Editing Sahti

{{short description|Finnish beer}}
[[File:Lammin sahtia.JPG|thumb|Lammin Sahti, a [[Finland|Finnish]] sahti brand]]
[[File:Finlandia sahti.jpg|thumb|Finlandia sahti]]
'''Sahti''' is a Finnish type of [[farmhouse ale]] made from [[malt]]ed and unmalted [[cereal|grain]]s including [[barley]] and [[rye]]. Traditionally the beer is flavored with [[juniper]] in addition to, or instead of, [[hops]];<ref name="ovell">[http://www.posbeer.org/julkaisut/cf01.pdf Peter Ovell, "Finland's Indigenous Beer Culture."  Perinteisen Oluen Seura, Special Publications No 1, 1996. Helsinki.] (accessed 2017-11-21)</ref> the mash is filtered through juniper twigs into a trough-shaped tun, called a ''kuurna'' in [[Finnish language|Finnish]]. Sahti is [[Top fermentation|top-fermented]] and many have a banana flavor due to [[isoamyl acetate]] from the use of baking yeast, although [[Saccharomyces cerevisiae#Brewing|ale yeast]] may also be used in fermenting.

The end product is a cloudy beer with  [[phenol]]ic flavors and a distinct taste similar to [[banana]], balanced by the bitterness from the juniper branches. The carbonation level tends to be very low. Sahti was traditionally brewed as a [[farmhouse ale]],<ref name="rasanen"/> but commercial versions are now available. Commercial sahti is usually 8% [[Alcohol by volume|ABV]]. Sahti has to be stored cold until consumption and is therefore not available in all stores.

Within Finland, sahti has differing characteristics depending on which part of the country it is from. It is often known as [[Tavastia (historical province)|Tavastian]] beer from [[Häme Province|Häme]] (well-known ''sahti'' areas, such as [[Sysmä]], [[Joutsa]], [[Kuhmoinen]] and [[Lammi]], are in Häme) but it is also made in [[Southwest Finland|Finland Proper]] and some parts of [[Central Finland]]. Every year the Finnish sahti brewing championship is held on the first weekend in August.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sahti.org/smkilpailu.htm |title=Sahtiverkko - SM-kilpailu |website=Sahti.org |date=2019-03-08 |accessdate=2019-07-06 |archive-date=2018-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707115104/http://www.sahti.org/smkilpailu.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Brewing process ==
Traditionally, the most common ''sahti'' brewing process is using a long [[Mashing#Infusion mashing|step infusion mash]] that may last up to six hours, after which the wort is [[Lautering|lauter]]ed through the ''kuurna''. Unlike most beers, traditional sahti wort goes straight from the lauter tun to the fermenter without boiling.

However, this is only one of several brewing processes that have traditionally been used. Sahti has also been brewed as a stone beer, with infusion mashing, with variants of decoction mashing, by boiling the mash in the kettle, and so on. Some regions of Finland have called their farmhouse ale ''taari'', and in these areas different brewing processes appear to have been used, such as fermenting in the mash, and baking the wet malts in bread-like shapes before lautering.<ref name="rasanen">Matti Räsänen, "Vom Halm zum Faß." Kansatieteellinen arkisto, Helsinki, 1975. {{ISBN|9519056181}}.</ref>

== Commercial sahti brands ==
* Kellarin Varastopanimo Joutsa: Varastopanimon Sahti
* [[Panimoravintola Beer Hunter's]]: Mufloni Sahti (from [[Pori]])
* Finlandia Sahti and Finlandia Strong Sahti (from [[Sastamala]])
* Hartolan Sahti, known as Krouvin Sahti and Punakallion Sahti.
* Hollolan Hirvi Kivisahti
* Huvila sahti (from [[Savonlinna]])
* Joutsan Sahti
* Lammin Sahti (from [[Lammi]])
* Tiinan Sahti (from [[Sysmä]])
* [[Stadin Panimo]]: Stadin Sahti (from [[Helsinki]])
* Olu Bryki Raum / Vanhan Rauman Panimo: Kullervo (Rauma)

== In other countries ==
A farmhouse ale that in some cases is similar is brewed on the [[Sweden|Swedish]] island of [[Gotland]] (known as [[Gotlandsdricka]]). An even closer relative in terms of flavour is a farmhouse ale known as ''koduõlu'' (lit. "home beer"), brewed on the [[Estonia]]n islands in the Baltic.

In Estonia one commercial beer is sometimes described as "Estonian sahti", despite actually being an Estonian koduõlu:
* Pihtla Õlu from [[Pihtla õlleköök, Estonia]]

Finnish sahti has protected status in Europe,<ref name="DOORTSG">[http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/registeredName.html?denominationId=629 EU Profile-Sahti] (accessed 07/06/2009)</ref> so that in order to be described as sahti a beer must be brewed following something close to the traditional process and ingredients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/registeredName.html?denominationId=629|title=EAmbrosia|date=24 October 2023 }}</ref> Modern craft beer versions of sahti can be somewhat removed from the original style, because brewers may use more hops, might not use juniper twigs, could introduce more carbonation, boil the wort, and may not use Finnish baking yeast.

In many countries sahti has been the subject of recent interest by homebrewers and microbreweries who have brewed many takes on the style. It is not clear if any of them actually resemble the original Finnish sahti beers in any way, so in the EU most of these beers could not be marketed as sahti.

Other versions:

* Mad Scientist #19 from [[Sixpoint Brewery|Sixpoint Brewing]]
* [[Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)|Samuel Adams]]: Norse Legend sahti (from [[Boston]], Massachusetts, U.S.)
* [[Dogfish Head Brewery]]: Sah'tea (from Milton, Delaware, U.S.) made with masala chai and juniper berries
* Sahti Ale - [[New Belgium Brewing Company]] (from [[Fort Collins, Colorado]], U.S.)
* Parallel 49 Brewing Company "Sahti Claws"
* Sahti - Gambling Man Brewing Company, UK (The first true Sahti to be commercially brewed in the UK)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cannybrew.com/news/local-news/gambling-man-brewery-sahti-beer/|title=Gambling Man brews Scandinavian-style hopless Sahti beer|last=Brown|first=Michael|date=2014-04-14|website=Canny Brew|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>
* Ale Apothecary - "Sahati", a mixed fermentation ale lautered in a spruce kuurna with spruce branches
* Browar Pinta - "Koniec Świata" ([[Polish language|Polish]]: "The End of The World", owes its name to the date of its release to the market, which was supposed to be the end of the world), polish attempt of brewing Sahti beer. Made with juniper berries and branches.
* Bare Bear from [[Off Color Brewing]]
* Sahti - Kiitos Brewing, Salt Lake City Utah
* Ivar the Boneless - Proper Brewing, Salt Lake City Utah
* Löyly - HammerHeart Brewing Company, Lino Lakes Minnesota
* Ymir the Creator from [[High Ground Brewing]] in Terra Alta, WV
* Mānuka Sahti - Kererū Brewing, NZ
* Bushcrafter Sahti - Prairie Pride Brewing in Grand Island, NE
* Sauna Brau - Turnagain Brewing in Anchorage, AK
* Finnish Line - Independent Brewing in Bel Air, MD
* Osmotar Sahti - from Stonyslope Brewing Company in Calgary, AB, Canada

==See also==
{{portal|Beer}}

* [[Finnish cuisine#Beverages|Finnish beverages]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Alcoholic beverages}}

[[Category:Finnish alcoholic drinks]]
[[Category:Types of beer]]
[[Category:Beer in Finland]]
[[Category:Traditional Speciality Guaranteed products from Finland]]