Good news from the Finnish parliament today, as the bill to allow small breweries to claim greater tax relief was passed.
Knock Knock
We already heard that a new “American-style” beer bar is set to open next month, at the site of The Stage on Iso Roba. A little more was revealed today about the newcomer, the third new beer-focused bar to open in Helsinki in as many months.
Trends for 2015!
Sour Grapes
I got a little surprise when I saw this month’s Ruoka & Viini magazine. Right there on the front cover, sandwiched between ice-cream soda and kefir, was hapanolut–sour beer–picked as a coming dining trend for this year. Continue reading Trends for 2015!
Enter the Lizard
Walking into Oljenkorsi last night, it was immediately obvious that something was Going On. All the staff were decked out in matching t-shirts, and the latest thing to come out of the wellspring of innovation in Espoo was already on tap: Fat Lizard‘s 101 California Pale Ale. Is that a good metaphor? Would a lizard come out of a spring? Who knows..
Before long, a van pulled up outside and sent forth a bunch of energetic-looking people, who carried with them some not-so-typical accessories. A frying pan. Bunch of coriander. Ok, cool, we might get some snacks. Is that a worm farm? Yes. Yes it is. Continue reading Enter the Lizard
Craft Beer on *ihan* Nyt
There was a pretty nice article in last Friday’s Nyt about the beer scene here. Using the opening of a couple of new craft-focused bars as a hook, it dug into the history of beer and brewing in Finland and came up with a few interesting things. Continue reading Craft Beer on *ihan* Nyt
Beware of the Dog?
Brewdog Helsinki opened its doors shortly before Christmas, but for various reasons I haven’t managed to visit until now.* Fashionably late, I am here now to answer the question that I asked myself a year ago: is this something new that will shake up the local bar scene, or just more of the same? Continue reading Beware of the Dog?
Shock as Sensible Comment heard from Finnish Parliament
In a rare departure from the norm, a member of the Finnish parliament has come out in support of not only small breweries, but beer culture in general. Continue reading Shock as Sensible Comment heard from Finnish Parliament
Keep the Change
The Helsinki bar ‘scene’ has seen some changes recently, with Viisi Penniä closing its doors for renovation over the summer, and most of S-Group’s Czech-themed bars undergoing a Nordic rebranding. But is this actual progress, or mere facelift? I wandered up Mannerheimintie last weekend to find out. Continue reading Keep the Change
Co-Brewing
This post contains water, malt, hops, yeast.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing
I started homebrewing about a year ago, mostly out of curiosity, but also mostly because of the ridiculous price/quality ratio we have to put up with here in Finland. I bought as little equipment as I could get away with, and so far I’ve made a few small batches (weizen, pale ale, stout) that ranged from reasonable to very tasty, and at a cost (ingredient-wise, at least) below even the most tasteless cheapest commercial beer.
I still consider myself an absolute beginner at this, but I’ve realised that even an absolute beginner can quite easily make a quality beverage, and learn something about what beer actually is at the same time. I wondered, then, if my self-proclaimed beginner status could make it easier to encourage other people to try brewing for themselves. Continue reading Co-Brewing
Ruosniemen Panimo interview, part 2
“For the love of beer”
In part one of my interview with Antti from Ruosniemen Panimo, we discussed the brewery’s origins, the Finnish brewing scene, and the value of collaborations. Here in part two, we talk about being a craft brewery, beer festivals, the power and responsibility of bar staff, and the Alko situation. Continue reading Ruosniemen Panimo interview, part 2