A few observations from the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival, before I board my plane bound for that other big beer event, a little thing you may have heard of called Oktoberfest.
- As expected, most of the Swedes I spoke with at the fest were utterly unaware of what was going on in Canadian craft brewing. They were also uniformly thrilled at what they tasted, I’m pleased to report.
- The Festival itself would make a worthy addition to any aficionado’s beer calendar. Just bring lots of money when you do come; Stockholm’s an expensive place to be.
- Originally, I’m told, the Beer and Whisky Festival was just the Beer Festival. Now, while there’s still plenty of beer available, the emphasis seems to be slipping over slowly towards the whisky side.
- If you come to experience the whisky portion of the fest, bring even more money.
- Based on my experience, Swedish brewers generally do better with lagers than they do ales. (Notable exceptions to this rash generalization being Nynasuamns Angbryggeri and Slottskallans Bryggeri, each of which produce some very nice ales.) A few of the very fine bottom-fermented brews I enjoyed were Lumator, a rich and spicy doppelbock from Grebbestad Bryggeri; Heaven, a delightfully roasty dunkel from Jamtlands Bryggeri; and the beautifully malt-driven Lundgrens Lager, an export style lager from Nils Oscar.
- I wonder, though, if the Swedes really appreciate their lager largesse, since most of the people I spoke with referenced their country’s ales, rather than their lagers.
- And finally, the two countries that seem to be influencing the local brewers more than any others: The U.S. and the U.K. I hope to add Canada to that list before too long.
Stockholm Reflections
A few observations from the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival, before I board my plane bound for that other big beer event, a little thing you may have heard of called Oktoberfest.
- As expected, most of the Swedes I spoke with at the fest were utterly unaware of what was going on in Canadian craft brewing. They were also uniformly thrilled at what they tasted, I’m pleased to report.
- The Festival itself would make a worthy addition to any aficionado’s beer calendar. Just bring lots of money when you do come; Stockholm’s an expensive place to be.
- Originally, I’m told, the Beer and Whisky Festival was just the Beer Festival. Now, while there’s still plenty of beer available, the emphasis seems to be slipping over slowly towards the whisky side.
- If you come to experience the whisky portion of the fest, bring even more money.
- Based on my experience, Swedish brewers generally do better with lagers than they do ales. (Notable exceptions to this rash generalization being Nynasuamns Angbryggeri and Slottskallans Bryggeri, each of which produce some very nice ales.) A few of the very fine bottom-fermented brews I enjoyed were Lumator, a rich and spicy doppelbock from Grebbestad Bryggeri; Heaven, a delightfully roasty dunkel from Jamtlands Bryggeri; and the beautifully malt-driven Lundgrens Lager, an export style lager from Nils Oscar.
- I wonder, though, if the Swedes really appreciate their lager largesse, since most of the people I spoke with referenced their country’s ales, rather than their lagers.
- And finally, the two countries that seem to be influencing the local brewers more than any others: The U.S. and the U.K. I hope to add Canada to that list before too long.
