Forest Series — Põhjala Brewery

Kõu

Imperial Gose 7.5% vol

A luscious imperial gose brewed with honeyberries, blueberries and heather honey.

Taste: The flavor is tart and berry-forward. It resembles sour blueberry jam mixed with light honey-like sweetness. While the initial impression is refreshing and fruity, the aftertaste leans drier and slightly mineral, developing a faint mossy character similar to the aroma.

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Appearance: A clear, bright beer with a slightly rust-colored reddish colour and a smaller side off-white head.

Nose: The initial aroma is pleasantly berry-like, with blueberry taking center stage. In the background, there are subtle hints of forest floor moss, and with careful attention, a delicate touch of salty minerality can also be detected.

Malts: Pilsner, wheat malt, heather honey

Hops: Honeyberries, blueberries, coriander seeds, pink Himalayan salt, Magnum

OG 18.9° ; FG 6.5° ; IBU 20

Serve 6–10 °C

Kuusk

IPA 6% vol

A resinous and zesty IPA brewed with American hops and Estonian spruce tips.

Taste: Citrus-forward at first, with bursts of grapefruit zest and lemon, which is later complemented by the resinous spruce notes and piney hop bitterness. As the beer settles on the palate, its intense resinous character subsides, leaving room for the biscuity malt profile and subdued malt sweetness.

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Appearance: A lemon-yellow beer with a pristine white head.

Nose: Bold and resinous, with notes of freshly cut lime fruits and springtime spruce shoots.

Malts: Pilsner zero

Hops: HBC 431, Mosaic, Columbus, spruce tips

OG 14.5° ; FG 3.2° ; IBU 35

Serve 6–10 ˚C

Heli

Imperial Gose 8% vol

A 50/50 blend of barrel aged and fresh imperial goses, brewed with sloe berries and lemon thyme.

Taste: Starts out soft and pillowy, before giving way to vibrant acidity, bursting with notes of wild strawberries, sloe berries and a hint of cranberry. The jammy fruit character is complimented the by herbaceous and citrusy notes of lemon thyme. Refined character and tannins of French oak lead to a dry finish of an otherwise full-bodied beer.

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Appearance: Bright red with a firm pink head.

Nose: Layers of red summer berries and lemon zest fill the nose, underlying the bouquet of a flourishing herb garden.

Malts: Pilsner zero, wheat malt, torrified wheat, cookie malt

Hops: Sloe berries, Hüll melon, Hallertau blanc, lemon thyme, lemon zest, coriander seeds, pink Himalayan salt

OG 22° ; FG 6.8° ; IBU 13

Serve 6–10 ˚C

Rännak

Gose 4.5% vol

A dry-hopped sour wheat beer brewed with spruce tips, quince, coriander seeds and pink Himalayan rock salt. Made in collaboration with Stillwater®.

Taste: Moderately hoppy and tart with a fresh spruce tip character that extends well into the end. Notes of vibrant quince come in along with white grapefruit and lime, which play well with the saline and refreshingly tart finish.

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Appearance: A golden beer with a pillowy white head.

Nose: Bright forest freshness, complemented by notes of grapefruit zest, wild mint, lemongrass and a hint of malty sweetness.

Malts: Pilsner Zero, spelt flakes, wheat malt, dextrin malt

Hops: El Dorado, Citra, quince, spruce tips, coriander seeds, salt

OG 13.6° ; FG 5.2° ; IBU 15

Serve 6–10 ˚C

Birchy

DDH DIPA 7% vol

A juicy DIPA brewed with toasted birch bark and hopped with Vista and Mosaic BBC.

Taste: Sweet overripe fruits and peach rings are balanced by a firm, birchy tannin. Freshly zested grapefruit and floral herbal character follow, with a gently sour tingle of freshly foraged spruce tips and black lime. Dank hops and a woody bitterness linger, balancing the sweet malt character.

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Appearance: Hazy mandarin orange with a beige head.

Nose: Intense mango, guava, and pink grapefruit on the nose, followed by an alluring forest like aroma of fresh pears and petrichor. Fresh, juicy peach and hints of spice appear as the beer warms, with more pleasant earthiness leading you in.

Malts: Pilsner zero, Wheat

Hops: Mosaic, Vista, Mosaic BBC, Birch bark

OG 18.9° ; FG 5.5° ; IBU 30

Serve 6–10 ˚C

Välk

Imperial Gose 8% vol

An Imperial Gose brewed with bilberry and sage.

Taste: Sweet fruits roll over the tongue - redcurrant, strawberry, and above all, freshly picked bilberries at peak ripeness. A gentle creamy malt sweetness comes in, with hints of herbal flavours adding a delicate touch of spice to the aftertaste. Returning for another sip more balanced fruity acidity comes through, with notes of blood orange and a lingering taste of yet more freshly squeezed bilberry flavours.

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Appearance: Vibrant rose red with a pink head.

Nose: Jammy sweet red fruits and tannins, creamy berry soaked yoghurt, and just a hint of herbal woodiness and eucalyptus.

Malts: Pilsner zero, wheat malt, flaked spelt

Hops: Hallertau Blanc, Idaho Gem, Saphir, Bilberries, Sage

OG 20.2° ; FG 7.4° ; IBU 10 ; TA 10.8 g/l lactic acid

Serve 6–10 ˚C

Torm

Imperial Gose 8% vol

Seasonal

A strong sour and salty wheat beer brewed with lingonberry, heather tips, and honey.

Taste: First comes an inviting honey like sweetness and sourdough bread, balanced by a cascade of lingonberry and fruit character. Smooth wheat slides in, followed by freshly zested lemon riding in with the acidity, whilst a crisp berry bitterness comes through on the aftertaste.

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Appearance: Rose gold with a light pink hue.

Nose: Lingonberries and freshly blooming heather.

Malts: Pale malt, Wheat malt, Flaked Spelt, Flaked Wheat

Hops: HBC 431, Coriander seeds, Lingonberries, Honey, Heather tips, Himalayan pink salt

OG 17.5° ; FG 2.5° ; IBU 10 ; TA 6.7 g/l lactic acid ; 3.2pH

Serve 6–10 ˚C

Forest Bänger

Imperial Stout 12.5% vol

Retired

A banging Imperial stout brewed with smashed rowan berries, Estonian juniper wood, and smoked malts.

Taste: Smooth, rich berries mix with an explosion of smoke and spice - fennel, molasses, grape, pine resin and the hint of pipe tobacco.

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Appearance: Jet black with a dark brown head.

Nose: Freshly chopped juniper wood and tarry, campfire smoke mingles with overripe rowan berries, freshly fallen from the tree branches. Hints of moss and light marzipan follow, with an assertive touch of steeped Lapsang Souchong black tea leaves.

Malts: Pale malt, Munich malt, Carafa Special T-2, Dark chocolate malt, Chocolate rye malt, Birch smoked rye malt, Special B, Cara 300, Cherry smoked pale malt, Peated malt, Flaked oats, Demerara sugar

Hops: Columbus, First Gold, Rowanberries, Juniper wood

OG 29.5° ; FG 9.5° ; IBU 35

Serve 12–16 ˚C

Porcini

Salted porcini porter 9% vol

Retired

A salted Baltic porter brewed with porcini mushrooms and smoked malts.

Taste: Smoked mushrooms and dark chocolate, mineral salt and gentle umami notes come through first. Toasted oak and hints of red fruits follow, before a more prominent and distinctive porcini note joins in, layering a full mouthfeel with yet more umami. Gentle bitterness follows, with just a hint of sweet biscuity malt to finish, leading you out of the woods and back to civilisation.

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Appearance: Pitch black with a brief dark coffee-like foam.

Nose: Like the open door of an old smoke sauna, aromas of juniper, birch, and hints of fried porcini come through with hints of honey and spice.

Malts: Pale malt, Carafa T-2 Special, Pear smoked rye malt, Flaked oats, Cara pale, Chateau biscuit malt, Cherry smoked rye malt, Peated black malt, Peated rye malt, Peated malt, Crystal 300, Birch smoked rye malt

Hops: Columbus, Chinook, Porcini mushrooms, Himalayan pink rock salt

OG 21.6° ; FG 5.5° ; IBU 45

Serve 12–16 ˚C

Port Over Easy

Port Wine BA Imperial Baltic Porter 10.5% vol

Retired

Collab with Jester King. A Baltic Porter brewed with carmelised Estonian birch syrup and Texan soul, aged in Port Wine barrels.

Taste: Sweet sticky port wine comes through followed by a slight vanilla taste, reminiscent of toasted Juniper branches and stewed mulberries - lingering on the finish is a smooth taste of mineral rich birch syrup, as if poured over freshly made oat porridge served with a side of plum jam.

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Appearance: Jet black with a reddish-brown head.

Nose: Rich raisins, dark chocolate, and candied almonds leap out of the glass, with a fresh aroma of the forest.

Malts: Pale malt, Munich malt, Rye malt, Flaked oats, Carafa 2 Special, Cara Pale, Chocolate malt, Cara 150, Dark Birch syrup, Demerara sugar

Hops: Northern Brewer

OG 24.5° ; FG 6° ; IBU 35

Serve 12–16 ˚C

Nõmme

Birch and Juniper Ale 6.5% vol

Retired

Birrificio Italiano collab. Traditional style ale brewed with birch bark, juniper, and spruce tips

Video: The making of Nõmme ↗

Taste: Refreshing juniper jumps out at first, before the birch juice comes and leaves a long lasting body. A sweet malty almost sahti-like mouthfeel rounds out the taste with a hint of acidity following it, before being washed down by the fresh zest of the spruce. Finally, juniper leaves a lingering freshness on the tongue.

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Appearance: Straw golden with a white head.

Nose: Strong birch and ready malts on the nose with just a hint of fragrant citrus fruits.

Malts: Pilsner malt, pale malt, munich malt, rye malt

Hops: Eureka, Bramling X, birch bark, juniper branches, spruce tips

OG 14.6° ; FG 2.6° ; IBU 15

Serve 6–10 ˚C

Laugas

Barrel Aged Imperial Gruit 12.3% vol

Retired

A traditional ale, spiced with Estonian herbs, caraway and juniper berries, aged in bourbon barrels.

Taste: Rich sweet malty notes come through, before being dashed through with the somehow citrusy taste of juniper berries drying by a fireplace. Earthy spices then appear, including long forgotten herbal aromas that are strangely familiar, as if remembering a childhood hike through nature, or the wild, gnarly, primeval end of your grandmothers herb garden.

As the beer warms, even the bitterness starts coming through as a rounded, medicinal quality rather than aggressive hops.

Finally, the gentle carbonation lifts the creamy notes from the bourbon barrels, adding a delicate smoothness to the beer.

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Appearance: Copper red with a quickly fading beige head.

Nose: Bourbon vanilla and toffee comes through at first, joined by hints of a jammy Berry character. As the head dissipates some aromas of farmhouse bread spice start to dominate, before being joined by a sweet and spicy herbal character - rosemary, eucalyptus and more.

Serve 12–16 ˚C

Mets

Black IPA 7% vol

Retired

A forest-inspired black IPA brewed with hand picked spruce tips and forest blueberries.

Taste: A rich citrus hop character and intense lemony touch from spruce tips hit the tongue first. Berries and red fruits - blueberries, raspberries, and redcurrant come through, balanced by an assertive bitterness. Slight coffee notes compliment a rich caramel maltiness.

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Appearance: Jet black with a dark brown head.

Nose: Spruce tips, blueberry leaves, pine resin jump out of the glass - the smells of a forest morning after rainfall.

Malts: Pale malt, Munich malt, Cara Pale, Cara 150, Cara 300, Black Malt, Carafa Type 2 Special, Flaked Barley

Hops: Magnum, Amarillo, Columbus, Mosaic, Yellow Sub, spruce tips, forest blueberries

OG 16.4° ; FG 3.5° ; IBU 40

Serve 6–14 ˚C

Kalana

Brown ale with Vanilla and Pine needles 8% vol

Retired

Brown ale brewed with hand picked pine needles from Kalana village and fresh vanilla pods.

Taste: Toasted dark rye bread with a resiny, pine kick - more vanilla follows through and merges with the sweetness of the malt, leaving a full and creamy aftertaste.

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Appearance: Deep brown with a fluffy cream head.

Nose: Rich, sweet, vanilla creme brûlée comes through, followed by a malty sweetness - hints of a winter forest come through, beckoning you to explore.

Malts: Pale malt, Munich malt, Cara 50, Brown malt, Cara pale, Flaked oats, Rye malt, Amber malt, Cara 150

Hops: Magnum, Centennial, Simcoe, Pine needles, Vanilla pods

OG 19° ; FG 4.5° ; IBU 35

Serve 8–12 ˚C