Swedish Beer: Guide to the Country’s Rich Brewing Tradition

Swedish beer can often surprise you, given that most people don’t think of Sweden as a go-to country for good beer. However, over time, several breweries and companies have set up shop in the country to make it one of the most exhilarating beer destinations in Scandinavia and the entire European continent.

In this complete guide, we have listed the most popular Swedish beer you must try. From refreshing pilsners to balanced porters, our list of the best Swedish beers will be sure to delight and amaze your taste buds!

The Best Swedish Beers

Sweden has different beer laws than other European nations. Beers aren’t available in local grocery stores but can only be purchased in state-run Systembolagets. Swedish beers have a long and rich history dating back to the Viking era. Some of the best beers that are available across Sweden are listed below.

1. Omnipollo Prize Pils

ABV – 4.8 percent 

Omnipollo Prize Pils is a pilsner-style beer produced by the Swedish brewery Omnipollo. Pilsner is a type of light, crisp, and refreshing beer that is traditionally made with pale malt and noble hops. Their alcohol percentage is not very high; hence this is a very easy drink. This is a very classic lager beer that is light, and the taste of alcohol is not very prominent.

Omnipollo Prize Pils is described as having a dry, hoppy finish and being made with a combination of German and Czech hops. It is a highly-rated beer that has been praised for its balanced and refreshing flavor.

This beer is very light; hence it pairs well with light and oily food. Things like light-grilled fish and seafood can work well. Oily grilled and smoked steaks also work well. Since this beer is light in taste, it can also pair well with hot and spicy food like Asian and African dishes. The lightness of the beer washes down the spiciness of the food and forms a good balance.

2. Omnipollo Imperial Julmust Holiday Sour

ABV – 5.9 percent

This beer is a little higher in alcohol quantity than the other lager beers on the list. This beer is sour, hence the effects of the alcohol can not be felt very strongly on the tongue. But it should not be drunk very fast because the alcohol percentage is not to be trifled with, even if the taste is sour. This goes for all beer types with higher alcohol content; make sure you know your limits and stick to it.

Omnipollo Imperial Julmust Holiday Sour is a limited edition beer that was produced by the Swedish brewery Omnipollo. Julmust is a traditional Swedish soft drink that is consumed during the holiday season, and this beer is a sour ale that is brewed with julmust and spices to give it a unique holiday flavor. It is described as having a tart and spicy flavor, with notes of gingerbread, cloves, and orange. This beer was likely only available for a limited time and may not currently be in production.

Since this is a sour beer, it pairs very well with fruity and sour cheese. Some of the options you can try are bleu and goat cheese. You can also try drinking this beer with fresh vegetable and fruit salads of any kind that will enhance the tangy flavor even further. This improves the overall beer-drinking experience.

3. Stigbergets Amazing Haze IPA

ABV – 6.5 percent 

This beer is one of the most classic Swedish IPA beers in town. Their alcohol content is medium, and the effects of the alcohol are not very strong on the tongue. Hence this works as a great party beer.

Stigbergets Amazing Haze IPA is a beer produced by Stigbergets Bryggeri, a brewery based in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is an India Pale Ale (IPA) known for its hazy appearance and juicy, fruity flavors.

Since this beer is a great Hazy IPA, it works very well with oily seafood. You can also try to pair this beer with sour food like lemons, limes, oranges, and more. If you like a good salsa, you can also try making a nice mango salsa and have the beer with a nacho salsa combination.

4. Rekorderlig Hard Pear Cider

ABV – 4.5 percent 

This beer is a cider and hence it is low in alcohol content. This is a very fruity drink, so the taste of the alcohol can not be felt much. This makes it a very easy drink, and even new beer lovers tend to like it for this reason.

Rekorderlig Hard Pear Cider is a brand of alcoholic cider produced by Rekorderlig Cider, a Swedish company specializing in producing a range of flavored ciders. Hard cider is one type of alcoholic beverage that is brewed from fermented apple or pear juice. It is similar to beer in that it is produced through fermentation, but it is made with fruit rather than grain.

This beer is made with a blend of pear juice and other natural flavors and is described as having a crisp and refreshing flavor with a subtle sweetness. It is typically served chilled and is often enjoyed as a refreshing alternative to beer or other alcoholic beverages.

Given that it is a fruity cider beer, fruity food goes well with this. Fruit puddings, fresh fruit bowls, or assorted cheese boards are a couple of the possibilities. You could also try pairing this brew with any type of fresh fruit salad to bring out its acidic flavor even more. This enhances the whole experience of drinking beer. You can also pair it with any kind of smoky barbecue food like roasts and grills because the fizzy effects of the cider balance the taste.

5. Carnegie Porter

ABV – 5.5 percent 

This porter is medium in alcohol level and is heavy yet not very strong in ABV. This is one of the finest balances of dense flavors and medium alcohol levels, making it a favorite. If you are a porter lover, this one is a great fit.

Carnegie Porter is a brand of porter beer produced by Carnegie Bryggeri, a brewery based in Stockholm, Sweden. Porter is a type of dark, malty beer named after the street and river porters of London, who were known to drink it. It is made with a blend of roasted malts, which give it its dark color and complex flavor.

Carnegie Porter is described as having a rich and full-bodied flavor with notes of coffee, chocolate, and caramel. It is a highly rated and popular beer and is widely available at retailers and bars in Sweden.

Since this is a dark beer, you can easily try to pair it with dense and dark food like chocolate cakes and brownies. You can also pair it with a dark rum-infused chocolate pudding or cake to enhance the beer-drinking experience even more. But if you are not a sweet lover, you can pair it with barbecue sausages, grilled cheese, or beef dishes. The heaviness of the beef pairs well with this porter.

6. Dugges Stillwater Tropic Sunrise

ABV – 4. 5 percent 

This is another fruity beer, hence the taste of the alcohol is quite mellow. The alcohol is not very pronounced and the beer-drinking experience is smooth and fruity. The sour flavors of the beer overshadow the bitterness of the hops.

Dugges Stillwater Tropic Sunrise is a beer produced by Dugges Bryggeri, a brewery based in Landvetter, Sweden. It is a New England-style IPA that is known for its hazy appearance and juicy, tropical flavors.

Sweet foods pair nicely with this beverage because it is a fruity beer. Some options are varied cheese options. Freshly plucked fruits or puddings can also work with this beer. To intensify the acidic flavor of this beverage even further, you could also try serving it with any kind of barbecue food.

7. Dugges Mango Mango Mango

ABV – 4.5 percent

This is another sour fruit beer, so the alcohol percentage is pretty low. The taste of alcohol is not overpowering and is mellowed by the taste of the mango flavor. The sourness and fruitiness of the beer are more prominent than the alcohol taste or smell.

Dugges Mango Mango Mango is a tropical fruit-flavored beer made by Dugges Bryggeri, a brewery located in Landvetter, Sweden. The beer is brewed with mango puree and features a refreshing and fruity flavor. It is described as having a hazy yellow color and a juicy, tropical aroma. It is typically enjoyed as a refreshing summertime beer and pairs well with spicy food.

Since this is a mango-flavored beer, you can easily pair it with a mango cheesecake, a mango pudding, or a mango-flavored chicken dish. You can also pair it with some light seafood if you do not want to increase the mango flavors.

8. Omnipollo Yellow Belly Imperial Stout

ABV – 11 percent

This beer is an imperial stout, which explains the very high alcohol percentage. This beer has a very strong alcoholic taste and smell and must be drunk carefully. Even if the stout sweetness covers up some of the alcoholic flavors, it can be dangerous if you drink it fast. The high alcohol percentage in it can make you dizzy very quickly.

Omnipollo Yellow Belly Imperial Stout is a high-alcohol, full-bodied beer brewed by Omnipollo, a brewery in Stockholm, Sweden. It is named after the Yellow Belly Terrapin, a species of turtle found in the United States and Mexico.

This imperial stout is made with a variety of malts and hops, as well as peanut butter and vanilla, which gives it a rich, nutty flavor with notes of chocolate and coffee. It has a deep, dark color and a thick, creamy head. It is best enjoyed in small quantities and pairs well with desserts or as a dessert on its own.

A juicy steak of beef or pork pairs well with this beer. Since this is a very heavy beer, you always have to pair it with oily and spicy food to balance out some of the alcoholic flavors. Even rich and dense bitter-sweet chocolate cakes will work well.

9. Brekeriet Blondette

ABV – 6 percent

This beer is a wild ale and has a medium ABV level. Though the alcohol content is not much, due to its wild taste, the smell of alcohol can be quite pronounced. This can be a tough taste for some new beer drinkers, hence should be drunk with care.

Brekeriet Blondette is a Belgian-style blonde ale brewed by Brekeriet, a small brewery in Landskrona, Sweden. It is made with a blend of pale and pilsner malts and hops from the Czech Republic and Germany.

This blonde ale has a light golden color and a crisp, refreshing flavor with citrus and spice notes. It is a medium-bodied brew with a moderate level of bitterness and a dry finish. Brekeriet Blondette is a versatile beer that can be consumed on its own or paired with a variety of foods. It is particularly well-suited for summertime drinking and pairs well with seafood and lighter dishes.

Conclusion

As this less-than-exhaustive list confirms, several great beers have come out of Sweden over the last few decades. A nation known for its spirits has indeed turned a new leaf and has managed to convince beer lovers globally with its wide selection of available brews.

• Sweden has several breweries that are set up all over the country.
• From crisp and refreshing pilsners to rich and complex stouts, there is something for every beer lover to enjoy in Sweden.
• Most Swedish breweries are located in the north and west of the country, although the south, and especially the capital city, has quite a few good ones.
• You can also buy Swedish beer in the USA and other parts of North America and Europe.

Now that you have the information on Swedish beers, you will no longer need to rely solely on spirits during your next trip to the Scandinavian nation. When you find yourself there, hit the bars and sample all or some of the most famous Swedish brews in the area!