Finnish Your Beer: Kalevala Sahti

Ahh ... sahti . It's like drinking a Christmas tree. For those of you who may be rye-curious, here's one way to craft a pint of piney cheer:

Kalevala Sahti: the recipe (five gallons)

• 9 lbs Munich 40 EBC
• 9 lbs malted rye
• 1 lbs flaked oats
• 1 lb rice hulls
• 1 oz Northern Brewer pellets (mash hop)
• 2 lbs (approx) fresh, non-chemically sprayed juniper branches (watch out for Xmas wreaths, y'all)
• Wyeast 1007

Kalevala Sahti: the process Layered juniper branches over the false bottom in mash tun; add grist, mash hops, and strike water. Step mashed with rests at 90, 120, 150, and 160 F. Ran the wort off and let cool overnight (if it's -20 F air temp, you'll be authentically Finnish). Pitched yeast the following morning. Fermented at 68 F for about 8 days ... then kegged. Yup, she's boozy, yeasty, and ready to drink.

Kalevala Sahti: the tasting notes

Appearance - golden orange, turbid, dense white foam (we carbonated it more than is traditional) Aroma - balance is way towards intense, pungent, resiny juniper (pine sap and needles) with spicy grain at the back Flavor - more of that juniper character, strong in the front and tapering through the middle, grudgingly sharing room with bready malt, spicy rye and a suggestion of oats and alcohol. Surprisingly smooth and balanced for a beer of this gravity with nothing but mash hops. Prickly, piney evergreen tree in the aftertaste. Body - oily and warming Overall - not as unfamiliar or weird as it might sound ... it's not such a huge leap from Chinook and Simcoe to actual pine bough flavor. And definitely drinkable! Juniper does a nice job standing in for hops and offsetting the sweetness of a doppelbock-strength grain bill. And finally ... Optimally enjoyed next to an ice floe in a t-shirt on a cold Minnesota day. Don't forget to pour a little out for your homies in Lappland!