Place of learning
Established ten years ago, Kaisla is a great starting point for embarking on a journey into the world of beer. The Belgian-style establishment has 25 draught beers: 10 from Belgium and Finland, the rest representing the best of Czech, Dutch, German, Irish, and UK breweries. Finnish speciality beers are widely represented: microbrews and monthly-featured selections.
Another 120 bottled beers focus on Belgium while there are two ciders on tap too. The full-bodied Henry Weston’s Vintage Cider, aged in oak casks, is a rare treat.
“Our speciality is large bottles of Belgian ale, going up to 9 liters. At that size, they’re not available anywhere else in Helsinki,” says restaurant manager Petri Loponen.
Many beers have made their Finnish debut at Kaisla and it tends to fill up with eager beer-hunters like birdwatchers flocking to hides in the springtime. However Loponen emphasizes that despite its aficionado reputation, Kaisla is a place for the everyman: “We offer the everyday drinker a chance to find new and interesting flavors that complement the more traditional beers available.
“To make learning about Finnish beer easy, we offer a tasting menu with four small glasses of different kinds,” he adds. This includes pale pilsner with strong hops, bitter or ale from a microbrewery, smoked-style beer, and porter. The menu is complemented by a booklet that explains the origins of each and well-trained staff can guide any information-thirsty customer.
“The menu has been especially popular among tourists. Unfortunately, most foreign visitors think that we only brew and sell basic lager in Finland,” says a laughing Loponen.
To satisfy those inevitable beer-inspired munchies, Kaisla serves giant toasted sandwiches, soups, and other pub food.
Beer House Kaisla
Address Vilhonkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki
Tel. +358 9 622 3723
Website www.oluthuone.com
Seats 170
Open Mon-Thu 14:00-02:00, Fri-Sat 13:00-03:00, Sun 14:00-02:00
Restaurateur HOK-Elanto Ltd
Restaurantmanager Petri Loponen
Location By the entrance to Kaisaniemi metro station, a short walk east from the railway station.
“Centrally-located beer restaurant with an excellent selection and friendly, knowledgeable staff.” / “A comfortable place for chilling by yourself or spending the night with friends. The number of beers sometimes makes choosing too hard.” / “The large beer selection ensures that there is always something to learn. Excellent Belgians and other quality beers from around the world. The casual atmosphere beckons you to stay for one more.” / “The best beer restaurant in Finland. Cool interior and helpful, lively staff.”
