Lakeuden Panimojuhlat 2026

Nadja Myllyviita
Jan 27
3 min read

a strong kickoff for the beer year

Last weekend’s Lakeuden Panimojuhlat in Seinäjoki was one of those events that quietly sets the tone for the whole year ahead. You know the feeling: first festival of the season, familiar faces, new beers, and that shared sense of “okay, we’re back.”

The location is spot on. About a 20-minute walk from the city centre, or an easy ride on the festival bus if your legs aren’t feeling heroic. Inside, there’s plenty of space to move around, chat with fellow beer geeks, and actually have proper conversations with brewery staff-no shouting required. Always a big plus.

Lakeuden Panimojuhlat 2026 - what a great beerfestival!

More than just pouring beer - There was a lot happening beyond the taps. Tastings sold out, breweries were introduced on stage, and there was an interesting panel discussion about alcohol-free beer and where the industry is heading next. A topic that’s clearly not going anywhere-and judging by the crowd, something people genuinely want to hear more about. Food-wise, no one went hungry. Loads of options, snacks … and yes, I may have eaten slightly too much dried beef. No regrets.

Something for everyone - What really stood out was the range of breweries. You had the more traditional styles done clean and confidently, others with their own subtle twists, and then of course the slightly wilder stuff for those who like to explore the edges. In other words: something for everyone, whether you’re a classic lager lover or a full-on experimental sour hunter.

Behind the bar at Mallaskoski - I spent most of the weekend working behind the bar at Mallaskoski Brewery, and we hadhttp://beer.It two absolute crowd-pleasers. First up: a blueberry popsicle lemon vanilla sour. One keg only. The idea was simple-get feedback and see if this is something worth brewing again. Based on reactions? I’d say that question has been answered. Yes. Please brew more. The second hit was something completely different: a spirit made from beer. It started as Cerberos Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout- a very full-bodied, moderately hopped, spicy, aromatic and deeply malty stout. That beer was then distilled at Kyrö Distillery and aged in a barrel for three years. The result is a surprisingly smooth, whisky-like in character… though of course, we can’t call it whisky. Whatever you want to call it, people were curious-and impressed.

A festival that shows the direction - All in all, Lakeuden Panimojuhlat felt like a perfect snapshot of what to expect from the year ahead: quality beers, thoughtful discussions, relaxed vibes, and a community that genuinely enjoys being together. A great start to the festival season.

I can definitely feel it in my legs -standing behind a bar for those hours hits different when you’re not used to it anymore-but it was absolutely worth it.

Beers I tasted during the festival

Below is the beer list I shared earlier on social media, collected in one place here for easy reading - linked to Untapped:

Blueberry Sour – Popsicle Edition from Mallaskosken Panimo Sweet-tart, dessert-style sour. Fun, playful and very festival-friendly.
Area 21 IPA (10y Anniversary) from Olarin Panimo Classic West Coast IPA. Grapefruit, bitterness and balance — still doing its thing.
Hazy Session IPA from Vanhan Porvoon Panimo Light, juicy and easy. One of those “accidentally had two” beers.

Tropical from Kasteel Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck Sweet Belgian fruit beer vibes. Pineapple, peach and easygoing.

Pipa from Atmos Soft American IPA with a smooth, fruity character. Easy crowd-pleaser.

Spezial from Hailuodon Panimo Clean, malty pale lager. Simple, balanced and perfect between bigger beers.

Tiger Dreams from CoolHead Brew Mango, orange and salmiakki in one glass. Bold, playful and definitely memorable.
Phantom Hound – Salama Brewing Smooth, light-bodied coffee stout. Easy, roasty, and super drinkable.

NOPPA Imperial Stout – Hiisi Barrel-aged, layered, and warming. A proper roll of the dice.
11 000 M – Varikko Panimo Bold imperial stout, deep and intense.