BrewDog

I was surprised, I heard a lot about brewdog and it’s beer, and was looking to try it for quite a while. Before I’ve visited another beer place in Helsinki, and comparing to that I was really not impressed by the ales in BrewDog. The only beer which was «ale» enough was their I.P.A (and usually it’s too intensive for me). All other tasted like too watery. In addition to all of this the place is a bit overpriced (especially comparing to the other beer places in Helsinki). It’s not bad but I don’t understand how did they managed to create such a famous brand with such a non-​impressive beer.

Although a chain that carries the name of a Scottish brand name, BrewDog offers a lot of local and regional, as well as Scandinavian and British beers from small independent breweries. The staff knows their beer, and you almost have to make them shut up if you ask anything about them. Otherwise you may get end up learning way more than you thought was worth knowing about yeast, hops and mashing of malts. In addition to beer they offer some ciders and wines. But I would come here for the beers. They offer a small selection of gluten free beers as well, both on tap and in a bottle, both in-​house as well as some third party beers.

Delicious selection of hand crafted beers in the heart of a cool neighborhood in Helsinki. I visited with some Finnish friends and tried the Punk IPA and the Electric IPA. Both were great. I will come back!

My husband, the beer snob, who thinks nothing of dropping 5eur on a can of craft beer (yeah — a can) anxiously awaited the opening of this place like a child waiting on Father Christmas in Summertime. It was kind of sad and pathetic but it also gave him back his will to live, which I had taken from him some time ago. Thanks, BrewDog! His newfound vigor for life can be attributed to your presence just a three minute walk from our home. Score!
This is the kind of bar I was missing after (I always mention it…) moving here from San Francisco, the land of beer and wine bars and craft/​artisan/​mixologized (insert anything really here). BrewDog is so awesome I wish they’d let me bring my baby here. Because if I they did, I’d be waiting outside their window right now, queuing up for one of their delicious craft ciders.
On the topic of craft beer, they do it right and they have very knowledgeable bartenders to steer you in the right direction should you not be so knowledgeable. I am, my husband is, but we heard the experts dropping some education for the lesser-​familiar several times last night. In the nice, helpful way — not the hipster-​glare-​y way that one may be accustomed to at some other choice spots.
Great interior — very San Francisco, London, New York. Love the attention to detail but in a very Devil-​may-​care fashion, loads of seating, I think there’s a pool table? (Ok. I was really intoxicated last time and sitting in a dark corner). The mood is congenial, people are in high spirits, the bar is hopping, and it is the least-​Finnish bar I have been to in Finland. Which is to say: It’s my new favorite.
All Hail the Dog!

BrewDog Helsinki is my favourite BrewDog bar so far. The best way I can describe is as Shredder’s hideout in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film: loads of young people (some wearing baseball caps back to front) in a colourful space, a droning rock soundtrack (beats MC Hammer!) and an explicit emphasis on fun.
The fun is everywhere, from a large mock-​up of VHS cases to the left of the bar, to the industrial-​looking steps to nowhere that punters can sit on, to the cheeky message below a high window that states «This emergency exit may require Parkour.» Unlike too many BrewDog bars in the UK, it’s quite well lit too, making the whole experience less gloomy and instead uplifting.
That’s all backed up by really friendly staff, who were happy to point out local Finnish beer including an extraordinary one that tasted of ripe banana. There’s also free wifi, the password seemingly the same as that found in other BrewDog bars. The beer is expensive, no doubt, but that seems to be a Helsinki/​Finland-​wide thing rather than particular to BrewDog. Plus, unlike Bryggeri, you can taste the beer here before you buy it, which is certainly welcome.