European Craft Beer Lands in the U.S.

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Dimitri Yogaratnam

Mobile: +47 977 15 322

Email: dimitri@oslobrewing.no

June 13, 2021

European Craft Beer Lands in the U.S.

Oslo Brewing Co. Brings International Beer Brand to 3 U.S. Markets

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Norwegian-based beer producer, Oslo Brewing Co., is

finally launching its products in the United States. After five years of distributing beer to

Northern Europe, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, the quality-driven craft brewery is making its

debut stateside, a long overdue return home for CEO and co-owner Dimitri Yogaratnam, a native

Rhode Islander.

Oslo Brewing Co. has released a steady stream of hand-crafted beer since its launch in

2015. Now, its beers are on sale in selected liquor stores through the company’s U.S. distribution

partner, Craft Collective. Oslo’s Oslove label will spearhead the entry into the U.S., with more

products to follow.

“We are producing our beer in the U.S. through contract brewing with local partners.

This is a format we use worldwide, and it’s a great way to emphasize our craft philosophy, while

bringing production closer to the actual market and supporting local companies,” Yogaratnam

said. “Many breweries around the world have excellent systems and brewers. Working closely

with local talent, our company can bring our beer recipes and techniques across the globe and

create the same great quality beers we do at home in Oslo, Norway, whilst getting fresher beer

in the hands of U.S. consumers.”

The first beer to hit the shelves, Oslove, is a passion fruit blonde ale, and it aligns with

the philosophy of the company, based on clean design and carefully selected ingredients to make

easy drinking products. It was originally created to support the Oslo Pride Festival in 2016 as a

one-off product, and it sold out immediately. The same happened in 2017.

“We decided to make the beer a regular in our lineup after that, and this beer has sold

incredibly well ever since,” Yogaratnam said. “We make heavy beers as well and we cover the

full spectrum of flavor profiles, but we focus on making accessible and tasty beers within each

category.”

LOCAL KID COMING HOME

Yogaratnam was born and raised in Rhode Island, mostly in South Kingstown where he

also went to college at the University of Rhode Island (‘02). He started his career in the food and

beverage industry through several local businesses, including Camden’s restaurant, Belmont

Market, The Mews Tavern and Celestial Cafe, to name a few. While participating in an exchange

program in South Korea, Yogaratnam met his future wife, Ingvild, a Norwegian native. After

getting married in the U.S., they decided to move to Oslo.

Yogaratnam started a craft beer bar, Smelteverket, in Oslo where he fell in love with

brewing and, together with the co-owner and friends there, started Oslo Brewing Co. The unique

city culture, the growing international dynamic in the city, and the quality of life in Oslo

captured his heart. But the pull of his hometown remained.

“I’m a Rhode Islander and always wanted to come back home in some way,”

Yogaratnam said. “Bringing our brand to the U.S. has always been a part of our strategy, but

launching in Rhode Island is a personal goal to have the best of both worlds.”

Bert DeSalvo, manager at Sweeney’s Liquors in Wakefield, R.I., attended South

Kingstown High School together with Yogaratnam and the two have stayed in touch since.

DeSalvo knew the beer made by a guy from South Kingstown who moved to Europe and built an

international craft brand was a natural fit to launch at his hometown liquor store, which features

many craft brews in addition to the usual higher-production fare.

OTHER MARKETS

Oslo Brewing Co. is first launching its products in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New

York, with more markets soon to follow. “

We aim to be nation-wide eventually,” Yogratnam said. “That is our goal for the U.S. We

believe our products have a broad appeal. Our play on the Oslo lifestyle of freedom for how you

spend your days during all seasons, combined with fresh ingredients, make for tasty products that

we are proud to bring to Americans.”

Oslo Brewing Co. products are available now at Sweeney’s Liquors in Wakefield, R.I.

Distributed through Taprm.com in New York and Craft Collective in Rhode Island and

Massachusetts.