Norwegian Beers
Wine is the staple alcoholic drink across much of Europe as grapes will grow in most climates, but because Norway stretches right up into the Arctic circle the average temperatures are much too low for growing them - although a couple of vineyards do exist in the very south of the country. The only real option is to work with various grains, and after a thousand years of practice it's fair to say that they have become VERY good at it. Brewing beer in Norway is a national tradition and it's highly likely that many farmers were also brewers because beer was hugely important at gatherings and ceremonies. Today a lot of home brewing is still taking place in the region, much of it adapted to modern tastes, but in the more remote areas people are still producing unique brews from recipes that have been handed down from one generation to the next.
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Many beers from this part of the world are light and clean with rounded flavours that are very similar to the typical pilsners and lagers that are a familiar sight across much of central Europe, and some of the biggest names in lager are firmly planted in Scandinavia, but Norwegian brewing is far from being a one-trick pony and there are a huge list of seasonal beers that are unique to the region so it's possible that one day we'll have a line-up that includes a Stjørdalsøl, a couple of Heimabrygg's and a Komøl all topped off with a dash of Juleøl! Although these aren't exactly names that trip off the tongue, they are all part of the Norwegian beer scene, many of which are dark beers that are brewed with fruit to give them a unique style and open up a world of flavours that are not just another reshuffle of the already crowded IPA market.
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One of the other quirky things to remember is that alcohol consumption and distribution is tightly controlled by the Norwegian government and although you can buy beers of up to 4.75% ABV from most larger grocers and supermarkets, anything over that is only available through the government controlled stores known as Vinmonopolet's (known locally as polet's or pol's). Because of this rule, much of the core range from ÅŒSLÅŒ Brewing Co. is 4.7% ABV, but there are times when you need a little more oomph - hop driven IPA's, chocolate rich stouts and porters definitely benefit from this extra strength or they can just end up being disappointingly 'thin' and lacking in depth - which we can cheerfully say is definitely not the case with the beers that we've received from those talented chaps at ÅŒSLÅŒ - and all we can do at this point is raise a glass and cry SKÅL!!!
ŌSLŌ BREWING CO.
In 2015 a group of nine people from Oslo, all with different abilities and backgrounds got together to form a company with a focus on brewing great beers that capture the diversity of a city where you can ski, snowboard or canoe to work and the CEO is more likely to turn up in a Metallica tour T-shirt than an Armani suit. Slowly the team has grown and this diversity helps to create a melting pot of ideas, where new beer concepts can be freely developed without having the constraints of old-school brewing and allows for the fusion of tradition and trendy - with a dash of experimentation to bring innovation to the craft brewing world.
Like many craft operations, Oslo Brewing Co. develop their own beers and then have them 'contract brewed' at a state-of-the-art facility elsewhere in Oslo as the costs of running a full-scale brewery (bryggeri) would be impractical for them at the moment, but they're planning to change this situation when the time is right. Having beer brewed this way is not only great for keeping costs down, it also means that brewers get a chance to exchange ideas and constantly strive to make new beers, or tweak existing ones to maximise their taste profiles.
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Oslo Brewing Co. beers are finding their way onto an increasingly international market that spans the globe - from the traditional Scandinavian neighbours of Finland and Sweden, across the Atlantic to the US and even across the Pacific to Australia and on to the Asian markets of Singapore, Taiwan and Japan, where they have successfully opened their second bar ØL in Tokyo. The UK is the latest country to join the list and the first bars and restaurants are already carrying many of the beers from their core range, with seasonal specials expected to follow very soon and online retailers offering the chance to purchase and enjoy at home. If you'd like to know more, get in touch and we'll be delighted to discuss the range of bottles, cans and keykeg options to see which of these great beers are right for your business.
Core Range
NORDIC PILSNER
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The taste of Oslo. A pilsner perfect for every occasion. A fragrant beer with hints of pine and a rich creamy texture that is sure to please the discerning pilsner drinker.
ABV 4,7% IBU 18
Serving temperature: 4 - 6°C
Ingredients: Water, Pilsner Malt, Hops & Yeast
Hops: Saaz, Wakatu, & Cascade.
Available: 500ml cans and 30 litre Keykeg
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
RØDT, HVITT OG BLÅTT​
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A celebratory sparkling lager with hops specifically chosen to provide a festive taste of fruit, flowers and wine grapes.
This beer was developed in the happiest capital in the world, and is perfect with seafood dishes.
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ABV 4,7%
Serving temperature 6 - 8°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Wheat, Oats, Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
OSLO LAGER - GLUTEN FREE
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A fresh take on hoppy lagers that we believe gives it much more flavour than other gluten free beers in this category. Hints of citrus, honey and dried fruit make for a deliciously refreshing flavoursome beer
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ABV 4,7%
Serving temperature 6 - 7°C
Ingredients: Water, Grain, Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS and COELIACS
NORWEGIAN BLONDE
Voluptuous blonde with great body and an addition of Huell Melon hops that bring flavours of strawberry and melon to the forefront and work really well with white meat.
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ABV 4,7%
Serving temperature 6 - 8°C
Ingredients: Water, Pale Malt, Munich, Vienna, Wheat, Carapils, Huell Melon Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
OSLOVE
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More than just a Passion Fruit beer - a beer made with passion that gives back to the people of Norway and the UK - CLICK HERE - for the Oslove story.
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ABV 4,7%
Serving temperature 4 - 6°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Wheat, Oats, Passion Fruit Puree, Hops, Yeast and lots of LOVE
Available in 330ml bottles and 20 or 30 litre keykeg
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
MELLOW IPA
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An incredibly drinkable DDH IPA that packs a delicious combination of 4 hops for a wonderfully complex flavour that includes some great tropical and ripe orange notes - simply brilliant stuff.
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ABV 4.7%
Serving temperature 6 - 8°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Simcoe, Centennial, Amarillo and Citra Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles and 20 or 30 litre Keykeg
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
INDIA PALE ALE V2
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Completely revised for 2021, this is an easy drinking, fresh and fruity West Coast style IPA, packed with Galaxy and Sabro hops, giving this beer a blast of ripe orange and tropical fruit flavours and aromas
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ABV 6,2%
Serving temperature 6 - 7°C
Ingredients: Water, Pure Malt, Oats, Barley, Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
DREAM PORTER​
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Creamy porter with additions of milk chocolate and liquorice, which gives a rich mouthfeel but remains easy drinking. Inspired by one of our favourite chocolates from Iceland
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ABV 6,5%
Serving temperature 7 - 9°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Chocolate, Liquorice, Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
CONTAINS LACTOSE
Spring '21 Special Releases
CASCARA IPA
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A ground breaking collaboration with Fuglen Coffee Roasters in Oslo that combines cascara (the soft fleshy outer case of coffee beans) with Hibiscus and Hornindal yeast. Crazy stuff, but super trendy
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ABV 4.7%
Serving temperature 6 - 8°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Oats, Sorrel, Coffee, Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
BLOOD ORANGE IPA
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Pure juice from sweet Blood Oranges is combined with aCascade and Mandarina Bavaria hop West Coast IPA style beer. Add in a touch of vanilla and strawberry for a proper juice-bomb
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ABV 6,2%
Serving temperature 6 - 8°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Wheat, Oats, Blood Orange and Strawberry Juice, Vanilla, Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
HYGGE
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A beer named after the tradition of a cosy weekend in a ski lodge with loved ones. A nod to a Belgian wit with mandarin juice and orange zest that's perfect after a hard day on the slopes (or keyboard!)
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ABV 6%
Serving temperature 6 - 8°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Wheat, Oats, Orange Peel, Mandarin, Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS
PÅSKEKRIM
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For almost 100 years the Norwegians have an Easter tradition of immersing themselves in crime fiction (think Girl with a Dragon Tattoo for a long weekend) and this is the beer to compliment it. Similar to Hygge, but a little lighter and with added Grains of Paradise, this is sure to keep you refreshed
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ABV 4.7%
Serving temperature 6 - 8°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Wheat, Hops, Orange Peel, Grains of Paradise & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
SUITABLE FOR VEGANS - AND POIROT...
ORANGE SODA SOUR
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Bursting with fresh zesty orange, this is about as refreshing as we think a beer can get. Sours are expected to be the big story for 2021 and this is an amazing first of many from OBC - almost sold out as soon as it got here
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ABV 4.7%
Serving temperature 4 - 6°C
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Wheat, Oats, Orange Juice, Lactose, Hops & Yeast
Available in 330ml bottles
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