Põhjala Brewery
Estonia's largest craft brewery, known for porters and barrel ageing.
Põhjala Brewery, based in Tallinn, Estonia, takes its name from the Estonian phrase for "northern realm." It holds the title of the largest craft brewery in the Baltic states and is the only one from the region to have earned a spot on Ratebeer's global "top 100" list. The brewery specialises in porters, barrel-aged beers, and brews that incorporate ingredients foraged from Estonia's forests. Founded in 2011 by four local beer enthusiasts, the team soon brought in head brewer Chris Pilkington. Their first beer, Öö Imperial Baltic Porter, was produced under contract before their own brewery opened in Tallinn's Nõmme district in April 2014. A year later, they launched their first bar, Speakeasy, near the city's main railway station. In 2018, the company invested nearly 4.9 million euros to move production to a new facility in the Noblessner area. This brewery can produce an average of 1,200 hectolitres per month and fill 6,000 bottles per hour. The site also includes a laboratory, a shop, a sauna, and a taproom with 24 taps. In 2019, Põhjala ran a pop-up bar in Beijing, China. In 2021, the brewery sponsored the Põhjala disc golf marathon, with 300 competitors in Jõulumäe, Estonia. In 2022, they opened Põhja Konn bar in Tallinn's Telliskivi district, which exclusively serves Estonian craft beer from Põhjala and other local breweries. On 15 March 2023, Estonian president Alar Karis and German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the brewery. In April 2024, former head brewer Chris Pilkington and his wife Kristina launched their own brewpub, Tuletorn Brewing, in Tallinn's Kopli district. Põhjala's best-selling beer is Virmalised, an India pale ale that makes up over a quarter of total production. Beyond a core range, they produce many specials and have collaborated with breweries such as To Øl, Lervig, De Struise, Jester King, and Jing-A Brewing Co. Their Cellar Series focuses on dark, barrel-aged beers, while the Forest Series uses rare botanicals and forest ingredients. In 2021, 65 percent of production was exported, mainly to the Netherlands, Finland, France, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The brewery has faced criticism for using top fermentation in its Baltic porters, a style often associated with bottom or cold fermentation.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Brewing
- Founded
- 2011
- Founders
- Enn Parel · Peeter Keek · Gren Noormets · Tiit Paananen
- Hq Location City
- Tallinn
- Hq Location Country
- Estonia
- Key People
- Martin Vahtra (head brewer)
- Products
- Craft beer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The brewery was founded in 2011 by four Estonian beer enthusiasts, who were soon joined by head brewer Chris Pilkington. The first Põhjala beer, Öö Imperial Baltic Porter, was contract-brewed before the company's original brewery opened in Tallinn's Nõmme district in April 2014. In 2015, the company opened its first bar 'Speakeasy' near Tallinn's main railway station. In 2018, nearly 4.9 million euros were invested in moving production to a new brewery in the Noblessner area of Tallinn. The facility also houses a laboratory, shop, sauna and taproom with 24 taps. In 2019, Põhjala opened a pop-up bar in Beijing. In 2022, Põhjala opened Põhja Konn bar in the Telliskivi area of Tallinn, serving only Estonian craft beer. On 15 March 2023, Estonian president Alar Karis visited the brewery together with German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier. In April 2024, former head brewer Chris Pilkington and his wife Kristina opened Tuletorn Brewing, a brewpub in Tallinn's Kopli district.
Reader's Guide
Põhjala Brewery is significant as the largest craft brewery in the Baltic states and the only one to have been listed in the Ratebeer 'top 100' world breweries. Its best-selling beer is Virmalised, an India pale ale accounting for over a quarter of total production. The brewery produces a core range of beers as well as numerous specials, including the Cellar Series of dark, barrel-aged beers and the Forest Series using rare botanicals and forest ingredients. Põhjala has collaborated with craft brewers such as To Øl, Lervig, De Struise, Jester King and Jing-A Brewing Co. In 2021, 65 percent of its production was exported, with main foreign markets including the Netherlands, Finland, France, China, the United Kingdom and the United States. The brewery has been criticised for producing its Baltic porters using top fermentation rather than the bottom- or cold fermentation often used for the style. In 2020, Põhjala collaborated with Polish brewers Pinta to produce Baltic Pride, an imperial Baltic porter blending fresh bottom-fermented Baltic porter with barrel aged top-fermented Baltic porter. The brewery also organises the annual Tallinn Craft Beer Weekend, first held in 2015, featuring over 40 Estonian and international breweries showcasing over 200 beers.
Did You Know?
- Põhjala means 'northern realm' in Estonian.
- The brewery's first beer was Öö Imperial Baltic Porter, contract-brewed before its own brewery opened.
- In 2021, Põhjala sponsored a disc golf marathon with 300 competitors in Jõulumäe, Estonia.
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