Drinking Beer: What else is there to do in Finland (apart from reindeer hunting)?

Hey Guys,

Beer's such a fascinating topic because, like many other great products such as music, art, and wine, it comes from all over the world and has so much room for innovation and accent. Two weeks ago, I dropped a review on a Danish-style ale brewed in Orange County CA. California beer may be my specialty, but I see so much diversity in brewing within the state itself. Like other key states of the Craft Beer Movement, we're seeing microbreweries turn classic beers from other regions of the world into revamped beer offspring. Go to a BevMo or a beer tasting and you'll see what I mean. Coastal wheats, California pale ales, and fruit-inspired beers are just a few examples of what's taking place not only in the massive US, but also in concentrated beer hubs such as the New England/mid-Atlantic region, Oregon, Colorado, Northern California, San Diego, etc. 

That said, I have done some exploring with lesser known beers from around the world, such as the Christmas ale that I believe inspired The Bruery's "Rugbrød" ale, which have gotten some big players in craft brewing to start scratching their beards. In this entry, I talk a little bit about a signature Finnish beer type known as sahti. Being a lesser known brew from a lesser known country, I am not surprised that its popularity in the American craft beer industry does not come to mind. However, I'm sure there are breweries out there investigating its properties and seeing what they can do to generate some interest from the American palette. For example, Dogfish Head brewery has already issued their own sahti. You can watch a great behind-the-scenes video here. 

The particular sahti I went after comes from the Kataja brewery; I am unsure as to where this brewery is located in Finland. Upon first pour, you'll notice that the beer pours out no defined head. As assumed, the carbonation of the beer is very low, allowing it to come off as more of a juice. Even when you look at it, you think to yourself "that can't be beer" because it looks more like an unfiltered dark apple juice. Regarding its taste, you will be surprised by the potpourri of flavors hitting your tongue. It's an unusual bombardment that I only can characterize as a liquid flower bed fused with a sour ale or cider. The beer is very complicated for my tasting experience, so I cannot give out the flavors confidently. That said, I did my research and found it interesting that the beer is commonly brewed with a strong use of juniper. It would be logical to an American beer drinking to see something like this more present in a hoppy ale, one that called for a kick to a higher level of carbonation. I cannot give a definitive conclusion about this beer other than that if you like skunky, sour tasting  beer and want to give Finland's finest a shot, I will not shake my head at you. I appreciate this beer for its cultural uniqueness, though I do not see myself purchasing it again. I will look into shati another time, but for now it's off to my fridge for a bottle of Unibroue Maudite. The glass is half full.

Cheers lads and ladies!
Pink