Pohjala

The name comes from a mythical place in Estonia's national epic and translates as "Northern land", with roots in Finno-Ugric mythology. Põhjala was established because the domestic beer landscape at the time offered little to match the food the founders enjoyed. The brewery began as a gypsy operation, using other breweries' facilities, and released its first beer, an Imperial Baltic Porter, in early 2013. A dedicated brewery opened in the Nõmme district of Tallinn in April 2014, and in 2018 Põhjala moved to the historic Noblessner shipyard area by the sea in northern Tallinn, where it has been based since.

Scottish brewer Chris Pilkington, who had previously worked at BrewDog, joined Põhjala shortly after it was founded. Martin Vahtra became Head Brewer in 2023.

The brewery draws on Estonian heritage, local nature and cuisine. Its approach takes established beer styles and adds its own turn: some releases use surprising ingredients, while others go through long barrel ageing. A Forest Series brings foraged, wild ingredients into the mix. The core year-round range spans lagers, IPAs, ales and porters, with a Cellar Series of barrel-aged beers alongside. The alcohol-free beers sit within this broader portfolio; pine nuts feature as an ingredient in one of them, reflecting the brewery's taste for unusual additions.

Põhjala is the largest craft brewery in the Baltic states. Nearly half of its output is exported to more than 30 countries. The Noblessner site includes a taproom with 24 taps, Texas-style BBQ and a sauna. The brewery also operates Põhja Konn, a bar dedicated to Estonian craft beer in the Telliskivi area of Tallinn, which opened in 2022.