Summer Canned Drinks Put to the Test
Text Mikko Savikko Photos Andrei Chertkov
The test compared not only the taste but also the colours of the drinks.
Easter was a good time to get together to do a summer drink test. Drinks in 0.33 litre cans were selected for the test: eight beers, and six long drinks. The drinks were Estonian beers and long drinks that were on sale. There were a total of seven Finnish and Estonian testers, men and women.
The beer test allowed us to compare the products of the largest Estonian breweries, Saku and A. Le Coq, with the products of four smaller breweries. The beer selections in Estonian stores mostly offer half-litre cans and even two-litre plastic bottles. There are practically no six-packs of small cans. However, one such beer came to the market this spring, when the new beer that was also included in the test, Väike Sass, is also sold in six-packs.
The largest of the microbreweries, Tallinn’s Põhjala Brewery, has canned many of its products, and Tartu’s Pühaste Pruulikoda has expanded its range and market area in recent years. Perhaps the long drinks should have been served with ice? Ice was needed. The taste judges were clearly fans of long drinks, as no fewer than five drinks were given full points at least once. Among the beers, only one was worthy of full points, according to one judge. A. Le Coq fought against Finnish manufacturers with long drinks and achieved third place.
How were the drinks evaluated?
The testers gave 1–5 points separately for the appearance, smell, feel, and aftertaste of the drinks. The maximum score was 20. The products were evaluated in a blind test, meaning they were only revealed to the testers after the test was over. All drinks were purchased from Prisma in Sikupilli, Tallinn.
Drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited!
According to the Estonian Public Order Act (as well as Finland), drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited. For example, the Tallinn City Police are responsible for controlling the issue, and can hand out hefty fines to violators. It is therefore recommended to enjoy summer drinks in drinking areas or indoors.
Tallinn Craft Beer Weekend 2025
Beer-lovers, the Tallinn Craft Beer Weekend will be held on June 13–14 in Kultuurikatel, within walking distance of the harbour. A dozen Estonian and even more foreign breweries will be represented, offering a total of over 350 beers.
To learn more about this and similar topicsbeer brewery culture in Estonia drink test Estonian Beer Estonian breweries longkero
