Zinc Craft Beer Festival 2025
- Nadja Myllyviita
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
Vaasa turned into a beer-lover’s paradise!
What. A. Weekend.
Zinc Craft Beer Festival came back to Vaasa for its second round, and they absolutely nailed it again. This time add a heatwave. We’re talking 27–30°C, blazing sun, and the whole city buzzing like someone dry-hopped the atmosphere. I was in Vaasa the whole week, catching up with friends, and you could already feel the anticipation building. Terraces were packed, the beer was flowing, and even the seagulls seemed a little extra excited. Friday came, and I was working behind the taps, helping different breweries take well-earned breaks (and sneaking in a few tasters, naturally). I’ve said it before, but there’s something magical about working at these events — especially one like Zinc, which brings in alot of international breweries and creates space for some really fun, geeky chats with the folks behind the brews.
Saturday kicked off with a line at the gates — a beautiful sight. And then? Boom. Full sun, cold beer, smiling faces, and the best vibes around. You get a 1.5dl tasting glass and buy a beer card (5 or 10 tasters), and then you’re off exploring. That small pour size? Perfect. You can try a ton of beers without committing to a full pint. I didn’t hit a single no "meh" sip, just full-on flavor.
Many highlights from the festival but here's to name a few - Pomona Island (UK) brought their juicy IPA game to a whole new level., Zichovec (CZ) showed how clean, classic styles can still stand tall. Tuju (FI) gave us Finnish excellence, as always. Ophiussa (PT) brought those ridiculous smoothie sours that make you question if you're drinking beer or dessert. Nova Runda (HR) dropped fresh, crisp sours perfect for the weather. And don’t even get me started on the dark barrels from Pinta Barrel Brewing (PL) — liquid velvet.
And that’s just scratching the foamy surface. The full brewery lineup was nuts — over 20 top craft breweries from across Europe and beyond. You can check them all out on Zinc’s IG if you missed it.
The festival took place right in Vaasa Market Square, making it super easy to get to — and even easier to sneak away for sightseeing or grabbing food in town. Though, with so many food trucks on-site (burgers, bao buns, fish & chips, ice cream), you barely needed to leave. There was also a gaming zone, a 3D experience tent, and chill summer DJ sets — enough to keep your vibe meter full while sipping through the heat. And yeah, speaking of heat — shade was prime real estate. Us Finns love to complain about the weather, but even we admitted: this was pretty sweet.
Zinc is already shaping up to be one of Finland’s must-visit craft beer festivals. Great beer, great location, international flair, and just a laid-back, happy crowd. I’m putting this on my calendar every year. Big thanks to the organizers, all the breweries, the fellow beer geeks, and the sun for showing up.
See you next year in Vaasa, Cheers!
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