Beer In Norway
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Beer in Norway has a long history, stretching back more than a millennium. Until some 200 years ago, most farms where it was possible to grow grain south of the Arctic Circle, brewed their own
beer Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grain—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize (corn), rice, and oats are also used. The grain is mashed to convert starch in the ...
. From the early 20th century brewing was industrialized and home brewing was restricted. Significant consolidation in the brewing sector reduced the number of major breweries to just a handful. With the exception of the farmhouse ales, most beer styles brewed in Norway trace their ancestry to
central Europe Central Europe is a geographical region of Europe between Eastern Europe, Eastern, Southern Europe, Southern, Western Europe, Western and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Central Europe is known for its cultural diversity; however, countries in ...
.


Market

The Norwegian beer market is dominated by two large brewers: The major
Carlsberg Carlsberg may refer to: Places * Carlsberg (district), a district in Copenhagen, Denmark ** Carlsberg station, its train station * Carlsberg, Germany, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany * Carlsberg Fjord, Greenland Other uses * Carlsbe ...
-
Ringnes Ringnes is the largest brewer in Norway. Ringnes is part of the Carlsberg Group. History Ringnes AS was founded in 1876. The company's brewery in the Grünerløkka district of Oslo produced its first beer in 1877. The brewery was founded by brot ...
based in
Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
and
Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
,
Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
, and the smaller
Hansa Borg Bryggerier Hansa Borg Bryggerier is a Norway, Norwegian brewery and distribution company which markets beer, bottled water and soft drinks. History Hansa Borg Bryggerier AS was founded in 1997, after a merger between Hansa Bryggeri and Borg Bryggerier. The ...
, based in
Bergen Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...
and
Sarpsborg Sarpsborg ( or ), historically Borg, is a List of cities in Norway, city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Østfold Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg. Sarpsbor ...
. Each produce beer branded in a variety of traditional Norwegian beer brands, as well as foreign brands bottled on licence. This system is a result of the large-scale consolidation of Norwegian breweries that has taken place over the last 50 years. Brewing has a long history in Norway, harking back to the pre-Christian era, when beer was a central element in all religious and social gatherings of any importance. The farmers brewed from their own grain, and most larger farms had a separate building used for drying both grain and malts. Home brewing in Norway is common, and divided in two separate traditions. On the one hand the, mostly city-based, modern home brewing of styles familiar from the rest of the world. On the other, in remote rural regions, farmhouse brewers brewing the same styles their parents and grandparents brewed. These are styles that don't exist elsewhere. As with most countries in Europe and America, the most popular style of beer in Norway is
pilsner Pilsner (also pilsener or simply pils) is a type of pale lager. It takes its name from the Bohemian city of Plzeň (), where the world's first pale lager (now known as Pilsner Urquell) was produced in 1842 by Pilsner Urquell Brewery. History ...
-style pale
lager Lager (; ) is a Type of beer, style of beer brewed and Brewing#Conditioning, conditioned at low temperature. Lagers can be Pale lager, pale, Amber lager, amber, or Dark lager, dark. Pale lager is the most widely consumed and commercially availab ...
. According to the Norwegian brewers' association, most beer brewed in Norway is pale lager. Until recently, this was the only style of beer to be had, except at Christmas time, when Christmas beers become available. These are dark malt beers traditionally brewed for the holiday season. Today, the craft beer market has continued to develop in Norway offering a number of different styles; including the popularization of
kveik Kveik is a collective term for a family of strains of brewing yeast that has been used in Norwegian farmhouse brewing for generations. History In the past all Norwegian farmers brewed beer from their own grain. The yeast was kept by the farm ...
yeast for both traditional and modern beers. Due to government restrictions, beers above 4.75%
ABV Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as alc/vol or ABV) is a common measure of the amount of alcohol contained in a given alcoholic beverage. It is defined as the volume the ethanol in the liquid would take if separated from the rest of the solution, ...
are only available from licensed premises or from the state-run
Vinmonopolet Vinmonopolet (), symbolized by â“‹ and colloquially shortened to Polet, is a government-owned alcoholic beverage retailer and the only company allowed to sell beverages containing an alcohol content higher than 4.75% in Norway. As the arm of the ...
("wine monopoly") liquor stores. This has resulted in some foreign breweries lowering the alcohol percentages in their beer in order to make them legal for supermarket retail. Norway has a "pay to play" market meaning the breweries must pay to get their beers on tap in most pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. The brewery must provide the bar with all the systems required for pulling beer, including tanks, taps, and glasses. In place of the tap selection, bars often carry a number of bottled beers. However, these usually carry a much higher price tag. The only exception is when the bar themselves own their own draft system and equipment. This has created a slow growth of small local breweries and limited the consumers options to which beers they can access at their local bars and restaurants.


Styles

Styles of beer that are typical of Norwegian commercial brewing are:
Pilsner Pilsner (also pilsener or simply pils) is a type of pale lager. It takes its name from the Bohemian city of Plzeň (), where the world's first pale lager (now known as Pilsner Urquell) was produced in 1842 by Pilsner Urquell Brewery. History ...
- the pale
lager Lager (; ) is a Type of beer, style of beer brewed and Brewing#Conditioning, conditioned at low temperature. Lagers can be Pale lager, pale, Amber lager, amber, or Dark lager, dark. Pale lager is the most widely consumed and commercially availab ...
style which originated in the
Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus *Czech (surnam ...
city of
Plzeň Plzeň (), also known in English and German as Pilsen (), is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the Statutory city (Czech Republic), fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 188,000 inhabitants. It is located about west of P ...
. This is the dominant beer type with almost 92% of the market share. The weaker (below 4.75% abv.) types are the most common, but most breweries also brew stronger varieties (similar to the Bavarian Spezial beer style) for sale through the Vinmonopol.
Bayer Bayer AG (English: , commonly pronounced ; ) is a German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies and biomedical companies in the world. Headquartered in Leverkusen, Bayer' ...
- a dark lager with roots in
Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...
(Bayern). The Norwegian version is often slightly sweeter than German dark lagers. Once rivaling pilsner in popularity, its market share has dropped from 20% in 1950 to 0.2% in 2004. It was the most popular industrial-brewed beer before the Second World War, but it lost its popularity due to the German occupation.
Juleøl A seasonal beer is a beer that is typically brewed during or for a particular season, holiday or festival period. Many breweries produce seasonal beers. Seasonal beers may be produced when fresh ingredients are available during various seasons, pe ...
- a dark, malted beer exclusively available at Christmas time. Traditionally this was a strong ale which was brewed at home. In modern times each brewery produces their own variety of Christmas beer, mostly a lager. Most breweries brew both weaker varieties (for sale in supermarkets) and more traditional, stronger varieties. Bokkøl - a strong, dark style of lager, typically 6-7% ABV, with a sweet, complex flavor. It originates from Germany, where it is known as
Bock Bock () is a strong German beer, usually a dark lager. History The style now known as ''Bock'' was first brewed in the 14th century in the Hanseatic town of Einbeck in Lower Saxony. The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers ...
bier. In addition, Norway has a strong tradition of farmhouse brewing, which has given rise to several styles, known under the common name of "maltøl" (and more recently sometimes "gårdsøl"). Only a few commercial examples of these exist. Heimabrygg - From the Hardanger, Voss, Sogn region. Usually dark and very strong (8-12%), mostly brewed from barley malts, with juniper and often
kveik Kveik is a collective term for a family of strains of brewing yeast that has been used in Norwegian farmhouse brewing for generations. History In the past all Norwegian farmers brewed beer from their own grain. The yeast was kept by the farm ...
yeast. The wort is boiled, often for several hours. Kornøl - From the Nordfjord and Sunnmøre regions. Usually pale, hazy, and 6-8%. Mostly brewed from barley malts, with juniper and
kveik Kveik is a collective term for a family of strains of brewing yeast that has been used in Norwegian farmhouse brewing for generations. History In the past all Norwegian farmers brewed beer from their own grain. The yeast was kept by the farm ...
yeast. Traditionally the wort was not boiled, but more in recent decades some brewers have begun boiling. Stjørdalsøl - From the Stjørdal region. Usually deep dark red and slightly hazy. Brewed from home-made heavily alder smoked barley malts. Usually fermented with bread yeast. Traditionally it was brewed with both hops and juniper, but the use of both, particularly juniper, has declined over the last few decades.


Legislation

In Norway, beer is classified into four categories by ABV (alcohol by volume), labeled from A to D. The class both determine the tax level, age restrictions, where, and when it can be sold. *Class A beer has an ABV of less than 0.7%, and is for all intents and purposes alcohol-free beer. It is not taxed more than general foodstuffs, and can be sold anywhere, any time, and be bought by anyone. *Class B beer has an ABV between 0.7% and 2.75%, and is considered "lettøl" (light beer). It is lightly taxed, and can be sold anywhere, anytime, with an age limit of 18 years. *Class C beer has an ABV between 2.75% and 3.75%. This category is not in common use. *Class D beer has an ABV between 3.75% and 4.75%, and is considered standard strength. Taxation is significant, age limit is 18 years, and sales are subject to local regulation. In most parts of Norway, class D beer can be purchased from common supermarkets, but only before 20:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on Saturdays. In some parts of Norway it can only be purchased through licensed beer stores. *Beer over 4,75% is considered ''sterkøl'' (strong beer) and is only sold through the government-controlled liquor store chain ''
Vinmonopolet Vinmonopolet (), symbolized by â“‹ and colloquially shortened to Polet, is a government-owned alcoholic beverage retailer and the only company allowed to sell beverages containing an alcohol content higher than 4.75% in Norway. As the arm of the ...
''. It is taxed according to ABV level as with wines and spirits, and carries an 18-year age limit.


Notable breweries

*
Ringnes Ringnes is the largest brewer in Norway. Ringnes is part of the Carlsberg Group. History Ringnes AS was founded in 1876. The company's brewery in the Grünerløkka district of Oslo produced its first beer in 1877. The brewery was founded by brot ...
Bryggeri in Oslo, owned by the Danish brewery
Carlsberg Carlsberg may refer to: Places * Carlsberg (district), a district in Copenhagen, Denmark ** Carlsberg station, its train station * Carlsberg, Germany, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany * Carlsberg Fjord, Greenland Other uses * Carlsbe ...
. * Hansa Brewery in Bergen, owned by
Hansa Borg Bryggerier Hansa Borg Bryggerier is a Norway, Norwegian brewery and distribution company which markets beer, bottled water and soft drinks. History Hansa Borg Bryggerier AS was founded in 1997, after a merger between Hansa Bryggeri and Borg Bryggerier. The ...
. *
Aass Bryggeri Aass Brewery (Norwegian: ''Aass Bryggeri'') is Norway's oldest brewery still active. Founded in 1834 in Drammen, Norway, the brewery's primary products are beer and Akvavit, aquavit. The company also produces a wide range of soft drinks. Aass wa ...
in Drammen. * Borg Bryggerier in Sarpsborg, owned by Hansa-Borg. *
Christianssands Bryggeri Christianssands Bryggeri (or CB, Kristiansand's Brewery) is a Norwegian brewery centred in Kristiansand. Together with Hansa Bryggeri in Bergen and Borg Bryggerier in Sarpsborg it makes up Hansa Borg Bryggerier AS, which is the second largest ...
(CB) in Kristiansand, owned by Hansa-Borg. * E. C. Dahls Bryggeri in Trondheim, owned by Ringnes. *
Grans Bryggeri The Grans Brewery (Grans Bryggeri AS) is a brewery founded in 1899 in Sandefjord, Norway. The name was ''Sandefjord Bryggeri og Mineralvandfabrik A/S'' until 1965. After two generations of Guttorm Gran (senior and junior) in the management, Trygve ...
in Sandefjord. * Mack Bryggeri in
Nordkjosbotn or is a small village in Balsfjord Municipality in Troms county, Norway. The village lies about southeast of the city of Tromsø. The village has a population (2023) of 483 and a population density of . Two major highways, European route ...
.


Craft breweries

*
Nøgne Ø Nøgne Ø is a Norwegian brewery founded in January 2002 by Gunnar Wiig and Kjetil Jikiun. The name is Norwegian for "Naked Isle" and was selected from the 19th-century Norwegian poem Terje Vigen by Henrik Ibsen. In most years since 2006, the ...
Brewery in Grimstad, and
Christianssands Bryggeri Christianssands Bryggeri (or CB, Kristiansand's Brewery) is a Norwegian brewery centred in Kristiansand. Together with Hansa Bryggeri in Bergen and Borg Bryggerier in Sarpsborg it makes up Hansa Borg Bryggerier AS, which is the second largest ...
in Kristiansand. * Austmann Bryggeri in Trondheim. *
Haandbryggeriet image:Haandbryggeriet.jpg, 260px, The mash tun, circa 2008 Haandbryggeriet is a Norway, Norwegian brewery founded in 2005 by Jens Maudal, Rune Eriksen, Arne Eide and Egil Hilde. The brewery was situated at the site of an old textile factory in Dra ...
Brewery in Drammen. *
Kinn Bryggeri Kinn Bryggeri AS is a microbrewery in the town of Florø in Vestland county, Norway. It was established in 2009. At Kinn Bryggeri, craft beers are brewed. A large number of different beers are produced, mostly in English and Belgian style. The b ...
in Florø. *
Lervig Aktiebryggeri Lervig Aktiebryggeri is a Norwegian brewery. It was founded in 2003 in Stavanger when the production of Tou (brewery), Tou beer was moved to Oslo. From 2003 to 2005 the beer was produced by Macks Ølbryggeri in Tromsø. In 2005 the production was ...
in Stavanger. * Sagene Bryggeri in Oslo. *
Svalbard Bryggeri Svalbard Bryggeri is a microbrewery in Longyearbyen at the island of Spitsbergen, the archipelago of Svalbard, Norway. Svalbard Bryggeri at 78° North is the northernmost commercial brewery in the world.Ægir Bryggeri Ægir Bryggeri is a micro brewery in Flåm, Norway.Ægir Bryggeri
www.d ...
in Flåm.


Microbreweries and brew pubs

Norway started late with
microbreweries Craft beer is beer manufactured by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer than larger "macro" breweries and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, ne ...
. There are over a hundred microbreweries in Norway, especially in the major cities.
Brew pub Craft beer is beer manufactured by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer than larger "macro" breweries and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, ne ...
s sell beers from their own microbreweries.


Craft beer

There are an increasing number of microbreweries producing variations of
craft beer Craft beer is beer manufactured by craft breweries, which typically produce smaller amounts of beer than larger "macro" breweries and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as emphasising enthusiasm, ne ...
. Some craft beers have an alcohol content more than 4.7%, and must be sold in Norway only through
Vinmonopolet Vinmonopolet (), symbolized by â“‹ and colloquially shortened to Polet, is a government-owned alcoholic beverage retailer and the only company allowed to sell beverages containing an alcohol content higher than 4.75% in Norway. As the arm of the ...
. Norwegian craft beers are for the most part based on foreign styles, but in recent years beers based on the local farmhouse brewing tradition have come onto the market. Although the volume of craft beer is significantly lower than beer from the larger other parts of the brewery industry, about 25% of the employees of the Norwegian brewery industry works with craft beer brewing.When the craft beer revolution finally hit Norway, it hit with a vengeance
www.visitnorway.com An example of the revival of old brewing is that many current Norwegian brewers brew traditional and modern beer types using the Norwegian
yeast Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom (biology), kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are est ...
kveik Kveik is a collective term for a family of strains of brewing yeast that has been used in Norwegian farmhouse brewing for generations. History In the past all Norwegian farmers brewed beer from their own grain. The yeast was kept by the farm ...
.


See also

*
Beer and breweries by region This is a list of articles and categories dealing with beer and breweries by region: the breweries and beers in various regions. Beer is the world's most widely consumed alcoholic drink, and is the third-most popular drink overall, after water and ...
* *


Literature

* Mortensen, Hylje and Johnsen, Vidar: ''Norsk øl''. Tun forlag 2009. * Jørgensen, Gustav: ''Skummende lidenskap - fem stabeiser og deres øl''. Bibere forlag 2013 * Almås Kvig, Jørn Idar: ''Ølboka''. Front Forlag 2014 * Smith-Gahrsen, Gahr; Hatland, Hugo Ivan and Ekeland, Skjalg: ''Den norske ølrevolusjonen''. Kagge Forlag 2014 * Solem, Knut Albert: ''Norsk øl- og bryggeriguide''. Vega Forlag, Oslo, 2016 * Almås Kvig, Jørn Idar: ''Den norske ølboka - en guide til norske øl og bryggerier''. Goliat Forlag AS, 2016 * Almås Kvig, Jørn Idar: ''Sommerøl - en guide til sommerens øl''. Goliat Forlag AS, 2016 * Almås Kvig, Jørn Idar: ''Den store ølboka - en guide til skandinavisk øl og bryggerier'', Goliat Forlag AS, 2017


References


External links


Norwegian Breweries

Norske bryggerier
Bryggeri- og drikkevareforeningen (incl. an updated list of breweries)
Norwegian craft beer
visitnorway.com
Norway Breweries
ratebeer.com

lervig.no {{DEFAULTSORT:Beer In Norway Beer in Norway,