Hanko Brewing Company: Savouring the craft at Finland’s southernmost brewery

Hanko Brewing Company is a craft brewery based in the coastal town Hanko, at the southernmost tip of Finland. Known for its dedication to quality and craftsmanship, the brewery is almost like an antithesis to our fast-paced society. This is a place where visitors get to experience and savour the products of carefully crafted mastery.

Hanko is a picturesque beach holiday town, known for its historic wooden villas, stunning sandy beaches, vibrant culture and gastronomy scene. Adding to the town’s mix of bars and restaurants, Hanko Brewing Company was founded in 2020 and is now run by Georg Varsanpää and Niki Wickman. Wickman is the brewmaster, who lovingly brews beers with near-scientific precision.

What sets Hanko Brewing Company apart from other craft beer companies is that it’s almost like an antithesis to our usual pace of life, where instant gratification is key. This brewery focuses more on quality rather than quantity. It’s a microbrewery producing just 200 litres of beer per batch, amounting to less than 10,000 litres per year, which is a small volume for a brewery. Most of the company’s featured beers are lagers, pale ales, IPAs and hazy IPAs. “We are passionate about making local beer and we do it with plenty of time, love and attention,” says Varsanpää.

Serious about beer

“We’re serious about beer. Because we brew only small batches at a time, we’re able to use the very best ingredients to produce our beers, which is not possible for larger brands,” the founder says. “We’re also lucky to be able to use Hanko’s excellent soft natural water, which is a perfect base for building the unique water profiles for our beer styles.”

Hanko Brewing Company has garnered recognition and a loyal fan base within the craft beer community for its carefully brewed beers and genuine passion for what they do. The company has been keen to step away from the typical craft beer scene, and go with the heart instead. “For us, craft beer doesn’t have to be extravagant and experimental. Instead, we focus on approachable, traditionally made and simply tasty beer. It’s what we do best, and it has yielded us new and happy customers from outside the typical craft beer crowd.”

A testament to the brewery’s success is that the bar and terrace are often packed with beer lovers, who have purposely travelled to Hanko Brewing Company to give its latest beer batch a try. “The brewery is a bit of a hidden gem, tucked away right at the end of the coastal cape, so customers have to make a bit of an effort to get to us – and most of the time, they do! The proof is the fact that the beer is often finished,” Varsanpää says, half-jokingly.

The company organised a beer-pairing evening, where customers could try beers paired with a mixture of sweets.

Not compromising on quality

“Keeping our beers’ cold chain intact ensures the freshness of the beer and the best possible preservation of aromas, especially in fruity and aromatic hops. Therefore, we have planned the production and storage of our beers so that the beer is kept continuously cold all the way to the customers’ glass,” Varsanpää explains. He is also adamant that the company is looking into ways of expanding – but without having to compromise on, or elaborate, its recipes. For now, potential customers have to go to the brewery itself to enjoy the taste of Hanko Brewing Company’s beers, and the brewery also sells bottles of beer to customers directly.

Despite going with traditional brewing methods, the brewers are not afraid to push boundaries. Recently, Hanko Brewing Company organised a beer-pairing evening, where customers had the chance to try beers paired with a mixture of sweets. “We like to think outside the box, and want to broaden people’s views and knowledge of beer – to encourage them to also find new ways to savour our beers.”

Hanko Brewing Company reflects the unique character and spirit of Hanko. Despite being known as a holiday destination during the summer, the town is also worth a visit even off-season. According to Varsanpää, once the tourists leave and the summer draws to an end, the rugged beauty of the town comes alive. “Off-season, we brew special private batches for our most hardcore fans, which is a good way to keep us warm during the winter times,” he laughs and concludes; “We’re here for anyone who wants to add a touch of luxury to their beer tasting experiences, and for people who want to enjoy Hanko in full sips, all year round.”

Web: www.hankobrewing.com