Beer Styles

Gotlandsdricka is hard to pin down within a style framework. It's a farmhouse and home-brewed beer, related to Finnish Sahti and Norwegian Maltøl. All three combine malt with juniper and do without the hop bitterness typical of a Pils.

The flavor is smoky, bittersweet, full-bodied, and spicy, with a pronounced juniper note. The smoke comes from the malt, the sweetness from unfermented malt sugar and added sugar in the mash, and the bitterness from the juniper. Unlike a Bamberg smoked beer, the smoke here isn't the sole focus.

Since there's no dedicated style guideline, the profile below uses Sahti as a point of comparison. Among beer judges, it's classified as a historical style and is the beer closest in character to Gotlandsdricka. But be warned: Sahti is considerably stronger. Its alcohol range of 7 to 11 percent is well above what's typical on Gotland, usually around 4 to 5 percent.

The legal status also differs. Sahti holds Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status under EU law, while Gotlandsdricka isn't listed in the EU register at all. The name describes a tradition rather than a protected recipe.

The Gotlands Bryggeri brewery in Visby produces its own styles, including the Wisby Klosteröl and the Wisby Stout. These belong to the island's brewery lineup but are not Gotlandsdricka. Anyone wanting to get to know the style should first read up on the home-brewing tradition before comparing it to a glass from the town brewery.