In the 15th edition of the Best Beer of Finland competition Helsinki-based Olarin Panimo’s Trippin’ On Spruce Tips IPA was selected as the overall winner from over 300 entries. The beer also won the Spiced Beer category. In addition to the overall winner, more than fifty judges selected winners in 15 beer style categories, as well as the best gluten-free beer and the best sahti.
Best Beer of Finland 2026 competition was judged on 6–7 June. A total of 39 breweries entered 345 beers. The competition features 15 categories based on the internationally recognized Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) guidelines. Categories are reviewed and updated annually to reflect the needs of breweries and consumers.
A 57-member judging panel consisting of beer professionals, enthusiasts and consumers evaluated the entries through blind tasting, category by category, using the Beer Awards Platform (BAP) competition software. The system also provides written feedback for breweries. Judges are selected through an application process and receive training before the competition.
“First, the winners of the 15 categories are selected through blind tasting, during which judges are not told anything about the beer except its possible alcohol content and any declared spices,” says Competition Director Anikó Lehtinen.
There are no separate categories for sahti or gluten-free beer. Instead, the best examples are recognized with honorary awards based on their scores.
“By selecting the Best Sahti, we want to honor Finland’s traditional sahti brewing heritage. By recognizing the best gluten-free beer, we also wish to highlight beer’s suitability for people with celiac disease,” says Lehtinen.
“The category with the highest number of entries this year was the lightly hopped pale lager category,” says Head Judge Jussi Rokka. “A total of 41 beers were evaluated in that category. Almost as many – 40 entries – competed in the IPA category and the Pilsner or other strongly hopped pale lager category. Depending on their assigned categories, each judge evaluated around 60 beers. Once again, the judging panel worked with great focus and stayed well on schedule. The table captains expertly guided the category final discussions on Sunday to conclusions that satisfied all judges.”
“After the category finals, a separate final jury composed of beer professionals tastes all category winners and selects Best Beer of Finland – a beer with something truly special. After all, the 15 category winners are already the best examples of their respective styles,” Lehtinen adds.
The final jury was chaired by André Brunnsberg, President of the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) and an experienced beer judge. Other members included beer sommelier Maria Markus, beer judge Johanna Siik, food journalist Mariaana Nelimarkka, brewmaster Tapio Kangas-Heiska, beer author Jouni Koskinen, restaurant manager Mikko Hillu of Pikkulintu Myyrmäki, beer reviewer Patrik Westerback and Viking Malt brewmaster Raimo Koljonen.
“The task of the final jury was not easy. After an hour and a half of discussion among fifteen excellent and highly diverse beers, one beer emerged as the winner and was crowned Best Beer of Finland 2026,” Rokka summarizes.
Results with jury comments below.
Best Beer of Finland 2026
Trippin’ On Spruce Tips – Olarin Panimo
The beer combines a traditional American IPA with a distinctly Finnish ingredient: spruce tips. The pairing is highly successful, with the spruce tips complementing the citrusy and resinous character of American hops. The beer has a solid malt backbone, bitterness at an appropriate level for the style, and a dry finish that invites another sip.
A. Non-Alcoholic or Low-Alcohol Beer
- MYLLÄRI LOW ALC ALE 2-TIE, OlutMylly
A good and refreshing, well-balanced summer beer with a versatile, slightly tropical flavor. - Crisp Lager, Sinebrychoff Oy
An excellently executed light 0.0% lager. - Fat Lite Micro NEIPA, Fat Lizard Brewing Company
A balanced overall impression; a style-appropriate low-alcohol NEIPA.
B. Lightly Hopped Pale Lager
- Märichello, Olarin Panimo
A style-appropriate hoppy aroma profile. Balanced flavor with citrus and bitterness. A perfect summer beer to enjoy in the park. - Hartaa, Varikko Panimo
A balanced example of the Helles style, with pleasant grainy notes in both aroma and flavor. - Keisari Mexican Lager 4.5%, Nokian Panimo
A softly aromatic Mexican lager with a touch of floral character enhancing the flavor.
C. Pilsner or Other Strongly Hopped Lager
- Loisto West Coast Pils, Mathildedalin Kyläpanimo
Fresh and clean, with firm bitterness just as a pilsner should have. A ripe fruity note in the aroma brings greetings from the American West Coast interpretation of the style. - Luigi Italo Pils, Kanavan Panimo Oy
Fresh and easy-drinking, with acidity in the mouthfeel making it an excellent food beer. - Nikkari Pils, Maku Brewing
Floral character and crisp, style-appropriate hopping.
D. Other Pale Lager
- Teräs Strong Lager, Tornion Panimo
A successful strong pale lager praised for its drinkability. Despite its higher alcohol content, it remains balanced. A true summer lager! - KASKI Strong Lager, Takatalo & Tompuri
A balanced and refreshing representative of its style. - Mylläri Lager, OlutMylly
A light and highly drinkable lager.
E. Dark or Amber Lager
- KASKI Mustakaura, Takatalo & Tompuri
Style-appropriate, pleasantly roasted and refreshing. Excellent aroma and balance from start to finish. - Bock’s Doppelbock, Bocks Corner Brewery
Balanced and malty without being overly sweet. The alcohol is well hidden, making it dangerously drinkable. - Laiskajaakko, Teerenpeli Brewery & Distillery
A fine balance between roast character and drinkability. Clean flavor profile.
F. Pale or Amber Ale – SPONSORED BY VIKING MALT
- Lepaa Saison, Lepaan Panimo
Lively and refreshing, a modern and multifaceted saison. Highly drinkable and versatile as a food beer. - Fredrik, Mathildedalin Kyläpanimo
Balanced, style-appropriate and complex quadrupel. - Bellywasher, Iso-Kallan Panimo
A Scottish breakfast in a glass. Excellent malt profile.
G. APA or Session IPA
- HÖLLI Juicy Pale Ale, HIISI
Balanced and appropriately fruity for the style, yet bold and refreshing. - Mysteeri, Panimoyhtiö Tuju
Balanced and easy-drinking, a worthy representative of its style. - Sytytys: Micro NEIPA, Panimo Himo
Fresh, grapefruit-like and easy to drink.
H. Hazy IPA
- Mirage, Tired Uncle Brewing
Juicy and refreshing like pineapple juice, with exactly the aroma profile expected from the style. Lasting head, style-appropriate and an excellent performance by the brewery. - Cloud Strider, Mallassepät
Fruity and tropical, packed with flavor. A tasty and enjoyable beer. - Otaniemi Oriented, Masis Brewery
Grapefruit aroma and beautifully balanced bitterness. The alcohol is well hidden.
I. IPA
- Kiljuhanhi, Panimoyhtiö Tuju
Excellent appearance and head retention. Light grapefruit notes. Balanced and refreshing. The flavor remains enjoyable throughout the drinking experience. - Huima 44 IPA, Maku Brewing
Light, refreshing and highly drinkable, with excellent foam retention. - Green Riff, Varikko Panimo
Balanced, fruit-forward and smooth on the palate.
J. Wheat Beer
- Keisari Biere Blanc 5.2%, Nokian Panimo
Nuanced and versatile, with excellent balance. Style-appropriate color, slight haze and lasting head. Pleasant aftertaste. - Kukko Vehnä, Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas
A classic, style-true Weissbier. - RPS Rock Blanc, RPS Brewing
Pleasantly tropical and fruity, with hints of honey.
K. Stout or Porter – SPONSORED BY VIKING MALT
- Treasure the Memories, Olarin Panimo
A robust, classic imperial stout in which strong roasted notes beautifully highlight coffee and chocolate aromas. - Vanilla Stout, Mallassepät
Bottled campfire marshmallow. A dessert in itself. - Masuuni Imperial Stout 9%, Mathildedalin Kyläpanimo
Licorice-forward, roasty and highly drinkable imperial stout.
L. Sour Beer, Unflavored or Flavored
- Vanilla Pear Pie, Mallassepät
Inviting vanilla aroma. Complex and smooth. Pie-like flavor with a gentle dessert character. Do you remember what childhood summer tasted like? - Raspberry Vanilla Sour 5%, CoolHead Brew
Berry-forward with vanilla providing balance. Like a berry pie baked by your grandmother. - SOURMA Barrel Aged Brettanomyces Cherry Sour, HIISI
Wine-like, full-bodied and multidimensional. A flavor profile for adult palates.
M. Spiced Beer
- Trippin’ On Spruce Tips, Olarin Panimo
A wonderful union of hops and spruce tips. Faithful to the style, with seasoning that elevates the flavor experience to a new level. - Korven Kutsu Wild Alder Smoked Lager, Karvilan Panimo
Elegant and refined. Spruce tips and smoke complement each other beautifully. - NOPPA Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, HIISI
The spices shine in harmony with the appropriate roastiness. Perfectly balanced.
N. Barrel-Aged / Matured Beer
- Fat Barrel 08: Bardstown Bourbon, Fat Lizard Brewing Company
Balanced and approachable. Coffee and chocolate are beautifully present. - Vanttera, Mallassepät
Aromas of bourbon whiskey and maple syrup are maturely integrated in both aroma and flavor. - IKIIURSO Imperial Stout, HIISI
A fine combination of oak and bourbon character, resulting in a flavorful whole.
O. Other Beers
- KASKI Cold-Smoked Lager, Takatalo & Tompuri
Sophisticated smoky aroma and excellent drinkability. A balanced base style. Perfect for the summer table or after a sauna. - Lammin Sahti, Lammin Sahti
A suitably sweet and full-bodied Sahti. Attractive color. Juniper shines beautifully. - The Dark Place, Masis Brewery
The base style is well chosen, with licorice-like maltiness nicely supported by salty licorice notes. Just the right amount of candy-shop character.
Best Sahti
Lammin Sahti – Lammin Sahti
Best Gluten-Free Beer
Fat Barrel 08: Bardstown Bourbon – Fat Lizard Brewing Company
About the Competition
Best Beer of Finland competition is open to all beers produced in Finland by commercial Finnish breweries and available in regular retail sales. It is the only competition dedicated exclusively to Finnish beers and includes both large and small breweries.
Founded in 2011, the competition aims to encourage consumers to explore different beer styles, improve the status and appreciation of Finnish beer, and help consumers discover new occasions for enjoying beer. For breweries, it offers an opportunity to showcase their products to a wider audience and supports the activities of beer consumers and beer clubs.
The competition is directed by Anikó Lehtinen, Chair of Olutliitto, with veteran beer journalist and judge Jussi Rokka serving as Head Judge and beer industry professional Veera Savolainen as Competition Master.
The main partner of the competition is Viking Malt, which also sponsors the Pale & Amber Ale and Stout & Porter categories and awards additional prizes to category finalists. Other partners include Suuret Oluet – Pienet Panimot, Panimo- ja virvoitusjuomateollisuusliitto, Pienpanimoliitto, Rastal, Hedvi, AEB Brewing, BrewOS, Olutliitto and Perho Culinary, Tourism & Business College. Media partner: Juomaposti.
The competition is approved by the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) and is jointly organized by the Finnish Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry (Panimo- ja virvoitusjuomateollisuusliitto), and the Finnish Craft Brewers Association (Pienpanimoliitto), with practical arrangements managed by the Beer Association of Finland.
