Põhjala — Virvatuli Barrel-Aged Imperial Gruit, Estonia

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Virvatuli, meaning ‘will-o’-the-wisp’ in Estonian, is a flickering, otherworldly take on the ancient gruit tradition reimagined at imperial strength. Brewed without hops and instead leaning on foraged herbs and botanicals, this barrel-aged expression layers earthy, resinous bitterness over a syrupy, full-bodied malt base. Expect notes of toffee, dark plum, raisin and dark chocolate, lifted by herbal warmth and a whisper of espresso. Time in oak adds vanilla, soft coconut and gentle whiskey heat, weaving through the wild herbal core. Decadent, mysterious and quintessentially Põhjala, it glows with northern forest character.

Food Pairing

Pair with slow-braised wild boar or venison stew, where the herbal gruit character and barrel warmth echo the gamey, forest-driven flavors. For dessert, try a dark chocolate and fig tart with sea salt, allowing the beer’s toffee, raisin and oak-vanilla notes to amplify the richness while cutting through the cocoa.

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.