Beer in Finland

Finland has a long beer history. It dates back to the Middle Ages. The first brewery in Finland and Nordic countries was Sinebrychoff, founded in 1819. "Suomalaisen oluen päivä", or the Finnish Beer Day is celebrated on the 13th of October to commemorate the founding of Oy Sinebrychoff Ab and the birth of Finnish beer. The largest Finnish brewers are Hartwall, Olvi and Sinebrychoff. Most of the beers brewed in Finland are pale lager.

Sahti is a traditional Finnish beer, which contains some oats and was traditionally made at home. It was often praised by the beer connoisseur Michael Jackson in his writings, although not very popular anymore it often is still served at weddings and other special occasions.

Finnish beer tax-classes

Beer was classified into tax classes by law in Finland until the year 1995 when Finland joined the European Union. After joining EU the law was reformed so that the tax is set directly by the percentage of alcohol by volume contained in the product: with 0,5-2,8% beers 2 cents/cl of alcohol, with beers over 2,8% 21,40 cents/cl. However, the old classifications are still voluntarily used widely and the old tax-clases are still often marked on the products and advertisements.

	percentage by volume	sold in restaurants	sold in stores	notes
I-beer	0,0% - 2,8%	yes	yes	doesn't require a license
II-beer	2,8% – 3,7%	yes	yes	not used usually in Finland, however in use in Sweden
III-beer	3,7% - 4,7%	yes	yes	known as "keskiolut", the most popular class of beer in Finland
IVA-beer	4,8% - 5,2%	yes	no	steep taxation before the 1995 reform, usually sold as Export-beers
IVB-beer	5,2% - 8,0%	yes	no	steep taxation before the 1995 reform, usually sold as Export-beers

Prohibition

Main article: Prohibition in Finland

Prohibition started in Finland on the 1st of June 1919 and lasted almost 13 years, during which the production, import, sales, transportation and storage of alcohol products was only allowed for medicinal, scientific or technical purposes. A referendum on the continuation of prohibition was held starting on the 29th and closing on the 30th of December 1931. The referendum closed with a 70% majority and resulted in the ending of prohibition on the 5th of April 1932 at 10:00 when the new state owned alcohol retail stores opened their doors to customers.

Finnish breweries

• Auran panimo
• Bock
• C. A. Robsahmin Portteripanimo (sold in 1895)
• Finlandia Sahti
• Hartwall (Karjala)
  • Lapin Kulta (owned by Hartwall)
• Koskipanimo
• Kotkan Höyrypanimo
• Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas (Kukko)
• Lammin Sahti
• Mallaskoski (KUOHU, HÄJY, KOMIA, MAKIA)
• Malmgårdin Panimo
• Nokian Panimo (Keisari, Året Runt)
• Olvi (Olvi, Sandels)
• Palvasalmi (bankrupt)
• Saimaan Olut (SAIMAA, MARSALKKA, ROKRAMMI, LUOSTARI)
• Sinebrychoff (Karhu, Koff)
  • Porin panimo (owned by Sinebrychoff)
• Stadin Panimo
• Suomenlinnan Panimo
• Vakka-Suomen Panimo
• Ålands Byggeri (Stallhagen)

Finnish brewery restaurants

• Hollolan Hirvi
• Panimoravintola Beer Hunter's
• Panimoravintola Bruuveri
• Panimoravintola Huvila
• Panimoravintola Koulu
• Panimoravintola Plevna
• Perho (restaurant)
• Ravintola Herman

Most important Finnish beers

• Karhu
• Karjala
• Koff
• Lapin Kulta
• Olvi
• Sandels

Annual Finnish beer events

• Helsinki Beer Festival (held since 1997)
• Isojano-tapahtuma (held since 1993)
• Olutfestivaalit (held since 1990)
• Sahdinvalmistuksen SM-kisat (Finnish sahti brewing championships, held since 1992)
• Suomalaiset sahtipäivät (held since 1995)
• Suuret oluet – pienet panimot (held since 2003)