Sahti Country

Sahti is a farmhouse ale that has been brewed in the Hame region of southern Finland for centuries and survived when equivalent traditions elsewhere in Europe died out. It is made from barley and rye malt, filtered through a trough of juniper branches rather than a conventional lauter, fermented with baker's yeast at warm temperature and left unfiltered and largely uncarbonated, which produces something cloudy, sweetish, strong and full of banana and clove notes from the yeast. It is drunk fresh and does not travel or keep well. Small commercial brewers around Lammi, Padasjoki and Hollola make it, and the tradition is recognised in European law as a protected speciality.

What you actually see

• Juniper trough filtering - branches used in place of a conventional filter.
• Baker's yeast fermentation - the source of the banana and clove character.
• Cloudy, uncarbonated ale - the finished drink as it is served.
• Small Hame breweries - the producers who kept the tradition going.

When to go

Year round, though it is traditionally tied to midsummer, harvest and Christmas. Half a day. Visits to small brewers need arranging in advance. It is drunk fresh.

Honest expectations

It is strong, sweet and unlike commercial beer, and plenty of visitors dislike it. It does not keep, so taking it home rarely works. Producers are small and rural; turning up unannounced usually fails. Finland enforces zero tolerance for drivers.

Nearby

Lahti is north-east; Hameenlinna lies south-west.