Finland: Sinebrychoff develops Finland’s beer culture by launching three new limited editions

Finnish brewer Sinebrychoff said on June, 22 it was developing Finland's domestic beer culture by presenting a new Finnish Nikolai premium beer that will be sold for a limited period each year. The first of the series is Nikolai Vuosiolut 2011.

In September, Nikolai Vuosiolut 2011 4.5% will be sold in stores in 0.5-litre cans. In restaurants the 5% version of the beer will be sold in 33-cl glass bottles, the company said.

On the market since 1988, Nikolai beer is the Sinebrychoff brewmasters' tribute to Nikolai Sinebrychoff. The product family named for the founder of the brewery already includes Nikolai Vaalea Lager (Light Lager), Nikolai Tumma Lager (Dark Lager), as well as two completely non-alcoholic beers.

Nikolai Sinebrychoff began brewing beer at Suomenlinna. In 1819 he obtained permission to found a brewery in the Hietalahti section of Helsinki. In the 1850s Nikolai's brother Paul began to brew beer with the Bavarian bottom fermented process still used to brew domestic lagers.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary in August, the Lammin Sahti brewery will launch its Pöllö (Owl) beer, a darkish top fermented ale. In the autumn, Pöllö will supplement Sinebrychoff's House of Beer selection, which since March of 2007 has included another Lammin Sahti beer, Käki (Cuckoo).

Pöllö's alcohol content is 4.5%. Pöllö first appeared at the Helsinki Beer Festival in April. In the summer, Lammin Sahti will sell the beer through its own distribution channels, and in September Sinebrychoff will begin national distribution from restaurants.

The rock-style draught beer Saku Rock from the Estonian Saku brewery will supplement Sinebrychoff's House of Beer selection from early September until the end of November. The 5.3% lager will be sold in 30-litre kegs and enjoyed at approximately 130 beer restaurants.

Sinebrychoff provides beer restaurants with interesting draught beers from Finland and the rest of the world year round. House of Beer products are launched in December, April and September.

25 June, 2010