Beer in Sweden: history, traditions and breweries
A country of farmhouse ales and a state monopoly – and one of the most creative craft beer scenes in Scandinavia.
History
People in Sweden drank ale and mead as early as the Viking Age; old writings such as the Hávamál tell of it. Until the 19th century beer was brewed mainly on farms, for the household and for feasts.
On Gotland the farmhouse ale has survived to this day: “Gotlandsdricke” is brewed with smoked malt and juniper branches and often fermented with baker’s yeast.
The first large breweries appeared in the 19th century. In 1828 Johan Albrecht Pripp founded the Pripps brewery in Gothenburg. Carnegie Porter has also been brewed in Gothenburg since 1817; in 1836 the Scotsman David Carnegie took over the brewery.
Around 1900 many people worried about heavy spirits drinking. From 1917 to 1955 you needed a ration book, the “motbok”, to buy spirits. After that the state monopoly Systembolaget took over the sale of strong alcohol.
A craft beer scene has been growing since the 1990s; Nils Oscar was one of the pioneers. Breweries such as Omnipollo from Stockholm are now known worldwide.
Traditions and drinking culture
Beer is classified by alcohol content: “lättöl” up to 2.25% is sold everywhere, “folköl” up to 3.5% in supermarkets to anyone 18 or over. Stronger beer, “starköl”, is sold only by Systembolaget, to people aged 20 and over.
At Christmas and Easter there are special seasonal beers, “julöl” and “påsköl”. In a pub people often order “en stor stark”, a large strong beer. The toast is “Skål!”.
Fun facts
- Carnegie Porter has been brewed since 1817 and is considered the oldest beer brand still available in Sweden.
- The “motbok”, the ration book for spirits, was in use from 1917 to 1955.
- Big brands such as Heineken or Pilsner Urquell come in two versions in Sweden: strong at Systembolaget and as a weaker “folköl” in supermarkets.
- At Christmas many Swedes prefer “julmust” to beer – a non-alcoholic malt soft drink that even outsells Coca-Cola over the holidays.
Typical beer styles
- Lager
- Porter
- Gotlandsdricke
- Julöl (Christmas beer)
- Craft beer of all styles
Beer cities and their stories
Gothenburg
Johan Albrecht Pripp founded his brewery in this port city in 1828, and Carnegie Porter was born here too. Gothenburg is still a centre of Swedish brewing.
Stockholm
The capital is the centre of Sweden’s craft beer scene. Breweries such as Omnipollo and Nya Carnegiebryggeriet come from here.
Visby
On Gotland, “Gotlandsdricke” is brewed with juniper and smoked malt. Gotlands Bryggeri brews in the old Hanseatic town of Visby.
Grängesberg
In 1923 the Dane Louis Spendrup took over the brewery in this mining town in Dalarna – the beginning of Spendrups, one of Sweden’s largest family-owned brewing groups.
Breweries and their stories
Pripps
Founded by Johan Albrecht Pripp. The lager Pripps Blå was launched in 1959; today the brand belongs to Carlsberg.
Known for: Pripps Blå
Carnegiebryggeriet
Carnegie Porter has been brewed here since 1817. In 1836 the Scotsman David Carnegie took over the brewery.
Known for: Carnegie Porter
Spendrups
Louis Spendrup took over the brewery in Grängesberg in 1923. Today the family brewery makes Mariestads and Norrlands Guld, among others.
Known for: Mariestads, Norrlands Guld
Omnipollo
Henok Fentie and Karl Grandin founded Omnipollo without a brewery of their own. It became known for playful beers and striking labels.
Known for: Noa Pecan Mud Cake Stout
Timeline
- Viking Agewhole country
In the Viking Age people in Sweden drink ale and mead, especially at feasts.
- 1817Gothenburg
Carnegie Porter is brewed for the first time in Gothenburg – still the oldest beer brand available in Sweden.
- 1828Gothenburg
Johan Albrecht Pripp founds the Pripps brewery in Gothenburg.
- 1836Gothenburg
The Scotsman David Carnegie takes over the brewery of Carnegie Porter.
- 1917whole country
The “motbok” is introduced: spirits can only be bought with a ration book.
- 1923Grängesberg
Louis Spendrup takes over the brewery in Grängesberg – the beginning of Spendrups.
- 1955whole country
The motbok is abolished; the Systembolaget monopoly now sells strong alcohol.
- 2011Stockholm
Omnipollo, one of Scandinavia’s best-known craft breweries, is founded in Stockholm.