Olvi completes €20 million brewery upgrade in Iisalmi to boost capacity and efficiency

The Finnish brewer Olvi has completed a €20 million investment in a new brewhouse at its Iisalmi plant, increasing production capacity by 20 percent while cutting energy use by a fifth, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The modern facility replaces a 1989 brewhouse that had reached the end of its operational life. Production from the new system has already begun, with beers now available in stores.

Tomi Vuorinen, Olvi’s production and supply chain director, said the upgrade improves delivery reliability during fluctuating demand, such as summer heatwaves. “In the summer months, demand can change rapidly during long hot spells,” he noted.

New technology enables traditional brewing methods

For brewmaster Silja Hylkinen, the project marks a career highlight. Brewhouses typically last 30–40 years, making such upgrades rare. “This is the first—and possibly the last—brewhouse I’ll ever get to build,” she said.

The new system features two mash kettles allowing for decoction mashing, a traditional technique impossible in the old facility. This method, favoured by many German brewmasters, involves heating a portion of the mash to boiling and returning it to raise the overall temperature.

“It’s said to produce slightly smoother-tasting beers,” Hylkinen explained. “Boiling part of the mash creates different aroma compounds.” While not faster, the method expands possibilities for classic styles like many German beers.

Automation and sustainability gains

Vuorinen highlighted advancements in brewhouse technology, including real-time process monitoring and 20 percent lower energy consumption. Automation reduces the need for on-site supervision, with operations now controlled via computer rather than direct observation.

The old brewhouse will be dismantled in stages, with some equipment repurposed, recycled, or kept for spare parts.