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. Finland's standing is 9th in per capita consumption of beer. Finnish people consume a total of 437 ML of beer annually and the trend is increasing by 11.7 633 mL bottles year-on-year.[1]
Sahti
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. Sahti is set apart from most beers by its distinct banana flavor.
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.[2] 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 usually used in Finland, however, it is used 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
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
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)