Saku Koduõlu

A bottle of Saku koduõlu. Obviously, a macro-brewed (Carlsberg) farmhouse ale sounds as far as you can get from the traditional drink but I was quite glad to have it.

Crepes and beer

Hakkliha pannkook aka pancakes / crepes with minced meat, red cabbage and sour cream – with the ever-present dill sprinkled on top. This dish is very typical of Estonia, or at least it’s served all over the place.

The local brew comes from Hiiu Käsitööõlu, the one on the left being named “Kõpu koduõlu”. The beer was quite different from the Pihtla beer, the bottled versions always tend to lose that farmhouse feel, but this one also had much lower ABV (4,5%).

Served at the Kõpu lighthouse, Hiiumaa, Estonia.

Estonian Farmhouse Ale

A plate of roast pork with Taako Pihtla, Estonian koduõlu or farmhouse ale, at the Veski Trahter, Kuressaare, Saaremaa, Estonia. Like Finnish sahti, koduõlu is a true craft beer made with the traditional method.