When trying in vain to catch up with reality, month-granularity is your friend.
The mostly pleasant summer season was dominated by hoppy IPAs.
Top honours go to Omnipollo’s I’m With Stupid, which provided exquisite liquid relief after a ragingly hot day in Stockholm.
And the domestic center podium is occupied by Salama and Track collaboration Monopods R Us, which was the highlight of the brewery visit (and stupidly enough I bought only one can on the occasion).
FI: Loppukesän kärjessä tiukasti humaloidut oluet.
Porgu, the legendary craft beer bar behind the Old Town in Tallinn is no more, having closed its door for the last time at the end of October.
Porgu was the first Estonian craft beer bar I visited (in 2009 or 2011, I dimly recall), and will cherish the memories of a properly medieval cellar location and horizons-expanding selection.
Had a very pleasant autumn holiday in Tallinn in late October.
Non-busy transits with the ferry (with a cabin to stay off the crowds on the way back).
Two nights at the traditional accommodations in Telegraaf in the old town.
Had the first dinner at Manna La Roosa, an impressively designed fusion-italian. Sadly, the beer list was short and thus no match for the food.
Had the first encounter with Koht – whose arrival instructions are nothing short of a legend:
Once you hit the puppet theatre, the bar is behind you in a courtyard.
It indeed was. And after some ten minutes waiting, there was a barmaid, too.
The beer selection was announced with printed out labels on a wall. By far the highlight of the visit, and one of the best beers of the whole year was Browar’s 7th Anniversary Imperial Stout. The attached beer shop was closed (on account of it being Wednesday), and attempts to peek through windows did not reveal much.
On the second day made it to the Koht-adjacent bottleshop. Very cramped, very packed. First Lost Abbey in ages! Multiple Silver series entries (though some of the rarest entries priced through the ceiling). Forgot to take photos.
Also was impressed by the beer selection in Kaubamaja food section – multiple Silver and Cellar series clocking in at less than ten euros.
Accidentally participated in the Collabfest in the Brewdog in Rotermanni. Somewhat eclectic selection, sampled a few without stumbling into disasters or jackpots.
Neighboring Taptap boasted a nice selection of domestics.
Had dinner at Pull. The best steak in years was – once again – accompanied by a very lackluster beer menu.
FI: Tallinna vakuutti olutosaamisellaan jälleen kerran, bonuskertoimena yllätys-collabfest Brewdogissa.
brewnardo 