Beer in Norway

Until some 200 years ago, most farms where it was possible to grow grain south of the Arctic Circle, brewed their own beer.

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.

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.

As with most countries in Europe and America, the most popular style of beer in Norway is pilsner-style pale lager.

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.

The brewery must provide the bar with all the systems required for pulling beer, including tanks, taps, and glasses.

types are the most common, but most breweries also brew stronger varieties (similar to the Bavarian Spezial beer style) for sale through the Vinmonopol.

Bokkøl - a strong, dark style of lager, typically 6-7% ABV, with a sweet, complex flavor.

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").

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.