Norwegian Breweries: all the breweries and their beers

Norwegian Breweries

styles - history - beers

Introduction
Norway has a typical Nordic brewing industry: high taxation, lots of regulation and a mass of pale lager. The traditional brewing sector has been reduced, by years of consolidation and rationalisation to 1 multinational, 1 large indigenous group and a handful of independents. If the country weren't such an inconvenient long thin shape, there would almost certainly be even fewer breweries left. Both beer exports and beer imports are insignificant. Carlsberg - who own Norway's largest brewer Ringnes - may put paid to that, when they have another bout of rationalisation fever. The last couple of years have seen a significant number of brewpubs and microbreweries open. Let's hope this is the start of something big.		Index Norwegian brewing industry Norwegian beer statisics Norwegian beer styles Norwegian beer organisations Norwegian Breweries

The Norwegian brewing industry

Norwegian breweies operate under the strictest regulation of any in Europe. The active (and sometimes positively vindictive) anti-alcohol lobby has the ear of the government and takes full advantage of its influence.

By the 1990's, Ringnes had attained a position of dominance in the Norwegian beer market. They did it the usual way - buying up competitors and closing them down, or simply using their financial muscle to squeeze them out. But there's a limit to how big you can get when there's only 2 million hl of beer being drunk. Which is why they eventually formed the axis of evil with Carlsberg of Denmark and Pripps of Sweden.

The two largest brewing groups (Carlsberg-Ringnes and Hansa Borg) control over 85% of the Norwegian beer market. Mack is the largest independent with about a 7% share, followed by Aass with 5%, Grans with 3% and Trio with 1%.

The current number of active breweries is 26. They break down as follows:

Brewery	No.	Details
Carlsberg/Ringnes	2	Has breweries just outside Oslo and in and Trondheim. In 2001 thgroup produced 1.4 million hl - 59.3% of the market. The Ringnes brand alone has 32% of the market. Doubtless they'll eventually brew all their beer in Denmark.
Hansa Borg	3	Operates breweries in Sarpsborg, Kristiansand and Bergen. Has 26% of the market.
Independents	4	Mostly pretty small (<50,000 hl). Aass, Grans, Mack and Trio.
Brewpubs	8	The first brewpub started in the late 1980's.
Microbreweries	9	Microbreweries are at last beginning to take off in Norway.
Contract brewers	0	Berentsens Brygghus have now started brewing themselves.

Norwegian Beer Styles

No Vinmonopol
The strict rules controlling the sale of alcohol in Norway have had a huge impact on the types of beer brewed. When the law was changed so that beer greater than 4.75% alcohol could only be sold in the state-run Vinmonopol shops, it had a disastrous effect on stronger styles.

Unlike in Sweden, where only low-alcohol beer can be sold in grocery shops, in Norway the biggest seller - pils - is not confined to the state-run alcohol shops (Vinmonopol in Norway). A Vinmomopol makes a Swedish Systembolaget look like De Bierkoning. Because beer forms such a tiny part of the Vinmonopol's turnover, they have almost zero interest in it. No wonder that, with buying such beers made virtually impossible, the market for them collapsed.

Currently the Vinmonopol lists a mere 22 Norwegian beers, of which 11 are seasonal for Christmas. Of these, only two regularly-brewed beers - Eagle from Ringnes and Nøgne Ø India Pale Ale - are above the old maximum beer strength of 7%.

The range of beers usually available varies from pils to well, er . . . pils. There are attempts to revive the Bayer style, which at least has the advantage of being standard strength, hence available in normal shops. I wish those involved the best of luck.

Bottom-fermenting Styles
The overwhelming of majority of beer brewed in Norway is bottom-fermenting. You know, the usual German lager types. Look, I have to be honest, it's almost all tiny variations on the northern European pilsner style. Sorry. I really wish I could make it sound more interesting.

This is a breakdown of the bottom-fermenting styles:

Style	alc.	description
Lettøl	2.4 - 2.5%	Low-alcohol pale lager.
Pils	4.5 - 4.7%	The standard very pale, slightly hoppy sort of crap sold everywhere. Over 90% of all beer brewed in Norway.
Bayerøl	4.5 - 4.7%	A lightly-hopped dark lager, approximately in the Münchner style. These were the first lagers brewed in Norway but have now all but died out.
Bokkøl	6 - 7%	Bittersweet, strong dark lager. Sadly, close to the point of extinction.
Lyst Sterkøl	5.3 - 7%	Full-bodied and quite heavily-hopped pale lager. Somewhere between an Export and a Bavarian Spezial. Another style badly hit by being moved to the Vinmonopol shops.
Juløl (klasse D)	4.5 - 4.7%	Amber or brown lager brewed for Christmas. These weaker versions are a relatively recent innovation, a reaction to the change in law that moved beer > 4.75% alc. into the Vinmonopol shops.
Juløl (sterkøl)	6 - 7%	Amber or brown lager brewed for Christmas. The original style of Christmas beer. The move to Vinmonopol shops has all but killed them off.
Märzen	4.5 - 4.7%	Amber lager.
Vørterøl	0%	"Wort beer". A non-alcoholic malt drink.
Fatøl	4.5 - 4.7%	Literally "draught beer". Another sort of standard strength pale lager.

Top-fermenting Styles
The commercial Norwegian breweries are effectively 100% bottom-fermenting. There are a couple of examples of Bavarian-style wheat beers made by brewpubs. Beers from the porter and pale ale families of styles also show up in brewpubs or micros. One, Nøgne Ø also has a go at a couple of Belgian styles.

This is an overview of the top-fermenting beers brewed in Norway:

Style	alc.	description
Weizenbier	4.5 - 4.7%	Top-fermenting wheat beer in the Bavarian style. Comes in pale and dark, filtered and unfiiltered varieties. Lightly-hopped, high in carbonation, and with a characteristic spiciness derived from the special yeast culture.
Bitter/Pale Ale	4.5 - 4.7%	Some of the brewpubs brew beers in the British bitter or pale ale style.
Porter/Stout	4.5 - 7%	Some of the brewpubs brew beers of the porter family, usually strong Baltic-style stouts.

Norwegian Beer Organisations
NORØL (Norske Ølvenners Landsforbund - Federation of Norwegian Beer Consumers) Postboks 6567 Etterstad, 0607 Oslo, Norway. Homepage: http://www.nor-ale.org/ The Norwegian beer consumers' group and EBCU member.		Bryggeri- og Drikkevareforeningen Essendropsgate 6, 0368 Oslo. Tel: 23 08 86 96 Fax: 22 60 30 04 Email: info@brom.no Homepage: http://www.bryggeri-ogdrikkevareforeningen.no The official trade organisatin of Norwegian brewers.

Ackowledgement Corner
Many thanks to Erik Dahl and Yngvar Ørebek for the corrections and updates they provided. They have made this page much more accurate than it would otherwise have been.

Norwegian Breweries

Norwegian Beer Statistics

Norwegian alcohol statistics
You have to be very careful when using government statistics to analyse the Norwegian brewing industry. All is not what it appears. Let me explain. An aggressive anti-alcohol lobby still has a considerable influence on the Norwegian government and its policies. The basic line is much like that in Sweden: alcohol causes social problems; the more alcohol consumed, the worse the problems; therefore governement policies should try to reduce alcohol consumption. There's just one slight problem - the argument is based upon a fallacy. A quick glance across Europe will demonstrate that there is no direct correlation between the amount of alcohol consumed and the level of negative effects. If there were, the countries with the highest consumption per head would also have the greatest alcohol-related problems. This is not the case. But back to my original point about a deceptive situation; because the Norwegian government is determined that the official figures show no substantial increase in consumption, they aren't always that concerned about them truthfully reflecting reality. For example, illegal personal imports and illegal home distilling account for a sizeable proportion of alcohol consumed, yet both are either completely ignored or deliberately underestimated in the official figures.

Statistical overview
Year	Production hl #	Imports hl	Exports hl	Consumption hl	Consumption (litres/head)
1993				2,140,000	50
1994				2,220,000	51
1995				2,230,000	52
1996				2,300,000	53
1997				2,330,000	53
1998	2,160,000	70,000	20,000	2,210,000	50
1999	2,200,000	140,000	40,000	2,300,000	52
2000	2,210,000	150,000	30,000	2,330,000	52
2001	2,210,000	110,000	20,000	2,300,000	51
2002	2,230,000	130,000	20,000	2,364,000	52
2003	2,400,000*	140,000	10,000	2,270,000	50
2004	2,391,000*	210,000	30,000	2,571,000	54
Source: Bryggeri- og mineralvannforeningen * calculated from the other figures

Beer production by tax class (hl)
Tax class	alc.vol	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Vørterøl		21,000	19,000	18,000	16,000	15,000	18,000	18,000	18,000
A	<0.7%	47,000	40,000	43,000	41,000	46,000	59,000	57,000	63,000
B	0.7 - 2.75%	99,000	89,000	89,000	81,000	74,000	68,000	66,000	61,000
C	2.75 - 3.75%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8,000
D	3.75 - 4.75%	2,216,000	2,110,000	2,204,000	2,233,000	2,210,000	2,281,000	2,191,000	2,409,000
Sterkøl	>4.75%	15,000	10,000	11,000	13,000	13,000	15,000	13,000	12,000
total		2,330,000	2,209,000	2,304,000	2,327,000	2,297,000	2,364,000	2,270,000	2,571,000
Source: Bryggeri- og mineralvannforeningen

Beer sales by type (%age)
type	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Vørterøl	13	6	5	3	1.3	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.7
Non-alcoholic beer	-	-	-	0	0.2	1.7	1.9	2.4	2.4	2.4
Lettøl	4	6	4	5	5.9	3.4	3.1	2.8	2.8	2.4
Alkoholsvakt øl (Class C)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.3
Pils	31	53	69	78	84.8	91.1	91.2	91.1	91.3	91.6
Bayerøl	22	9	3	1	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.2
Juleøl (D)	-	-	-	-	1.2	2.2	2.1	2.1	1.9	1.9
Juleøl (sterkøl)	-	2	2	2	1.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3
Lyst sterkøl	14	18	15	10	4.4	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.2
Bokkøl	16	6	2	1	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Total	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Source: Bryggeri- og mineralvannforeningen

Tax by beer class (NKK per litre)
class	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
A	1.55	1.58	1.62	1.52	1.55	1.58	1.58	1.61
B	2.46	2.51	2.51	2.38	2.43	2.47	2.47	2.51
C	9.26	9.45	9.45	8.98	9.18	9.35	9.35	9.51
D	16.05	16.37	16.37	15.55	15.89	16.18	16.18	16.46
Sterkøl	-	3.65*	3.65*	3.47*	3.55*	3.61*	3.61*	3.67*
4.75-5.75%	-	-	-	-	22.82
5.75-6.75%	-	-	-	-	29.62
>6.75%	-	-	-	-	33.59
Notes: * per % alc. vol. per litre between 1909 and 1999 max. ABV was 7% Sources: Facts and figures on beer, soft drinks and water in Norway, 2003 Bryggeri- og mineralvannforeningen

Beer sales by package
type	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Returnable bottle	47.4	44.3	42.1	39.1	38
Draught	26	25.2	24.4	23.1	24.4
Can	16.6	30.5	33.5	37.8	37.6
Source: Bryggeri- og mineralvannforeningen

Sales by location
	2002
Kiosks	2%
Shops	72%
Pubs/restaurants	26%
Source: Bryggeri- og mineralvannforeningen

What do my scores mean?
< 25	positively unpleasant
25 - 40	has its faults
40-50	OK
50-60	reasonably good
60-70	above average - definitely worth trying
70-80	excellent - worth hunting for
80 >	world class - you must try it

Norwegian Breweries

Listings

Ægir Bryggeri
Ægir Bryggeri
Boks 44,
5742 Flåm,
Norway.

Tel.: 57 63 20 50
Fax:57 63 20 51
http://www.flamsbrygga.no

Founded: 2007
Annual production: 2,000 hl.(2011)

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Bøyla Blonde Ale	4.7%		Blonde Ale.
Rallar Amber Ale	4.7%		Amber Ale.
Ægir India Pale Ale	6.5%		IPA.
Sumbel Porter	4.7%		Porter.
Natt Imperial Porter	10%		Porter.
Tors Hammer Barleywine	13.2%		Barley Wine.
Påskesol	4.7%		Helles. Seasonal - Easter.
Brime Red Lager	4.7%		Lager. Seasonal.
Kvase Kølsch	4.7%		Kölsch. Seasonal.
Witbier	4.7%		Witbier. Seasonal.
Altbier	5.5%		Altbier. Seasonal.
Saison	6.5%		Saison. Seasonal.
Harvest Ale	6.0%		Pale Ale. Seasonal.
Lynchburg Natt	10%		Seasonal.
Julebrygg Raud etikett	4.7%		Spiced beer. Seasonal - Christmas.
Julebrygg Grønn Etikett	7.0%		Spiced beer. Seasonal - Christmas.
Hefeweizen	4,7%		Hefeweizen
Maibock	8.0%		Maibock

A brewpub in the western fjords that is in the process of building a new free-standing brewery. All of the beers are bottle conditioned. A distillery is also planned to produce Aquavit and Whisky.

Aass Brewery
Postboks 1530
3007 Drammen
Tel: +47 32 26 60 00
Fax: +47 32 26 60 99
Email: info@aass.no
Homepage: http://www.aass.no/

Founded: 1834
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Aass Lettøl	2.5%	Pale lager.
Aass Fatøl Light	2.5%	Pale lager.
Aass Pilsner	4.5%	Pils.
Aass Fatøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
Aass Lauritz	4.5%	Pils.
Aass Classic	5.5%	Amber lager.
Aass Bayer	4.5%	Dark lager.
Aass eXo	4.7%	Pale lager.
Aass Ice	4.5%	Pale lager.
Aass Halling	4.5%	Pils.
Tømmermann Pils	4.5%	Pils. Made for Roma Mineralvann, a soft drink producer / distributor.
Aass Gull	5.5%	Pale lager - Export.
Aass Bock	6.5%	Dark bock. Brewed from Münchner malt and lagered 3-6 months.
Aass Sommerøl	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer.
Aass Juleøl (klasse D)	4.7%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Aass Juleøl (sterkøl)	6.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Aass Gourmet Lys Hvete	4.7%	German-style filtered wheat beer.
Aass Gourmet Pale Ale	4.7%	Pale Ale.
Aass Gourmet Stout	4.7%	Stout.
Lundetangen Pilsner	4.5%	Pils.
Lundetangen Sommerøl	4.7%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer.
Lundetangen Juleøl		Dark lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Seide Lettøl	2.5%	Pale lager. Produced for grocery-store chain Coop.
Seidel Pils	4.5%	Pils. Produced for grocery-store chain Coop.

Independent brewery. The oldest brewery in Norway.

It started in 1834 as a general trading company, daeling in timber and ship's provisions, but also running a small bakery and a small brewery. Poul Lauritz Aass bought the company in 1860, but the brewery was destroyed in the disastrous town fire of 1866. The rebuilt brewery operated on a more industrial scale than its predecessor.

Today, Aass is one of the most aggressively independent and best-loved breweries in Norway. Just a pity that the name has such an unfortunate sound to English ears.

Atna Bryggeri
2476 Atna.

Tel: 62 46 00 50
Fax: 62 46 11 50
Email: post@atnabryggeri.no
http://www.atnabryggeri.no/

Founded: 2005 ***** CLOSED March 2008 *****
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Atna Mopedøl	4.7%		Pale lager. Unfiltered. Uses Czech Saaz hops. I don´t think anyone else has a moped beer.
Atna Engelsk Brun	4.7%		Brown Ale. Unfiltered.
Atna Engelsk Lys	4.7%		Pale Ale. Unfiltered.
Atna Hveteøl	5.3%		Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Atna økologiske Pils	4.7%		Pils. Organic.
Wangensten Rakøl	4.65%		Lager/Landbier, Wangensten AS has developed Rakøl using old brewing recipes from Valdres.
Atna økologiske Export	6.3%		Pale lager - Export. Unfiltered. Organic.
Atna Hjemmepåske-øl	4.7%		Brown Ale. Seasonal - Easter.
Atna Glopheims Juleøl	4.7%		Brown Ale. Seasonal - Christmas.

Microbrewery. It seems to be run by the same people as Glopheim Kafe which sells their beers. ***** CLOSED March 2008 *****

Baatbryggeriet AS
6390 Vestnes.
Tel: 9119 0855
Fax: 7118 0627
http://www.baatbryggeriet.no

Founded: 2004 ***** CLOSED January 2007 *****
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Styrbord	4.7%		English-style Pale Ale. Unfiltered. The name means "starboard".
Babord	4.7%		English-style Brown Ale. Unfiltered. The name means "port".

Microbrewery.

Berentsens Brygghus
Jernbaneveien 28,
P.O. Box 53,
4379 Egersund.
Tel. 51 49 14 60
Fax. 51 49 10 73
Email:mail@berentsens.com
http://www.berentsens.com

Founded: 1895
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Rogalandspils	4.7%		Pils.
Rogalands Sommerøl	4.7%		Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer.
Berentsens Rav Amber Ale	5.5%		Amber ale.

Microbrewery. A producer of cider and soft drinks that decided to brew. Its beers were initially brewed by Aass.

Borg Bryggeri
Per Gyntsvei 2-4,
Pb.7,
1701 Sarpsborg.
Tel: +47 69 12 62 00
Homepage: http://www.hansa.no

Founded: 1855
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Borg Lettøl	2.4%	Pale lager.
Borg Ice	4.7%	Pale lager.
Borg Pilsner	4.7%	Pils.
Borg Bokkøl	6.6%	Dark bock.
Borg Oktoberøl	4.6%	Amber lager - Märzen.
Borg Juleøl (klasse D)	4.7%	Amber lager.
Borg Juleøl (sterkøl)	6.6%	Amber lager.

Part of Hansa Borg Bryggerier.

A/S Borg Bryggerier and Fredrikstad Bryggeri AS merged in 1989. In 1997 Hansa Bryggeri and Borg Bryggerier merged.

BryggeriKAIA
Sjøgata 1,
8006 Bodø.
Tel: 75 52 58 08
Email: post@bryggerikaia.no
http://www.bryggerikaia.no/

Founded: 2004
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Husets pils			Pils.
Weissbier			German-style wheat beer.
Brown Ale			Brown Ale.

Brewpub.

Christianssands Bryggeri CB
Setesdalsveien 17,
4616 Kristiansand.
Tel: +47 3810 3910
Homepage: http://www.hansa.no

Founded: 1856
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
CB Kilden Lettøl	2.5%	Pale lager.
CB Bayer	4.5%	Dark lager.
CB Magnum Mørk	4.5%	Dark lager.
CB Magnum Fatøl	4.5%	Pils.
CB Pilsener	4.5%	Pils.
CB Jubileumsøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
CB Sørlandspils	4.7%	Pils.
CB Feriepilsen	4.7%	"Holiday" pils.
CB Juleøl (klasse D)	4.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
CB Julespesial	4.7%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
CB Juleøl (sterkøl)	6.5%	Dark lager. Seasonal - Christmas.

Part of Hansa Borg Bryggerier.

Between 1859 and 1964, when it was sold to the Tou Bryggeri in Stavanger, the brewery was owned by 5 generations of the Christiansen family. Since then there have been several owners, including Sørlandsvekst and the Swedish brewery Spendrups (1993-1999), from whom Hansa Borg bought it in 1999.

Egge Bryggeri
Kvamstrøa 19,
7715 Steinkjer.

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Ølve Øl	4.7%		Dark ale. "it reminds me of a mix between brown ale and oatmeal stout" according to Yngvar Ørebek. Sounds pretty interesting.

Microbrewery. Still in the process of starting up.

Grans Bryggeri
Kamfjordgaten 56,
Postboks 13,
3201 Sandefjord.
Tel: +47 33 48 25 00
Fax: +47 33 48 25 25
Email: post@grans.no
Homepage: http://www.grans.no/

Founded: 1899
Annual production: 80,000 hl

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Grans Lettøl	2.5%	Pale lager.
Grans Mammut Pilsner	4.5%	Pils.
Grans Spesialøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
Grans Påskeøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
Grans Sommerøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
Grans Pilsner	4.7%	Pils.
Grans Premium Pilsner	4.75%	Pils.
Grans Fatøl		Pale lager.
Grans Pilsner Original		Pils.
Grans ICE
Grans Juleøl (klasse D)	4.6%	Amber lager.
Grans Juleøl		Amber lager.

Independent brewery. Owned 50% by the Gran family and 50% by Treschow-Fritzøe AS. The brewery employs 65 people. Brews exclusively for the REMA 1000 supermarket chain. Their canned beers are actually produced in Denmark.

Hansa Bryggeri
Kokstaddalen 3,
5061 Bergen.
Tel: +47 55 99 77 00
Fax: +47 55 99 12 22
Email: kundesenter@hansa.no
Homepage: http://www.hansa.no/

Founded: 1891
Annual production: 600,000 (2003 - all 3 breweries in group)

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Hansa Lettøl	2.4%	Pale lager.
Hansa Fatøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
Hansa Pilsner	4.5%	Pils.
Hansa Premium	4.5%	Pale lager.
Hansa Bayer	4.5%	Dark lager.
Hansa Ice Beer	4.5%	Pale lager.
Hansa Lemon Pilsner	4.5%	Pils.
Hansa Påskebrygg	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Easter.
Hansa Sommerøl	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer.
Marneys Red Ale	4.5%	Amber ale.
Hansa Juleøl til akevitt	4.7%	Pale lager. Designed as a chaser to aquavit.
Hansa Sterkøl	6.5%	Pale lager.
Hansa Juleøl	6.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Fredrikstad Juleøl	4.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Fredrikstad Juleøl	6.6%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.

Part of Hansa Borg Bryggerier, Norway's largest indpendent brewery group. The group has about 26% of the Norwegian beer market.

In 1989 the brewery was bought by Procordia (Pripps) of Sweden. When Pripps and Ringnes merged in 1996, the EU ruled that Hansa had to be sold off. It was bought by a group of Norwegian investors, led by Storebrand, Norske Liv and Gjensidige. In 1997 Hansa and Borg merged to form Hansa Borg Bryggerier.

1999 Hansa Borg Bryggerier bought the Christianssands Bryggeri (CB) from the Swedish brewery Spendrups.

Hansa Borg Bryggerier ASA currently operates breweries in Sarpsborg, Kristiansand and Bergen. The group headquarters is located at the Bergen site.

HaandBryggeriet
Thornegata 39,
3015 Drammen.
Tel: 32 83 35 66
Fax: 32 83 35 05
egil@haandbryggeriet.no
http://www.haandbryggeriet.no

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Bavarian Weizen	5.5%		Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Dunkel Weizen	5.5%		Unfiltered dark wheat beer.
Porter	6%		Porter. Unfiltered.
India Pale Ale	6.5%		India Pale Ale. Unfiltered.
Ardenne blond	7.5%		South Belgian-style ale. Unfiltered.
Weizenbock	7.5%		Unfiltered wheat bock.
Jule Ale	6.5%		Old Ale. Unfiltered. Seasonal - christmas.

Microbrewery.

Hardanger Bryggeri
5013 Bergen.
Tel:
Fax:

Founded: CLOSED 199?
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)

Independent brewery.

Inderøy Gårdsbryggeri
Årfallv. 86,
7670 Inderøy.
Email: post @ igb.no
http://www.igb.no/

Founded: 2007
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Kvamsholmer	4.5%		Blond ale inspired by Kölsch.
Soddøl	4.5%		Pale Ale.
Ankerøl	4.5%		Porter

Microbrewery.

Kalfaret Brygghus
Kalfarveien 76,
5018 Bergen
Tel: 55 31 19 50
post@kalfaretbrygghus.no
http://www.kalfaretbrygghus.no/

Founded: 2007
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Kalfaret Waldemars Pilsner	4.5%		Pils.
Kalfaret Waldemars Ale	4.5%		Ale.
Kalfaret Waldemars Stout	4.5%		Stout.
Kalfaret Waldemars Bayer	4.5%		Dark lager.
Kalfaret Waldemars Hveteøl	4.5%		Unfiltered pale wheat beer.
Kalfaret Waldemars Juleøl	6.5%		Dark Bock. Seasonal - winter.

Brewpub owned by Hansa.

Lervig Aktiebryggeri
Vierveien 1,
Hillevåg,
4016 Stavanger.
Tel: 51 81 25 00
Fax: 51 81 25 01
http://www.lervig.no

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Lervig Pilsner	4.7%		Pils.
Lervig Ein Te Pils	4.7%		Pils.
Lervig Fiine	4.7%		Amber lager.
Lervig Ein Te Sommer-Øl			Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer.
Lervig JuleØl	4.7%		Dark lager. Seasonal - christmas.
Lervig JuleØl			Dark lager. The strong version sold in the Vinmonpol. Seasonal - christmas.

Microbrewery. Set up by enthusiasts to replace the town's Tou brewery, closed by Ringnes. Intial batches were brewed at Mack's.

Det Lille Bryggeri
Hovdmoen Industriområde Ha,
2450 Rena.
Tel: 62 44 48 15
Fax: 62 44 35 71
Email: postmaster@ip-as.no
http://www.ip-as.no/

Founded: 2005
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Birkebeinerpils
Bjønnøl
Gaupeøl
Nøkken

Microbrewery.

Lillehammer Bryggeri AS
Elvegata 19,
2609 Lillehammer.
Tel: 61 25 28 90
Email: post@lillehammerbryggeri.no
http://www.lillehammerbryggeri.no/

Founded: 2006
Annual production: 500 hl (capacity)

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Pilsner			Pils.
Ale			Ale.
Stout			Stout.
Hveteøl			Unfiltered pale wheat beer.

Brewpub in premises of the former Lillehammer Bryggeri, which closed in 1983.

Opening times:
Thursaday 19.00 - 24.00
Friday 19.00 - 01.00
Saturday 19.00 - 01.00

Mack's Ølbryggeri AS
Storgata 4,
9005 Tromsø.
Tel: +47 77 62 45 00
Fax: +47 77 65 86 77
Email: mack@mack.no
Homepage: http://www.mack.no/

Founded: 1877
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Mack Isbjørn	4.5%	Pils.
Mack Pilsener-Øl	4.5%	Pils.
Mack Nordlendingen	4.5%	Pils.
Ludwig Bayer	4.5%	Dark lager.
Mack Arctic Beer	4.5%	Pale lager.
Mack Arctic Ice	4.5%	Pale lager.
Lervig Pilsner	4.5%	Pils.
Mack Haakon	4.7%	Pale lager.
Ludwig Hvede	4.7%	German-style wheat beer. Only sold in cans.
Ludwig Brown Ale	4.7%	Brown Ale. Only sold in cans.
Mack Bok-Øl	6.5%	Dark bock.
Mack Gull	6.5%	Pale lager - export.
Mack Sommer-Øl	4.5%	Pils. Seasonal - Summer.
Mack Vårøl	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Spring.
Mack Mørketidsøl	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Winter.
Mack Høst-Øl	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Autumn.
Mack White Xmas	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Mack Julespesial	4.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Mack Juleøl (klasse D)	4.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Mack Juleøl (sterkøl)	6.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Lervig Juleøl (sterkøl)	6.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Mack smrprty	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer. The name is sms talk for summer party. How clever.

Independent brewery. They have installed a 9 hl microbrewery to allow them to brew small amounts fo specialist beers under the Ludwig brand.

Ølhallen A/S
9291 Tromsø
Tel: 776 24580
Fax: 776 58677

Mack's principal outlet in Tromsø. It sells Gullbock (6.5%) a pale bock, Gullmack (6.5%) and Blanding (4.75% - a mixture of Bayer and Pils) on draught, plus a seasonal beer. Founded in 1928 and Tromsø's oldest pub.

Opening times:
Mon - Thur 09:00 - 17:00
Fri 09:00 - 18:00
Sat 09:00 - 15:00
Sun closed
From 1 June until 31 August Mon - Fri 09:00 - 18:00

Mo Laksegard
4230 Sand.
Tlf.: 5279 7690
Fax.: 5279 7303
Email: molaks@hesbynett.no
http://www.molaks.no/

Founded: 200?
Annual production:

Brewpub/Farm brewery. The beer is only available at the farm itself and on a special occasion.

Møllebyen Mikrobryggeri
Galla/Kloster Mølle,
Fossen 21/23,
1530 Moss.
Tel: +47 6925 2701
Fax: +47 6925 2702
Email: post@mikrobryggeriet.com
http://www.mikrobryggeriet.com

Founded: 2003 ***** NO LONGER BREWS*****
Annual production: 1,200 hl

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Jubileum	4.6%	Pils.
Mossepils	4.5%	Pils. Brewed to the recipe from the closed Moss Bryggeri
Steamer	4.5%	Ale. No longer brewed.
India Pale Ale	5.6%	India Pale Ale.
Stout		Stout.
Sommerøl		Ale. Seasonal - Summer.
Jubileumspils		Pils. Brewed o celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mosseølets Venner ("the firends of Moss beer").
Kong Karl	4.5%	Pils that uses some wheat malt.
Porter	4.7%	Porter.
Amber Ale	4.5%	Amber Ale.
Märzen	5.6%	Märzen
Trippel Pale Ale	8%	Strong American Pale Ale.
Hveteøl	4.5%	Unfiltered pale wheat beer. Seasonal
Trippel	7.4%	Belgian-style Tripel.
Juleøl	6.9%	Dark, spiced ale. Seasonal - christmas.

Brewpub. The pub is still open but no longer brews.

Nøgne Ø
Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri
Reddalsveien 65,
4886 Grimstad.
Tel: +47 3727 2747
Email: kjetil@nogne-o.no
Homepage: http://www.nogne-o.no/

Founded: 2002
Annual production: 6,000 - 8,0000 hl (2011)

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	Score (100)
Bitter	4.5%		Bitter. Hopped with East Kent Goldings.
Brown ale	4.5%		Brown ale.
Havre Stout	4.5%		Oat stout.
Weiss	4.5%		German-style wheat beer.
Wit	4.5%		Belgian-style wheat beer. Ingredients include coriander and orange peel.
Pale ale	6%		Pale ale. Orange amber colour with a compact, fine-beaded head; hop, citrus, resin, caramel and cream aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with orange, hop, caramel, biscuit and basil aromas; very, very bitter finish with resin, citrus, orange and caramel aromas. A lovely mix of malt and hops with a nice whack of bitterness at the end. I particulalrly liked the way the hops didn't dominate the whole way through, taking a break in the middle to let the malt take over. Very good. Tasted 11.05.2006	84
Amber ale	6%		Reddish-coloured ale.
Porter	7%	16.5º	Porter. Shouldn't stout be stronger than porter? Black colour with a dense tan head; espresso, burnt, cream, liquorice, plums; sweetish/bitter taste with smoke, burnt, treacle, liquorice and plum aromas; bitter finish with burnt, roast, espresso, cream and treacle aromas. A delicious beer with lots of roasted malt flavours. Thankfully, the Centennial hops aren't noticeable. Exactly the sort of beer I like to drink. Tasted 20.07.2007	82
India Pale Ale	7.5%		India Pale Ale.
Trippel	8%		Belgian-style tripel.
Batch 100	10%	22.5º	Imperial IPA. Brown colour, little head; grapefruit, caramel and roast aromas; sweet/very bitter taste with grapefruit, roast, and plum aromas; bitter finish with grapefruit, roast and espresso. A car crash of a beer. I've no idea what it's supposed to be, but it doesn't work. Flavours that clash rather than complement clammer for attention. It's like being locked in a cupboard with a dozen hyperactive toddlers. (My wife quite liked it. No accounting for taste.)	35
Imperial Stout	9%	23º	Imperial Stout. Black colour with a dense tan head; bread, dates, citrus, treacle and lychee aromas; sweetish/bitter taste with cream, chocolate, roast, liquorice, dates and treacle aromas; bitter finsih with espresso, burnt, chocolate and liquorice aromas. Complex dark malt flavours are to the fore in this strong Stout, despite its 79 IBUs. The use of oats gives it a lovely oily texture. Another winner. Tasted 20.07.2007	85
Saison	6.5%		Saison. Bottle-conditioned. Hazy orange colour with a fine head; cloves, citrus, yeast and coriander aroma; sweetish/bitterish taste with caramel coriander, pepper and orange; bitter finish with smoke, coriander pepper and resin. An unspiced beer that has lots of spicy flavours. They must come from the Belgian yeasts. Quite pleasant - reminds me of Vlo from het Ij. Tasted 28.12.2006	69
Julesnadder	4.5%		Norsk juleøl. Seasonal - Christmas.
God Jul	8.5%		Strong Stout. Norsk juleøl. Seasonal - Christmas. Black colour with an even, dense, tan head; liquorice, spices, plums, roasted and fig aroma; very sweet taste with black chocolate, roast, toffee, milk, dates and raisin aromas; bitterish finish with black toffee, liquorice, tar, burnt, dates and coffee aromas. I didn't expect a beer called "Merry Christmas" to be a stout, but that didn't make it any less delicious. According to the label, the grist contains Munich, lager, caramel, black and chocolate malts. From the the oily texture of the beer, I can believe it contains a high percentage of dark malt. A beer I could happily drink all year. Tasted 11.05.2006	83
Underlig Jul	6.5%		Dark ale. Seasonal - Christmas.
Julenatt	6.5%		Vanilla Porter. Seasonal - Christmas. Black colour with a fine tan head; cloves, mint humbug, coriander and vegetable aroma; bitterish taste with vegetable, and liquorice aromas; bitter finish with smoke, liquorice, coriander and celery aromas. Something isn't quite right with this beer. Tastes like some sort of yeast problem. I didn't notice that it was a Porter or any vanilla. Tasted 28.12.2006	37
God Påske	6%		Pale ale. Seasonal - Easter.

Microbrewery which brews an interesting range of Belgian, British and American styles. I can't think of many breweries that make both a German and a Belgian wheat beer.

All the beers are bottle-conditioned. Draught beers are sold cask-conditioned (though they are usually only made to order).

Nøgne Ø is starting to get an international cult following for its uncompromising beers. Very impressive, considering their tiny size and out of the way location. Their beers are some of those I would most like to try myself. If anyone feels like bringing a few bottles over to Amsterdam, I will be happy to reimburse them (for the beer, that is).

Nordkapp Mikrobryggeri
Honningsvag,
Nordkapp.
Tel: +47 7847 2600
Fax: +47 7847 2054
Email: post@bryggerie.no
Homepage: http://bryggerie.no/

Founded: 2000
Annual production: 400 hl

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Sårry Makk		Pils. The name is a pun on Mack - whose record of being the most northern brewery they took away.
Fru Kaino		Pale lager. Sårry Makk with added lemon.
Nordkapphornet		Dark lager - Bayer. Brewed from pilsner malt, crystal malt and black malt.
Jæger-øl		Pale lager.
NorthCaper
Juleøl		Seasonal - Christmas.

Brewpub. The world's most northerly brewery.

Oslo Mikrobryggeri
Bogstadveien 6,
0355 Oslo.
Tel: +47 22 56 97 76
Fax: +47 22 46 93 58
Homepage: http://www.mikrobryggeriet.no/

Founded: 1989
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Oslo Pils	4.65%	Pils.
Steamer	4.65%	Steam ale.
Bitter	4.65%	Bitter.
Porter	4.65%	Porter.
Imperial Stout		Stout.
Alen Ale		Ale.
India Pale Ale	6%	India Pale Ale.

Brewpub. I haven't tried their beers for a while, but they were outstanding. The fact that they've been around for 15 years says something.

Opening times:
Sun-Tue 15:00-01:00
Wed-Fri 15:00-02:30
Sat 12:00-02:30

Ringnes Arendals Bryggeri
Industriv. I 1,
4800 Arendal.
Tel: +47 3705 2300
Fax: +47 3705 2359
Homepage: http://www.ringnes.no/

Founded: 1839
Annual production: 420,000 hl. (2000)

**** Closed 200? ****

Ringnes Nordlandsbryggeriet
PB 393,
Fredensborgveien 124,
8001 Bodø.
Tel: +47 7559 0500
Fax: +47 7559 0501

Founded: 1897
Annual Production: 60,000 hl.

Draught beer only. Production of bottled beer was moved to Trondheim in 2000.

It was founded as the Bodø Aktiebryggeri in 1897. It changed its name to Nordlandsbryggeriet in 1978, before being taken over by Ringnes.

**** Closed 200? ****

Ringnes Bryggeri
Postboks 7152 M,
Thv. Meyers gate 2,
0307 Oslo.
Bryggeriveien 2, 1481 Hagan. Tel: +47 2206 9500
Fax: +47 2206 9902

Founded: 1876
Annual Production: 850,000 hl.

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Ringnes Light	2.5%	Pale lager.
Ringnes Skjaergaardspils	4.5%	Pils.
Ringnes 1877 Jubileumsøl	4.7%	Pale lager.
Ringnes Pilsener	4.75%	Pils.
Ringnes Extra	5.3%	Pale lager - Lyst Sterkøl.
Ringnes Extra Gold	6.5%	Pale lager.
Eagle Super Strong Beer	10.2%	Pale lager.
Ringnes Sommerøl	4.4%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer.
Ringnes Julebrygg (klasse D)	4.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Ringnes Juleøl (sterkøl)	6.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Ringnes Julebokk	9.9%	Dark bock. Seasonal - Christmas.
Schous Juleklassiker	4.7%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Schous Juleklassiker (sterkøl)	6.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Lysholmer Double Ice	4.5%	Pale lager.
Lysholmer Spesialøl	4.7%	Pale lager.
Tou Pilsner	4.5%	Pils.
Tou Blå	4.5%	Pale lager.
Tou Fatøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
Tou Sommerøl	4.5%	Pale lager. Seasonal - Summer.
Tou Juleøl (klasse D)	4.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Nordlands Pils	4.5%	Pils.
Frydenlund Pilsener	4.4%	Pils.
Frydenlund Bayer	4.7%	Dark lager.
Frydenlund Fat	4.75%	Pale lager.
Frydenlund Bokkøl	6.5%	Dark bock.
Frydenlund Julebayer	4.5%	Dark lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Frydenlund Juleøl fra fat (klasse D)	4.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Frydenlund Juleøl (sterkøl)	6.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Aktiebryggeriet Oslo Juleklassiker	6.5%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.

Part of Carlsberg AS. After taking over (and closing) most of the decent-sized breweries in Norway, Ringnes merged with Pripps of Sweden in 1996. It still operates three breweries in Norway, but I'm sure, given their track record, they'll be able to rationalise a bit more.

As it isn't always clear where individual beers are brewed, I've lumped all their products together. Many of the beers (such as the Tou and Schou brands) originated in breweries closed decades ago.

Ringnes E.C.Dahls Bryggeri
Postboks 714,
Strandveien 71,
N-7001 Trondheim.
+47 73 58 15 00
+47 73 58 17 66

Founded: 1856
Annual production: 500,000 hl. (2000)

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Dahls Pils	4.5%	Pils.
Dahls Fatøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
Dahls Sommerøl	4.5%	Pale lager.
Dahls Juleøl (sterkøl)	6.3%	Amber lager. Seasonal - Christmas.
Dahls 1856	4.5%	Pale lager.

Part of Carlsberg AS.

Trio Bryggeri
Kjørbekkdalen 4,
N-3735 Skien.
Tel: 3550 3770
Fx: 3550 3771
Email: post@trio.tm.no

Founded: 1998 (1924)
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Christiana Premium Pilsner	4.7%	Pils.
Trio Pilsner	4.7%	Pils.
Trio Original Fatøl	4.7%	Pils.

Independent brewery. It started producing soft drinks in 1924. It wasn't until 1998 that it started brewing beer. Owned by Macks Ølbryggeri.

Trondhjem Mikrobryggeri
Postbox 258, Heimdal,
Prinsens gt. 39,
7474 Trondheim
Tel: +47 735 17 515
Fax: +47 735 17 514
http://www.tmb.no/

Founded: 1998
Annual production: 1,200 hl

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Trondhjems Pils	4.5%	Pils.
Trondhjems Amber	4.5%	Amber Ale
Trondhjems Pale Ale	4.5%	Pale Ale.
Trondhjems Bitter	4.5%	Bitter.
Trondhjems Porter	4.5%	Porter.
Trondhjems Indian Pale Ale	5.5%	India Pale Ale.
Trondhjems Weissen		Unfiltered wheat beer. Seasonal.
Trondhjems Stout	5.4%	Stout.
Trondhjems Jule-bryg		Seasonal - Christmas.

Brewpub. Amazingly, Norway's 7th largest brewing company (after Ringnes, Hansa, Mack, Aass, Grans and Trio).

Opening times:
Sun-Mon 17:00-24:00,
Thur-Fri 15:00-02:00,
Sat 12:00-02:00

Vestlandsbrygg
Gangstøvika,
6009 Ålesund.
Tel: +47 70 13 72 72
Fax: +47 70 13 82 82

Founded: ****** CLOSED IN 2003 *****
Annual production:

Independent brewery.

Valdres Gardsbryggeri
2940 Heggenes,
Valdres.
Tel: +47 613 40495
Fax: +47
Email: kontakt@gardsbryggeriet.com
Homepage: http://www.gardsbryggeriet.com

Founded: 2000
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Description	Score (100)
Kvek	4.7%	Pale ale. Filtered but unpasteurised.
Staut	4.7%	Dark ale. Roughly filtered and unpasteurised
Brisk	4.7%	Ale. The water has juniper boiled in it before brewing. An old Norwegian tradition.

Microbrewery.

Vingården AS
Vingården,
3480 Filtvet.
Tel: 32 79 58 00
Fax: 32 79 58 00

Founded: 200?
Annual production:

Beer	alc	Plato	Description	score (100)
Suttungs Mjød	13%		Mead.

Winery. I'm not quite sure this belongs here, but what the hell.

Many thanks to the following for their help in compiling this page::

Torbjørn Bull-Njaa
Per Samuelsson
Yngvar Ørebek
Knut Albert Solem

Questions? Suggestions? Click to email me.

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This page was last updated 21.08.11