Sahti is a traditional Finnish unfiltered beer primarily made from barley malt, with small amounts of rye malt, and occasionally wheat and oats. Originating from Finland, it has an alcohol content of 7-9% and features a distinctive banana flavor with juniper bitterness.
How it is made
Sahti is made by mashing mixed grains with water at 50-70°C for several hours to convert starch into sugar. No additional sugars or syrups are added. The wort is then boiled, filtered, and cooled before yeast is added. Fermentation takes several days, followed by a cold conditioning period of two weeks, during which the beer clarifies and carbonates naturally under slight pressure.
History
Sahti has been protected in the European Union as a traditional national product since 2002, similar to how 'lambic' is protected. The name's origin is uncertain but may derive from German 'saf', meaning juice. Besides Finland, it is also produced in Sweden (as 'dricku'), and in Estonia (as 'koduõlu' or 'taluõlu').
Types and styles
Sahti ranges in color from yellow to dark brown depending on its components. It is characterized by its distinctive banana flavor combined with juniper bitterness. Unlike most beers, hop is rarely used in production. The beer is fresh and typically stored for about a month in suitable conditions like a cellar.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Сахти, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.