A group of experts from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have, for the first time, scientifically characterised Sahti beer – an old, home-brewed Finnish beer distinguished by its sweet and strong profile and exceptionally rich combination of fruity flavours.
The aim was to provide craft brewers outside of Finland an idea of how Sahti should taste, but this was complicated by the fact that the traditional beer doesn’t travel well because it is prone to spoilage. The study, which shows that Sahti beer differs from modern commercial beers in almost every respect, is therefore a useful reference point for beer makers, VTT Technical Research Centre said.
The 12 Sahtis sampled as part of the research were all very strong and sweet, and had flavour concentrations as much as ten times greater than the modern beers used as reference points; the bitterness levels were very low due to the absence of hops but they had an intense fruity flavour; and the average alcohol level was 8%.
The high sugar content in Sahti is one of the reasons for the short shelf life, which indirectly affects properties such as foam production: Sahti, like some English ales, has little or no foam.
The research results will be published in the Journal of the Institute of Brewing later.
VTT Technical Research Centre’s Brian Gibson said: “Understanding the properties of Sahti gives us an insight into how beers have evolved in the last 1,000 years. There is a global revival of interest in classic beer styles and many rather obscure ones are being recreated by craft brewers.
“The collection of samples in the study was relatively small and therefore regional differences in Sahti characteristics are not easy to detect. However, according to Sahti brewers there are clear differences throughout the country. There is certainly scope for further investigation.”
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