BJCP 27 · Historical Beer
Sahti
A traditional Finnish beer with rye and juniper, fermented with baker's yeast: thick, sweet, low in bitterness and nearly flat.
Sahti by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 7.0 – 11.0%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 0 – 15 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 4 – 22 SRM8–43 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.076 – 1.120on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.016 – 1.038on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Sahti is like
A strong, sweet farmhouse beer with rye, juniper aromas and banana and clove character from the bread yeast. It's drunk young and with very little carbonation.
Appearance
Gold to dark brown, usually hazy. Little head.
Aroma
Sweet malt and rye, juniper with its resinous or woody edge, and banana esters with a little clove. Low to no hops.
Flavor
Sweet and malty, with rye bread, juniper and banana. Very low bitterness, sometimes only from the juniper. The alcohol shows a bit but should be smooth.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full body, thick. Low to no carbonation, with some alcohol warmth.
Where Sahti comes from
It has been brewed for centuries on Finnish farms for celebrations. The wort was filtered through juniper branches in a wooden trough called a kuurna, and it often wasn't boiled.
Ingredients
Pilsner or pale malt with rye malt and sometimes other grains. Juniper branches for filtering and sometimes berries. Little or no hops, and Finnish baker's yeast or a Weissbier yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Sahti at home
Lay juniper branches in the bottom of your lauter tun and add rice hulls because of the rye. If you skip the boil, as tradition does, at least hold the wort hot for a while to reduce the risk of infection, or give it a short boil. Ferment at 18-22 °C (64-72 °F) with bread yeast or Weissbier yeast, and drink it young with very little carbonation.
Food pairing
Smoked fish, rye bread and aged cheeses.
Glassware: Teku glass, a tasting glass that works with almost any style.
Classic examples
- Lammin Sahti
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Sahti?
Between 7.0% and 11.0% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a very high strength.
How bitter is Sahti?
It has 0 to 15 IBUs, a very low bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Sahti?
Yellow to dark brown: 4 to 22 SRM (8 to 43 EBC).
What food pairs well with Sahti?
Smoked fish, rye bread and aged cheeses.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Weizenbock, Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer and Old Ale.
If you like Sahti, try these
Classification and statistics: official Sahti guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.