Põhjala — A Ton Of Honey

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose unveils deep honeycomb sweetness interwoven with dark chocolate, toasted oak, and bourbon-soaked vanilla. Molasses and espresso notes build complexity beneath the pronounced floral honey character. On the palate, viscous and warming, waves of caramelized sugar and dark roasted malt meet honeyed sweetness in remarkable balance. Bourbon barrel influence brings vanilla, charred oak, and subtle coconut. The finish is long and warming, with lingering dark chocolate, coffee grounds, and a persistent honey glow that tempers the roasted bitterness beautifully.

Food Pairing

Pair with rich blue cheese such as Roquefort or Stilton, where the honeyed sweetness counterbalances pungent salinity while bourbon notes echo the cheese’s complexity. Equally stunning alongside dark chocolate torte with salted caramel, the beer’s layered malt profile and barrel character amplifying the dessert’s bittersweet depth while honey adds luxurious sweetness.

About Põhjala Brewery

Põhjala Brewery was founded in 2011 in Tallinn, Estonia, by four beer enthusiasts who were later joined by head brewer Chris Pilkington. The brewery’s name translates to “northern realm” in Estonian, reflecting its deep connection to the Nordic region and the forests of Estonia. Põhjala has established itself as the largest craft brewery in the Baltic states, distinguished by its particular focus on porters, barrel ageing, and the incorporation of indigenous Estonian forest ingredients into its brewing process.

The brewery’s first beer, Öö Imperial Baltic Porter, was contract-brewed before the company opened its original facility in Tallinn’s Nõmme district in April 2014. Following rapid growth, Põhjala invested nearly 4.9 million euros in 2018 to relocate to a state-of-the-art brewery in the Noblessner area, featuring a capacity of 1,200 hectolitres per month and an extensive taproom with 24 taps. Põhjala holds the distinction of being the only Baltic brewery to appear in Ratebeer’s prestigious “top 100” list of world breweries, cementing its reputation as a leading force in European craft beer.

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