Beer in Norway

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. 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.

Market

The Norwegian beer market is dominated by two large brewers: The major Carlsberg- Ringnes based in Oslo and Copenhagen, Denmark, and the smaller Hansa Borg Bryggerier, based in Bergen and Sarpsborg. 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 grand-parents 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-style pale lager. 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 yeast for both traditional and modern beers.

Due to government restrictions, beers above 4.75% ABV are only available from licensed premises or from the state-run Vinmonopolet ("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 - the pale lager style which originated in the Czech city of Plzeň. 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 - a dark lager with roots in Bavaria (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 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 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 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 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''. It is taxed according to ABV level as with wines and spirits, and carries an 18-year age limit.

Common brands

*Ringnes is originally from Oslo, and is brewed by Ringnes Bryggeri in Oslo. It is Norway's most sold beer brand. It is owned by the Danish brewery Carlsberg.
*Hansa is originally from Bergen, and is brewed by Hansa Brewery in Bergen, owned by Hansa Borg Bryggerier It is Norway's second largest beer brand.
*Aass is originally from Drammen, and is brewed by Aass Bryggeri in Drammen.
*Arendals is originally from Arendal. It is brewed by Arendals Bryggeri in Arendal.
*Borg is originally from Sarpsborg, and is brewed by Borg Bryggerier, that belongs to Hansa-Borg Bryggerier in Sarpsborg.
*CB is originally from Kristiansand, and is brewed by Christianssands Bryggeri (CB) in Kristiansand. CB is owned by Hansa-Borg Bryggerier.
*E. C. Dahls is originally from Trondheim, and is brewed by Ringnes E. C. Dahls Bryggeri in Trondheim. E. C. Dahls is owned by Ringnes Bryggeri.
*Frydenlund is originally from Oslo. It is brewed by Ringnes Bryggeri in Oslo.
*Grans is originally from Sandefjord. It is brewed by Grans Bryggeri in Sandefjord.
*Lundetangen is originally from Skien. It is brewed by Aass Bryggeri in Drammen.
*Mack is originally from Tromsø, and is brewed by Macks Ølbryggeri in Nordkjosbotn. Macks Ølbryggeri was for long the world's northernmost brewery until they moved their production facilities.
*Tou was originally from Stavanger. It is brewed by Ringnes Bryggeri in Oslo.
Craft beers:
*Nøgne Ø is originally from Grimstad, and is brewed by Nøgne Ø Brewery in Grimstad, and Christianssands Bryggeri in Kristiansand, owned by Hansa Borg Bryggerier.
*Austmann is originally from Trondheim, and is brewed by Austmann Bryggeri in Trondheim.
*Bygland is originally from Bygland, and is brewed by Bygland Bryggeri in Bygland.

*Haandbryggeriet is originally from Drammen, and is brewed by Haandbryggeriet Brewery in Drammen.
*Kinn is originally from Florø, and is brewed by Kinn Bryggeri in Florø.
*Lervig is originally from Stavanger, and is brewed by Lervig Aktiebryggeri in Stavanger.
*MoloBrew is originally from Ålesund, and brewed by MoloBrewAS in Ålesund.
*Sagene is originally from Sagene in Oslo, and is brewed by Sagene Bryggeri in Oslo.
*Svalbard is the northernmost brewery in the world, originally from Longyearbyen at Svalbard, and is brewed by Svalbard Bryggeri

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases