Our story
In 1920, Heikki Tuomisto became a board member of the Kemi Cooperative, and the cooperative began building a brewery as an extension of the lemonade factory. The workers' soft drink factory began operations and sold Porter and other beer products as well as natural juices and lemonades.
The brewery operated until 1930, when the Great Depression caused the business to close.
Ivan Kalishevich, the grandson of Heikki's daughter (pictured in the middle) Terttu Tuomisto, created the OLD KEMI Beer brand in 2020 as a return and tribute to the family's history.
Today, Old Kemi is a Lappish beer brand, brewed in Espoo, Southern Finland, at the Salama Brewery, according to the gypsy brewing concept
Old Kemin beginning
2020-2024
The OLD KEMI beer brand was founded in 2020, exactly 100 years after the Kemi Workers' Soft Drink Factory was founded. For this reason, the words 100 years were printed on the OLD KEMI beer bottles and cans. The original year of foundation of the Kemi Water Factory in 1920 was also intended to be preserved, as it forms the basis for the entire story of the OLD KEMI beer brand.
United Gypsies Brewery, located in Lohja, started producing Old Kemi beers in December 2020. The brewery's capacity and expertise in the field were significant factors in choosing a partner.
Uusi alku ja Old Kemi uusi aikakausi
2025-
Old Kemi has received a huge amount of inspiration, support and new opportunities when the new owners of the Sallavakea Lapland hotel called in the middle of the night and announced that Old Kemi is now for sale. At the same time, we have finalized the cooperation model with Salama Brewery and Old Kemi is ready for a new flight. On 29.11, IPA 5.4% and Lakka Porter 7.5% beers in 0.44 l packaging and kegs will be released.
The opening ceremony will be held at the Sallavalkea hotel on 29.11 and now we invite all partners to join us in this new collaboration!
We have been inspired by many people and friends for this new beginning, but the decisive factor has been the new owners of Sallavalkea, Sami Huttunen and Leena Lundell, as well as a few other very close people, thank you very much for the revolutionary support, energy and inspiration!
Future vision
We are currently looking for partners with whom we can develop our operations in a diverse way.
Our goal is to open our own brewery in Kemi, respecting its history - where the OLD KEMI story begins. It is important for us to cherish traditions and history, and that is why we believe in the potential of the OLD KEMI beer brand. Our six different types of beer are professionally brewed with carefully thought-out recipes, so the quality of the beer and the pleasant taste experience of drinking beer guarantee that OLD KEMI beers are a strong and successful export product.
We are very interested in exporting OLD KEMI beers abroad as well, as we have strong expertise in foreign exports. The next potential export country, the market for which we are eagerly pursuing, is the UK.
Old Kemi brews high-quality beers for everyone; to the delight of both Finns themselves and foreign guests.
For more information please contact: myynti@oldkemi.fi ja 0408465658
Ivan Kalishevich, founder of the Old Kemi itinerant brewery and beer brand 2020 next to the original soft drink factory in Kemi