No, this is not my personal opinion, but rather the mutual opinion of the judges at the ‘Suomen Paras Olut’ (Finland’s Best Beer) competition at the Sadonkorjuu Exhibition in Lahti last weekend. Sinebrychoff’s Porter won in it’s own category (Bottled Ales over 4.7%), as well as the overall title of Finland’s Best Beer. I agree that it is a very good beer, but I personally prefer Plevna’s Siperia more (it is unavailable in bottles though; Note: You can get the Hanniku version from the Arkadia Alko). It was also strange to note that a bulk lager won over the microbrews in the ‘Light Lager under 4.7%’ category. Below is a complete list of results.

Suomen Paras Olut 2011 (99 beers)
Sinebrychoff Porter

Bottled or Canned Beers

Light Lager under 4,7 % (18 beers)
1 Koff III, Sinebrychoff, 4,5 %
2 Luomuleevi, Teerenpelin Panimo & Tislaamo, 4,5 %
3 Keisari Luomu, Nokian Panimo, 4,5 %

Light Lager over 4,7 % (8 beers)
1 Prykmestar LuomuPils, Vakka-Suomen Panimo, 5,2 %
2 Karjala IV B, Hartwall, 8,0 %
3 Karhu Tosi Vahva, Sinebrychoff, 8,0 %

Dark or Colored Lager under 4.7% (11 beers)
1 Laiskajaakko, Teerenpelin Panimo & Tislaamo, 4,5 %
2 Prykmestar Schwartz, Vakka-Suomen Panimo, 4,5 %
3 Keisari Dark, Nokian Panimo, 4,5 %

Dark or Colored Lager over 4,7 % (6 beers)
1 American Amber Lager, Stadin Panimo, 5,3 %
2 Stallhagen Dunkles, Stallhagen, 5,5 %
3 Kievari Kekri, Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas, 5,9 %

Ale under 4,7 % (12 beers)
1, Centennial Pale Ale, Stadin Panimo, 4,5 %
2 Huvila Pale Ale, Malmgårdin Panimo, 4,2 %
3 Amarillo Ale, Stadin Panimo, 4,7 %

Ale over 4,7 % (9 beers)
1 Sinebrychoff Porter, Sinebrychoff, 7,2 %
2 Huvila X-Porter, Malmgårdin Panimo, 7,0 %
3 Marsalkka Vehnä, Saimaan Juomatehdas, 5,2 %

Kegged Beer (judged at SOPP Helsinki 2011, 28.7.2011)

Ale under 6 % (15 beers)
1 Black Door H.O.D.A., Malmgårdin Panimo, 3,9 %
2 Vauhtiveikko, Teerenpelin Panimo & Tislaamo, 5,3 %
3 Marsalkka IPA Saimaan Juomatehdas, 5,2 %
3 Mufloni Single Hop Simcoe, Beer Hunter’s , 3,5 %

Lager under 6 % (12 beers)
1 Året Runt, Nokian Panimo 5,3 %
2 Kukko Tumma, Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas, 4,5 %
2 Stadi Lager, Stadin Panimo, 5,3 %

Strong beer over 6 % (8 beers)
1 CCCCC IPA, Beer Hunter’s, 7,0 %
2 Siperia, Koskipanimo / Panimoravintola Plevna, 8,0 %
3 Lammin Sahti, Lammin Sahti 7,5 %