Beer in Norway: history, traditions and breweries
On farms in western Norway an age-old brewing tradition has survived – complete with a yeast of its own, kveik.
History
Beer was already part of Viking feasts. The Gulating Law of the 12th century obliged farmers to brew ale for Christmas. Anyone who failed to do so risked fines, could lose his farm to the king and the bishop and, in the worst case, be banished from the country.
Until about 200 years ago most farms brewed their own beer, and many families passed their yeast down through the generations. These kveik yeasts ferment very warm and fast and are now popular with brewers all over the world.
In the 19th century breweries such as Aass in Drammen (1834), today Norway’s oldest, Ringnes in Oslo (1876) and Mack in Tromsø (1877) were founded. Since the 2000s a lively craft beer scene has been growing.
The state monopoly Vinmonopolet was set up in 1922. To this day only it may sell wine, spirits and beer with more than 4.75% alcohol.
The farmer Sigmund Gjernes from Voss kept his kveik yeast going for decades. Samples went all over the world, and since the 2010s home and professional brewers everywhere have brewed with kveik.
Traditions and drinking culture
Every brewery brews its own “juleøl” for Christmas. Beer above 4.75 % ABV is only available from the state monopoly shop Vinmonopolet or in bars and restaurants. Supermarkets sell weaker beer only until 8 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on Saturdays.
In the countryside the old farmhouse brewing lives on, for example “kornøl” made with kveik, or “Stjørdalsøl” made from home-smoked malt.
Fun facts
- With kveik, beer often ferments out in two to three days at 30–40 °C (86–104 °F).
- The brewers Ellef and Amund Ringnes supported a polar expedition around 1900. Two islands in the Canadian Arctic still bear their names.
- Mack in Tromsø was long considered the northernmost brewery in the world. Today Svalbard Bryggeri on Spitsbergen brews much further north.
- Norway has one of the highest beer taxes in the world.
- Kveik used to be stored dried, often on a carved wooden ring, the “gjærkrans” (yeast ring).
Typical beer styles
Beer cities and their stories
Voss
Around Voss and in Hornindal in western Norway, farming families have preserved their kveik yeasts for generations.
Drammen
Aass has been brewing here since 1834 – Norway’s oldest brewery still in operation.
Oslo
Ringnes was founded in 1876 and is now Norway’s largest brewery; it belongs to Carlsberg.
Tromsø
Mack was founded in 1877 and was long considered the northernmost brewery in the world. Since 2012 Mack has brewed in nearby Nordkjosbotn; the old “Ølhallen” beer hall in Tromsø still exists.
Grimstad
The Nøgne Ø brewery was one of the pioneers of the Norwegian craft beer scene. Its name means “naked island”.
Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen)
Svalbard Bryggeri is now considered the northernmost brewery in the world.
Bergen
Hansa Borg has brewed in this old Hanseatic city since 1891. For centuries Bergen was an important trading post of the Hanseatic League.
Stjørdal
Around Stjørdal in Trøndelag farmers still brew “Stjørdalsøl” from smoked malt they kiln themselves.
Breweries and their stories
Aass
Norway’s oldest brewery still in operation, family-owned to this day.
Known for: Aass Bock, Aass Juleøl
Ringnes
Founded by the brothers Ellef and Amund Ringnes together with Axel Heiberg. The brewers financed polar expeditions, and several Arctic islands bear their names. Today Ringnes is Norway’s largest brewery.
Known for: Ringnes Pilsner
Mack
Long the northernmost brewery in the world; today it brews in Nordkjosbotn.
Known for: Mack Pilsner, Arctic Beer
Hansa
The big brewery of the west coast.
Known for: Hansa Pilsener
Nøgne Ø
Pioneer of the Norwegian craft beer scene.
Known for: Imperial Stout
Svalbard Bryggeri
The northernmost brewery in the world, on Spitsbergen.
Timeline
- 12th c.whole country
The Gulating Law obliges farmers to brew beer for Christmas. Anyone who does not has to pay a fine.
- around 1800Voss
Most farms still brew their own beer. Around Voss, families pass their kveik yeast down through the generations.
- 1834Drammen
Aass starts brewing in Drammen – today Norway’s oldest brewery and still family-owned.
- 1876Oslo
The brothers Ellef and Amund Ringnes found the Ringnes brewery together with Axel Heiberg.
- 1877Tromsø
Mack is founded in Tromsø – for a long time the world’s northernmost brewery.
- 1891Bergen
Hansa, the big brewery of the west coast, is founded in Bergen.
- around 1900Oslo
The Ringnes brewers support a polar expedition. Two islands in the Canadian Arctic still bear their names.
- 2002Grimstad
Nøgne Ø is founded in Grimstad, a pioneer of the Norwegian craft beer scene. The name means “naked island”.
- 2015Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen)
Svalbard Bryggeri opens on Svalbard – today the world’s northernmost brewery.
- 2010sVoss
Kveik from western Norway becomes known to brewers all over the world: the yeast often ferments out in two to three days at 30–40 °C (86–104 °F).