Stockholm Food Stories: Thriving breweries

Interest in locally produced beer has grown in recent years. More small breweries are opening in Stockholm, and star restaurants are now including quality beer in their beverage pairings or developing their own brews that are specially suited to their food. Interest in beer has never been greater in the capital city.

Stockholm has a proud brewing tradition. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the city was home to many now-closed breweries – often with German-inspired names, like Münchenbryggeriet and Nürnbergs Bryggeri. The park Humlegården is still in the heart of the city, where humle, or hops, were once cultivated for brewing beer. But today, Stockholmers are discovering beer via the new microbreweries.

Curious and at the forefront

A passion for high-quality beer is linked to several trends in Stockholm. The overall trend of putting a premium on artisan and locally produced products naturally results in Stockholmers choosing beer from local microbreweries over giant producers. But, perhaps somewhat contradictorily, it is also linked to the growing health trend.

“Stockholmers are curious people. We want to try new things, and we want to know everything there is to know about a topic. And that’s exactly what’s been happening with beer in recent years. The level of knowledge is incredibly high, and so is demand. We want it to be an experience to try new drinks,” says Jessica Heidrich, lead brewer at St Eriks Bryggeri in Stockholm.

Several proud Stockholm-based breweries

There are several interesting breweries in Stockholm like St Eriks Bryggeri and its sister brewery, Sigtuna. Other players in the Stockholm beer scene are Pang Pang Brewery, Södra Maltfabriken and Gamla Enskede Bryggeri. The latter produces light beer with a low alcohol content. The classic brewery Carnegie has opened a new location in Hammarby Sjöstad in collaboration with the popular American Brooklyn Brewery, and the Danish giant Carlsberg.

Star restaurants focus on beer

A clear change is also evident at Stockholm’s restaurants and pubs. Several of the city’s well-reputed restaurants have developed beer menus and beverage pairings that include beer. Some restaurants and pubs have even started making their own beer.

Five gems for beer lovers

• Monks: A brewpub chain that makes their own beer. Don’t miss their “tasting flight”, with small glasses of five different kinds of beer. Address: Wallingatan 38, Vasastan. www.monkscafe.se
• Akkurat: International beer pub with a huge offering of beer from all over the world, and a nice selection of beer from Swedish microbreweries. Ask what they have on their guest tap. Address: Hornsgatan 18, Södermalm. www.akkurat.se
• Oliver Twist: Looks like a fairly ordinary pub, but offers a wide, exciting selection of beer, especially when it comes to Swedish microbreweries. Come early or book a table; it fills up quickly! Address: Repslagargatan 6, Södermalm. http://olivertwist.se
• New Carnegie Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery + Carlsberg + Stockholm. A brand new, modern artisan brewery in historic Lumahuset. Enjoy the gorgeous space, have a bite to eat, and try their house brews. Address: Ljusslingan 15, Hammarby Sjöstad. www.nyacarnegiebryggeriet.se
• Bishops Arms: A classic pub chain with a total of eight locations in Stockholm. Offers a broad regular selection, and local beer on the guest tap. Address: Folkungagatan 105, Södermalm. www.bishopsarms.com

Five Stockholm breweries to remember

• St Eriks: Brewery dating back to 1859. Consists today of a series of contemporary beer styles.

  http://steriksbryggeri.se

• Sigtuna Brygghus: Started in 2005 and shares brewery with St Eriks. Specialized in seasonal brews. www.galatea.se/bokning
• PangPang Brewery: A former bakery has turned into what might be the tiniest brewery in Stockholm. http://pangpangbrewery.se
• Södra Maltfabriken: Stands for innovation and experimentation rather than tradition. www.sodramalt.com
• Gamla Enskede Bryggeri: A local brewery focused on exclusive and hand made light beer. http://gamlaenskedebryggeri.se

For more information contact

Ann-Charlotte Jönsson, PR Manager, Stockholm Business Region, tel: +46(0)8-50828507, ann-charlotte.jonsson@stockholm.se

The facts in this article are based on an interview with Jessica Heidrich, head brewer at St Eriks Bryggeri. To date, she has managed to produce around forty different varieties of St Eriks – a brand with roots dating back to the 1800s. The beer that Mathias Dahlgren has produced in collaboration with Jessica Heidrich for his Michelin-starred restaurants Matsalen and Matbaren have garnered significant attention. Their focus was on Nordic tastes, and theyused well-known herbs like myrtle and juniper berries, which are traditionally used instead of hops in Swedish beer