Takatalo & Tompuri Brewery’s Kaski mustakaura 5.0% has won the Finland’s best beer 2023 competition.
The best beer in Finland has been chosen as Kaski mustakaura 5.0%, which convinced both Finnish and international judges in the final of the competition. The beer is the handiwork of Takatalo & Tompuri Brewery located in the Estonian Gulf of Kymenlaakso. They run the family business Mikko and Marjo Suur-Uski. The malted barley and oats used in the farm brewery’s beer come from its own fields.
450 different beers from 53 different breweries had been entered for the competition. From the announced beers, the winners of the competition series were selected by a jury of more than fifty people, and from these, with the help of the international final jury, the best beer in Finland 2023.
The final jury consisted of Finnish and international beer professionals. The chairman was an experienced international beer judge André Brunnsberg.
– In the competition, all beers are on the same line, because they are judged completely blind, says the competition director, chairman of the Beer Association Anikó Lehtinen in the bulletin.
– We do not publish the names of the participating breweries in the competition, so that our judges do not have preconceived notions about the beers. That way, only the taste of the beer decides. Our judges broadly represent the Finnish beer taste: there are enthusiasts, the restaurant and retail industry, beer media as well as beer lovers starting their hobby. Applications are made to become a judge, and everyone must complete a judge training course before the competition.
Finland’s best beer 2023: KASKI Mustakaura 5.0 t% (Takatalo and Tompuri Oy)
Kimmo-Pekka Toivola/Olutliitto
Series winners:
International pale lager: Pumpable barbarian, 5.0%, Münich Helles, Brewery company TuJu
Beer: Barley Grind, 5.3%, German pilsner, Olari Brewery
Other pale lagers: 1873 Honey bock, 7.3%, Helles Bock, Tornion Brewery
Dark or colored lager: KASKI Mustakaura, 5.0%, schwarzbier, Takatalo & Tompuri Brewery
Light or medium dark ale: Lammin Sahti, 7.5%, sahti, Lammin Sahti
APA and Session IPA: Borgå Hazy Session IPA, 4.3%, session IPA, Vanhan Porvoo brewery
NEIPA: Neon Beast, 6.0%, cloudy IPA, Salama Brewing
IPA: Splitty Westy West Coast DIPA, 8.0%, American IPA, Fat Lizard Brewing Company
Stout and porter: Lauha, 9.0%, imperial stout, Kakola Brewing Company
Wheat beer: Wheat, 4.7%, wheat beer, Hailuoton Brewery
Unflavored and flavored sour beers: Vanilla Ducks, 5.0%, flavored sour beer, Etko
Flavored beers: Pumpkin Ale, 8.0%, fall cells, Mallaskuun Brewery
Aged beers: DBA Big Mommam 10.4%, barrel aged beer, Olari Brewery
Non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers: Crisp Lager, 0.0%, non-alcoholic beer, Sinebrychoff
Other beers: KASKI Mustasavu, 4.6%, smoked beer, Takatalo & Tompuri Brewery
Honorable mention, Best gluten-free beer 2023: Cheers! for Uncles 5.5 t%, German pale Export beer, Tired Uncle Brewing