Beer review: Hartwall Karjala III (4.5% Finland: Hartwall)

The Hartwall Karjala III is a lager, more specifically a Pale lager. It's one of the 'basic beers' in Finland along with Lapin Kulta, Olvi, Koff and Karhu. It's brewed in bulk quantities by Hartwall, one of the largest breweries in Finland. Hartwall was founded in 1836 and their annual production (alcohol and soda drinks combined) is about 400 million litres. The name Karjala refers to the Finnish region of Karjala (Karelia), part of which was lost to Russia in the Winter War. Hence, a somewhat popular catch-phrase among people for whom Karjala is the beer of their choice is: Karjala takaisin, vaikka pullo/tölkki kerrallaan. (Karelia back, one bottle/can at a time.)

Taste: The Hartwall Karjala III is a light-bodied lager. It starts off with a slightly roasted, bready malt taste and then finishes with a slightly metallic, faint bitter hoppiness.

Overall, The Hartwall Karjala III suffers from the same weaknesses as all of the other bulk lagers in Finland. It's quite watery, the taste is metallic and doesn't really have any real hoppiness. However, in my opinion the malty taste in Karjala offers a bit more roasted, bready malt taste than other basic lagers of Finland and if you're into that, maybe Karjala should be your choice. However, Karhu is the most aroma-rich when it comes to the Finnish bulk lagers. Karjala isn't the best but neither is it the worst. Really average!

50 Average

Beer review: Lapin Kulta Arctic Malt Dark Lager (4.6% Finland: Hartwall)

The Lapin Kulta Arctic Malt Dark Lager is a lager, more specifically an Amber lager. It's brewed by Hartwall, one of the biggest beer producers in Finland. Hartwall belongs to Royal Unibrew, the second largest brewery group in Denmark. The beer belongs under the Lapin Kulta beer brand, and is brewed in large quantities. Therefore, I don't have much expectations towards it but you never know, it might just surprise me.

Taste: The Lapin Kulta Arctic Malt Dark Lager is a light/medium-bodied beer. It has quite a rich bready, sweet malt dominant body and it finishes with a faint, slightly metallic hoppiness.

Overall, the Lapin Kulta Arctic Malt Dark Lager does an OK job. It delivers a nice bready, malty flavor but otherwise remains disappointingly boring. It doesn't offer any mind-blowing flavors, but neither does it disappoint in any way. It's a good alternative for the basic lagers available in Finnish supermarkets, but these days there are many better beers available even there.

65 Above average

Beer review: Karjala Maltti (4.5% Finland: Hartwall)

Karjala Maltti is a lager beer, more specifically an Amber lager. It is a new release by Hartwall, a large Finnish brewery that belongs to the Danish brewery group Royal Unibrew. Karjala is the main beer brand of Hartwall and thus Karjala Maltti follows along its traditions. As the name suggests, the beer offers an especially malt-rich flavor. It's sold, at least currently, in most of the Finnish supermarkets. Despite the fact that it's being described as a special batch, the wide availability shows that it is produced in bulk quantities.

Taste: As promised, Karjala Maltti delivers a significantly maltier taste than the basic Finnish lagers. It is surprisingly rich in aroma, considering that it is a bulk beer. The beer is light/medium-bodied and offers a soft, malt-dominant flavor. The aftertaste of the beer is quite a pleasant combination of faint hoppiness and smoky oak, coming from the bourbon aroma that is added to the beer.

Overall, Karjala Maltti is a welcomed release to the dull beer selection of Finnish supermarkets. The aroma is quite watery, but what can you expect from one of the largest beer producers in Finland? In my opinion, it is a positive surprise and I would recommend it if you want a change from the basic piss/watery-tasting lagers.

55 Above average

Beer mix review: Foster's Radler (2.0% Australia/Finland: Heineken/Hartwall)

Foster's Radler is a combination of lemonade and Foster's beer, the ratio being 60:40. Thus, in no way can it be considered beer and the review is made in comparing it to other beer mixes (or refreshment beers as the Foster's company likes to call it). The beer selection in Finnish supermarkets is quite thin and therefore the Radler is a welcomed release. Foster's is brewed in Finland by Hartwall, and therefore the company is also in charge of manufacturing the Foster's Radler. With no expectations of a mind-blowing connoiseuric experience, I enjoyed a can of Radler and was pleasantly surprised.

Taste: The first impression introduces a taste of lemonade, with a hint of sourness. It is sweet enough but not too sweet and it is actually surprisingly close to the taste of Finnish grape long drinks. After this the drink finishes with a very faint taste of lager beer, and therefore can justifiably be called a lemonade beer.

Not the right choice for people who want to enjoy beer, nor for people who want to get inebriated. However, a good choice if you want something refreshing and enjoy the taste of lemonade with a pleasant, albeit weak aftertaste of beer. This being said, I personally enjoyed the taste a lot and the Radler is really refreshing when served ice cold.

65 Above average