How to Identify Sahti Style Beer

Sahti is one of the oldest styles of beer still made in Western Europe. It originated in Finland during the 1500s, when peasants brewed the first varieties of the style, and it's still largely a local beer, although you can find some varieties in other parts of the world. Many Finns brew Sahti in their saunas.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Examine the beer's color. This brew comes in various colors, but the most common shade is a dark, reddish-brown.

2. Look for clouds. Because brewers don't boil the beer, Sahti contains proteins and leftover yeasts that gives the brew a cloudy appearance.

3. Note the lack of bitteness. Brewer don't use hops in Sahti, so this is a much smoother drink than most beers.

4. Break down the flavors in your mouth. Brewers filter the Sahti mash in a trough filled with juniper twigs and berries, infusing the beer with their distinctive bites.

5. Check the beer's alcohol content. Sahti's fairly high in alcohol for a beer, with an 8 to 11 percent ABV. This is due partly to how Sahti ages during the brewing process.

6. Taste the beer for hints of banana. The special baker's yeast brewers use to ferment the different grains in Sahti gives the final beer a distinctly banana-like flavor.

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