Beer has become the connoisseur's choice.

Jag fick en förfrågan från en vän om jag kunde skriva ihop en liten text om svenska microbryggerier. Det kunde jag tänka mig. Denna text återger jag här på bloggen så fler personer kan få läsa den. Den vänder sig främst till icke-svenskar, men jag antar att de flesta kan läsa den med viss behållning i alla fall.

So without further ado:

We have come a long way since 1979, when Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco started the micro brewery trend. Although Anchor Brewing has been around for a much longer time than that, many agree that this was the start for the micro brewery motion.

Probably the first craft beer in the world

But let's leave the prospering micro brewery climate in USA for a closer look at the Swedish equivalent. One of the early upstarts here in Sweden was Jämtlands Bryggeri. They started their journey in 1995 and has since then been one of the predecessors for the micro brewery motion in Sweden. A nice twist to this story is that Jämtlands  is now brewing a steam beer, the same kind of beer that put Anchor on the map long time ago, both as an original beer back in the 1890's as well as their first beer as a modern micro brewery.

Back to Sweden again. Back in the late 1990's many home brewers began to think that it might be possible to take their hobby to a commercial success and make a living out of it. So it happened that Gamla Slottskällans brewery, Nils Oscar and several others started their work. Many were to follow during the years to come, and today we have at least 20 small breweries all around Sweden. Some of the breweries' beer are only available at local pubs, but some are spread all over the country. I will focus on the ones that are more easily accessible with a few special exceptions.

Some of the most notable breweries today are for example:

• Dugges Ale- & Porterbryggeri (Landvetter close to Göteborg)

• Gamla Slottskällans bryggeri (Uppsala)
• Gotlands Bryggeri (Visby)
• Grebbestads Bryggeri (Grebbestad)
• Hantverksbryggeriet (Västerås)
• Jämtlands Bryggeri (Pilgrimstad close to Östersund)
• Nils Oscar Bryggeri och Bränneri (Nyköping)
• Nynäshamns Ångbryggeri (Nynäshamn)
• Närke kulturbryggeri (Örebro)
• Oceanbryggeriet (Göteborg)
• Oppigårds bryggeri (Ingvallsbenning close to Hedemora)
• Sigtuna Brygghus (Sigtuna)

What is the purpose of micro breweries one might ask oneself? Why not let the big ones make all beer? Firstly, we have a huge uniformity when it comes to macro lagers. It's hard to tell the difference between a lager beer from Spain, France, Peru, USA, Sweden or where ever. The big ones only have one thing on their agenda. Big profit. Deliver as much beer as possible to the lowest cost, cutting costs where it is possible and of course keeping the myth alive that beer is just a simple drink that should be gulped down in huge quantities. They create bland, boring beer to satisfy those who have never tried a high quality beer. 

Boring macro lager

The micro breweries prove the opposite. There is a place for good beer in our society. Beer made with love and devotion as a craft by enthusiastic brewers is a true blessing for those of us who rather skip a beer than drink a boring macro lager. The beer coming from these micro breweries can be widely spread in terms of flavour, mouthfeel, bitterness, even between batches from the same brewery. This is truly one of the most exciting things about it. Try one, and then try another six months later and it can be a new acquaintance. This together with the fact that you often can age many of the beers from micro breweries makes it a much more dynamic experience compared to “basic beer”. 

Craft beer from micro brewer Stone

This beer revolution has created ripples on the pond of sophisticated drinkers all over the world. Today beer is not only a blue collar thirst quencher. Beer can be as sophisticated as a fine wine, single malt whisky or an XO cognac. Beer can be paired with food in an equal manner as wine. Beer works fine as an aperitif as well as avec. You just have to choose the right one for the right moment.

Beer lovers have come to the conclusion that a Swedish beer is one of the best in the world. Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter is rated as high as it gets on the forum Ratebeer where beer drinkers from all over the world meet to discuss beer and breweries. Many of the aforementioned breweries have beer that are highly ranked on this forum as well. 

A few examples:

Sweden's pride

Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter, an imperial stout rated 1:st in Sweden and 2:nd in the world.

Dugges Idjit, an imperial stout rated 6:th best in Sweden.

Slottskällans Imperial Stout rated 8:th best in Sweden.

Jämtlands Oatmeal Porter rated 10:th best in Sweden.

Dugges Never Mind The Bollox, an imperial IPA rated 12:th best in Sweden.

Oppigårds Amarillo Spring, an American pale ale rated 14:th best in Sweden.

All of the above mentioned breweries except Närke Kulturbryggeri and Hantverksbryggeriet are represented in the Swedish monopoly for alcohol sales, Systembolaget.