In 2026, Suomenlinna was about to lose its only brewery.

But longtime island resident Köpi Tapanainen and fellow brewer Tyler Dierks weren’t ready to let that happen. Having spent years making beer on the island, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

They saved the brewing equipment, founded Viaporin Panimo, and set out on a simple mission: to keep Suomenlinna’s brewing tradition alive.

A new brewery. A new name. The same island spirit.