A Finnish Bear: Karhu A

Today’s beer was brought to me by a friend’s friend straight from it’s land of origin – Fnland. The name Karhu, as you can see in the title, translates as bear from Finnish.

• Name: Karhu A
• Brewery: Oy Sinebrychoff Ab
• City: Kerava
• Country: Finland

The label A suggest that this bear is the strongest in its breed, with 5,3% of alcohol. The color is clear and golden, and the foam topping it is very weak (less than a finger) and even this settles down to almost nothing quite fast. The smell is almost non-existant, save for the very weak aroma of malts. The taste is malty with the addition of pleasant hoppy bitterness, and the mild aftertaste.

There is nothing special about Karhu, but it still makes a pretty decent refreshment. But as the Finnish beers go, I had several much better than this one. So when I finally take a trip to Finland, I’ll make do with other beers they have to offer (most probably).

• Style: Pale Lager
• ABV: 5,3%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, starch, hops

RATINGS

• Appearance: 3 / 5
• Smell: 3 / 5
• Taste: 3,5 / 5
• Overall: 3,5 / 5

A True Hero of the War: Olvi Sandels IV A

Today’s beer has been named after a legendary war hero, Colonel Johan August Sandels, who led the outnumbered Swedish troops to victoty against the Russians during the Finnish War. A Scandinavian version of 300, in a way.

• Name: Olvi Sandels IV A
• Brewery: Olvi
• City: Iisalmi
• Country: Finland

First things first. I was wondering for some time what does IV A mean, and then discovered that these marks are a remnant of old Finnish tax classification, classifying beer according to the percentage of alcohol. Now, going back to Colonel Sandels. This was hero pours out with a typical pale gold color which is topped with a very decent white, foamy head. There is a slight smell of skunkiness just after openning the bottle, which is followed by a nice and familiar aroma of malts. The taste is a pleasant mixture of sweet and bitter, with a short and bitterish aftertaste. Nothing new, but still very nice and refreshing.

• Style: Pale Lager
• ABV: 5,3%
• Ingredients: water, barley malt, barley starch, hops

• Slogan: “Vahva ja pehmeä olut!” (Soft and Strong Beer!)

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4 / 5
• Smell: 3.5 / 5
• Taste: 3.5 / 5
• Overall: 3.5 / 5

Santa’s Present: Lapin Kulta IV A

• Name: Lapin Kulta IV A
• Brewery: Hartwall (Heineken)
• City: Lahti
• Country: Finland

Lapland’s Gold, as it is translated from Finnish, originates from Santa’s country of Lapland. It pours out with a typical lager-like golden color, which is covered with a nice white head. The aroma is nothing you haven’t smelled before – a typical hoppy aroma, which can be noted in most other lagers. The taste is slightly watery and sweet, with a pleasant slightly bitter aftertaste. All in all, a very smooth and refreshing beer from the far north, and one of my personal favourites.

• Style: Pale Lager
• ABV: 5,2%
• Ingredients: water, yeast, hops, barley malt

• Slogan: Kaukaa pohjoisesta! (From the Far North!)

RATINGS

• Appearance: 4,5 / 5
• Smell: 4 / 5
• Taste: 4 / 5
• Overall: 4 / 5