First Summer Beer Festival: SOPP Tampere
- Nadja Myllyviita
- 14 minutes ago
- 2 min read
If you're into Finnish craft beer, chances are you've heard of SOPP — Suuret Oluet Pienet Panimot. This legendary event kicks off the summer season every year, moving from city to city like a hoppy little road trip. And this year, I had the chance to enjoy some brews and also work at SOPP in Tampere — with Bocks Brewery from Vaasa.
Late May in Finland is basically meteorological roulette — and sure enough, this year brought a brisk 10 degrees, rain and cloudy skies. Not exactly t-shirt weather, especially as the evening breeze started creeping in. But hey, it's Finland. We layer up, grab a pint, and carry on.
SOPP isn’t just about drinking beer. It’s about celebrating Finnish craft brewing — the passion, the people, and the pints. 24 breweries were pouring their hearts out this year in Tampere, and the atmosphere was buzzing. There was live music, a solid lineup of street food to keep us going, and big screens streaming the Hockey World Championships — because let’s be real, we’re not skipping hockey for anything. Oh, and yes — there was a sauna. Outdoor beer fest with sauna and hockey? Name a more Finnish combo, I’ll wait.
My Take on the Beers This Year
It’s impossible to write about every single brew I had the pleasure of tasting, but here’s a snapshot of what stood out.
Clearly, lager was the king of the taps this year — no surprise, really, as it’s the perfect warm(er) weather companion. Some leaned classic and crispy, others were a bit more modern and hop-forward. One standout was Mallaskoski- Kuohu Suomi Lager, brewed with Finnish hops — an herbal bomb with a touch of dankness. Finnish hops aren’t the easiest to work with, so it was cool to see them in action. Hopefully, we’ll see more of that bold local experimentation.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Finnish beer festival without sahti making an appearance — always fun to see tradition holding its ground next to trendier styles.
IPAs and NEIPAs were plentiful, though surprisingly, not many session beers this year, which felt a little odd considering the season.
That said, there was no shortage of sours, ranging from lightly herbal to full-on fruit explosions,
Few rich, barrel-aged stouts — many of them mellowed in Kyrö whisky barrels — for those wanting to end the evening with something deep and boozy.
Blancs seem to be having a moment. These wheat-forward brews are showing up more often, and in lots of different styles. Some were super easy-drinking, perfect for a post-lawnmowing cooldown in 30 degrees, while others leaned into fruitier, spicier territory. Not mad about it — definitely a style to keep an eye on this summer.
In short, the taps were diverse and the creativity was flowing.
Working at SOPP Tampere was the perfect way to start the summer season — even with the chill in the air. Next stop for the festival is SOPP Lahti, then Helsinki… but for me, it’s Lepra Beerfest in Lappeenranta in two weeks, hosted by TUJU Brewery — and this time I’m not working, so I’ll get to just enjoy some amazing brews!
Cheers to Finnish beer, unpredictable weather, and making summer memories one glass at a time.
Kippis! 🍻
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