessman who arrived in Finland in 1819 from Russia, built here, together with his colleagues, the first brewery in the country. Now Finnish beer has a history not only of being produced locally, but is also a brand that is very popular and in demand outside of Finland.

You can try this unusual foamy drink at the beer festival in the city of Helsinki, which takes place in April every year, as well as at the station square at the end of July. There you can enjoy almost all types of this alcoholic product. At the festival, Finnish beer is represented by both large factories for its production, and intermediary small breweries.

Fancy drinks

What's new to try there, besides the standard production? Garlic-flavored beer, as well as the traditional homemade sahti drink, which is prepared only for the holidays. It can be compared to homemade kvass in Russia. It is made on the basis of coarse grinding of rye, juniper berries and barley. Homemade sausage, s alted crackers, various sandwiches are suitable as snacks for beer.

Also in the country there is a "Museum of Beer" (city of Irisami). The entire history of the varieties of this famous drink is exhibited here. Having visited a mini-version of Oktoberfest, you will be able to get acquainted with various brands of Finnish beer. There is more to choose from than you can imagine!

And at such an event as "Days of the Middle Ages", which also does not take place without a glass of high-quality beer potion, theatrical performances are also organized. They give the viewer a lot of positive emotions and leave no one indifferent.

Finnish beer producers

The largest brewery in Finland is Hartwall. It produces such world famous brands asLapin Kulta, Karjala, Legenda, Karjala Terva, Urho, Koff, Sinebrychoff Porter.

It is worth noting that Finnish beer meets all environmental standards. It includes only quality barley varieties, as well as other crops that contain the minimum amount of chemicals allowed.

Gold of Lapland

One of the most common brands of this manufacturer is the Finnish beer Lapin Kulta, which means “Gold of Lapland” in Russian. It contains 5.2 percent of the volume of alcohol, light, does not give off bitterness. Bottom-fermented drink has a wonderful taste and hoppy aroma. The color of the beer resembles an amber hue.

Lapin Kulta leaves behind a pleasant aftertaste and is great refreshing in hot weather. Light beer is made from a standard set of components: water, m alt and hops. The drink has been ranked fourth in sales since 2009.

Since 2010, the Lahti brewery has been producing it, since the plant in Lapland was closed. The tradition of brewing and the name of beer have been preserved. It can be purchased at any supermarket in the country, and you can also try the analogue of Russian-made beer "Stepan Razin". The cost of a bottle is 4 euros per liter of drink.

Karjala

The drink has a pronounced aroma and astringent taste. This category also includes Karjala Terva beer, which has a resinous aroma and contains 6.3% of the volume of alcohol. This also includes a beer calledKarjala IVB, which has 8 percent of the fortress. Presented as the strongest lager in this series.

Koff

Finnish beer of this brand is distinguished by strength categories, which are indicated in numbers. One of the most popular is lager number three (or C grade). The beer is simple, light. It notes the absence of various artificial flavors - it has a light and pleasant taste. The content of the fortress of this famous brand is 6.3 percent of the container volume. Its taste is somewhat similar to the Karhu drink from Sinebrychoff.

Sinebrychoff

The next manufacturer is the company of the founder of the first brewery, N. Sinebryukhov. Since 1999, it has been the property of the global manufacturer Carlsberg. Sinebrychoff produces branded Finnish beers Karhu and Koff. To date, one of the most famous drinks is recognized as the popular "troika". Strong beer Tosi Vahva is no less famous.

Olvi Tuplapukki

The next equally well-known beer company on the world market belongs to Finland and produces its products under the brands Sandels, Olvi and Olvi Tuplapukki, Finkbräu..

Olvi Tuplapukki is the most popular drink with the taste of a regular traditional product. A fairly large fortress - 4.7%. Locals prefer this beer the most, as it belongs to the "live beer" class.

Sandels

Beer released injars, has a fine-grained foam and a standard pleasant taste, gives off a slight bitterness and a peculiar aftertaste. Belongs to the lager variety. Its color is light. The filtered drink has a density of 11%. The technology of preparation does not provide for pasteurization and clarification. The strength of the drink is 4.7 percent of the volume of the container. Ingredients: hops, m alt, water.

Finkbräu

For those who are not fond of expensive spirits, it is recommended to pay attention to Finkbräu. Cheap and quite popular beer won the heart of more than one light beer lover. It is of two types (alcoholic - 2.5 percent, and non-alcoholic). It is brewed for sale in the well-known supermarket chain Lidl. Such beer costs a little more than 10 rubles for 0.33 liters. This is a kind of analogue of Russian beer in "one and a half".

Olvi

Regular Finnish beer brewed according to a simple recipe: m alt, water, hops. In cooking, the main emphasis is on m alt, and the taste of hops is practically absent. This beer is not particularly distinguished by its taste - it is simply a 100% Finnish beer. The analogues of the drink in Russia are B altika and Nevskoe.

Nikolai

Nikolai is an above-average Finnish beer. They named it so in honor of Nikolai Sinebryukhov. If you look closely, on one side of the bottle you can see a double-headed eagle, which symbolizes the Russian Empire. It has a higher strength than a regular lager, and has a sweet taste. Leaves a pleasant aftertaste. Available in three types: dark, light and non-alcoholic.

Karhu

The name of the beer translates as "bear". It is the most popular brand in the country. In 2010, beer ranked second in terms of sales. The drink is distinguished by the presence of a large fortress. Cereals are grown using special technologies, and m alt is supplied by the Finnish company Lahden Polttimo.

Products in this line are the Karhu III beer brands, in which the alcohol content is 4.6 percent of the container volume, as well as Tosi Vahva Karhu with 8 percent strength (light and very strong lager), Karhu Tumma I beer contains 2, 8 degrees (a light drink is considered low alcohol).

Lager is very common in Russia. Buying Finnish beer in St. Petersburg is as easy as shelling pears. It is enough to place an order on the well-known sites of the city selling a branded drink. Also, Finnish beer in St. Petersburg can be found at events dedicated to the day of beer or at other beer fests.