Sahti

Sahti

Sahti (SAHH-tee)

Finnish Farmhouse Ale

Prep Time 2 weeks (ferment)
📈 Difficulty Hard
👥 Servings
10

An ancient, unfiltered Finnish farmhouse ale brewed with juniper branches and a blend of grains, cloudy and richly aromatic.

Nutrition & Info

90 kcal per serving
Protein 2.0g
Carbs 20.0g

Dietary

vegetarian vegan dairy-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten

Equipment Needed

large brew kettle kuurna (trough filter) or large sieve fermentation vessel juniper branches

Presentation Guide

Vessel: wooden mug (haarikka)

Garnishes: juniper sprig

Accompaniments: rye bread, smoked fish

Instructions

  1. 1

    Crush malts and mix with oats. Mash with hot water at 65°C for 90 min in a large vessel.

  2. 2

    Line a kuurna (traditional wooden trough) or large sieve with juniper branches.

  3. 3

    Slowly lauter the mash through the juniper bed, collecting the sweet wort below. Recirculate once.

  4. 4

    Heat wort to 80°C briefly (sahti is minimally boiled). Cool to 20°C.

  5. 5

    Transfer to fermentation vessel. Add yeast. Ferment at room temperature for 5-7 days.

  6. 6

    The sahti is ready when fermentation slows. Serve unfiltered and fresh — it does not keep long.

💡

Did You Know?

Sahti is recognized by the EU as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed product, protecting its ancient brewing method.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

  • large brew kettle
  • kuurna (trough filter) or large sieve
  • fermentation vessel
  • juniper branches

Garnishing

juniper sprig

Accompaniments

rye bread, smoked fish

The Story Behind Sahti

Sahti is one of the oldest continuously brewed beer styles in the world, predating the use of hops in brewing. Finnish farmhouses have brewed sahti for at least 500 years, using juniper as both filter and flavoring. Each village had its own recipe, passed down through generations. The tradition nearly died out in the 20th century but has been revived by craft brewers.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed celebrations, harvest, sauna 📜 Origins: Medieval, possibly older

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