A glass of dark craft beer on a wooden countertop in a modern bar setting. The beer has a rich, deep color and is served in a tall stemmed glass. The background shows a water glass, some food, and a menu. — Poppels Bryggeri Swedish Fika Biscotti Break Cinnamon Bun

In recent years, the rise of small, independent breweries in has infused Sweden’s beer culture with creativity, innovation, and a strong emphasis on local and sustainable ingredients. Today, Sweden is recognized as one of Europe’s leading craft beer hubs, producing everything from hoppy IPAs to sour ales, stouts, and experimental brews.

A glass of dark brown craft beer on a coaster on a dark green table in a bar. The beer has a creamy, frothy head. The background shows a person sitting on a bench. It’s a casual and relaxed atmosphere. — Stigbergets Bryggeri Exclusive Series American Brown Craft Beer

Sweden’s craft beer renaissance

Sweden’s brewing history dates back centuries, with the production of simple, rustic beers rooted in rural life. For a long time, large-scale breweries dominated the scene, producing standard, mainstream lagers that satisfied the thirst of the general public.

A bottle of Poppels Bryggeri's Russian Imperial Stout on a dark wooden table next to a glass with a green design filled with dark stout beer. — Poppels Bryggeri Russian Imperial Stout

Influenced by the international craft beer movement, Swedish brewers began experimenting with new techniques, flavors, and styles beginning in the 1990s. Today, there are hundreds of craft breweries in Sweden. Many use locally sourced ingredients like juniper, elderflower, and cloudberries, giving Swedish beers a distinct identity.

A bottle of Dugges Bryggeri's "Old School" barrel-aged imperial stout on a wooden table next to a glass filled with dark beer. — Dugges Bryggeri Old School

Sustainability at the Core

Sustainability plays a major role in Swedish craft beer production. Many Swedish breweries have embraced eco-friendly practices such as using organic ingredients, reducing waste, and investing in renewable energy. This focus on sustainability aligns with Sweden’s broader commitment to environmental responsibility and ethical consumption.

A can of Brooklyn Brewery and Omnipollo Blacker Chocolate Stout on a table next to a glass of dark beer decorated with a playful pattern of yellow smiley faces. — Brooklyn Brewery and Omnipollos Blacker Chocolate Stout

Embracing Unique Flavors

Swedish craft brewers aren’t afraid to get creative with their recipes. They draw inspiration from the country’s forests, coastlines, and traditional dishes. Many breweries incorporate foraged ingredients like wild herbs, berries, and pine needles into their brews, resulting in beers with distinctly Nordic flavors. Think sour ales infused with lingonberries, saisons brewed with spruce tips, and other unique flavors that you won’t find anywhere else.

A glass of dark beer on a dark wooden table next to a plate with a slice of chocolate cake topped with a raspberry, a cherry, and a decorative leaf. The beer has a frothy head, and the setting is cozy and casual. — Nerdbrewing Pojo Imperial Vietnamese Coffee Brown Ale Mocha Ed

Craft Beer Throughout Sweden

What started as a niche movement has grown into hundreds of craft breweries scattered across the country. Cities like Stockholm, Göteborg, and Malmö have become hotspots for craft beer enthusiasts, but even in more remote areas, you’ll find breweries carving out a name for themselves.

Two glasses filled with dark craft beer on a wooden table alongside two cans featuring a colorful illustration of a layered cake topped with a pear, strawberries, and vanilla. In the background, a person wearing a yellow shirt is partially visible. — Brewski Chocolate Strawberry Pear Vanilla Cake

Craft beer festivals have also become popular in Sweden, bringing together local brewers, international beer aficionados, and curious newcomers looking for a fun activity.

A display setup featuring pastel-colored T-shirts and sweatshirts hanging on a rack, with several bottles of craft beer from Gotlands Bryggeri arranged on a counter. The bottles have colorful labels, and there are tap handles for serving draft beer. — Gotlands Bryggeri in Visby

Top Swedish Breweries

Sweden’s craft beer scene is home to a diverse range of breweries that cater to all tastes, from traditionalists to experimentalists. Some of them offer tastings and tours too.

Apex Brewing Company Amplified Baphomet TIPA

Apex Brewing Company

Apex Brewing Company in Örebro specializes in fresh, hop-forward beers. They occasionally have open house events in their brewery and they also have a joint restaruant and bar with Barrels Burgers & Beer in Stockholm.

Beerbliotek

Beerbliotek in Göteborg approaches beer brewing in terms of brewing beers that they would personally like to drink, and they offer a wide range of styles. They have a taproom that is usually open on Fridays and Saturdays where you can try their beers and buy low-alcohol beers to take home.

Inside a lively taproom, several people are seated at wooden tables, enjoying food and drinks. The walls are decorated with colorful artwork, including a vibrant abstract painting with bright colors and framed photos depicting brewing scenes. — Benchwarmers Taproom in Helsingborg

Benchwarmers Brewing Co.

Benchwarmers Brewing Co. is a small craft brewery with a variety of IPAs among other beer styles. They have two taprooms in Helsingborg that serve their own beer, some other local beers, and pizza.

Two glasses of craft beer on cork coasters on a wooden table. A pair of sunglasses with purple frames is also on the table, adding a casual touch to the scene. — Brewski Barrel Aged Pink Pony Gose

Brewski

Brewski has made a name for itself with fruity sours and bold, hoppy IPAs that have put it on the map internationally. Their brewery and their taproom, Barski, are located at separate locations in Helsingborg in southern Sweden. They have also been known for hosting Brewskival, an annual beer festival that brings together breweries from around the world. Summer 2024 was the unfortunately the final Brewskival, but it may come back in another form in the future.

A small glass filled with dark craft beer on a round black table next to an open can labeled "Kaakao Kaakao." The beer can features a colorful design with bold text and illustrations, indicating it is a chocolate-flavored beer. — Bryggverket Kaakao Kaakao

Bryggverket

Bryggverket in Umeå was founded in 2014 with a focus on small-batch production and local ingredients. They brew IPAs, stouts, and a variety of other styles with, according them, “no plans on becoming boring.”

A bottle of Dugges Coffee Imperial Stout on a dark wooden table next to a glass with a green design filled with dark beer. There is a semla on a white plate in front of the bottle and glass. — Dugges Bryggeri Coffee

Dugges Bryggeri

Dugges Bryggeri, in Landvetter outside of Göteborg, was founded in 2005, brews a large variety of different beers including interesting, experimental sours and imperial stouts. They have a small restuaurant and bar, Dugges Pils, in Göteborg.

Gotlands Bryggeri

If you find yourself on the island of Gotland, don’t miss a stop at Gotlands Bryggeri, the heart of the island’s craft beer scene. Located in the medieval town of Visby, this brewery combines Gotland’s unique natural resources with brewing traditions to create flavorful, well-balanced beers. The brewery offers tastings and tours for those who book in advance in the summer, and they fill up fast.

Hyllie Bryggeri

Hyllie Bryggeri brews a small selection of signature beers that cover a range of beer styles plus a variety of limited edition beers, many of which are collaborations with other independent breweries. They have a taproom in Malmö where you can try their beers and enjoy a meal.

Jämtlands Bryggeri

Jämtlands Bryggeri in Pilgrimstad was founded in 1995 and their beers have won many awards since them. They brew a variety of different styles with a special focus on seasonal beers, such as Christmas and Easter beer. They offer brewery tours and beer tastings for groups with advance booking.

Malmö Brewing Co.

Malmö Brewing Co. has its very own taproom where you can sample their extensive beer selection right from the source. The relaxed, communal vibe makes it a great place to meet fellow beer lovers. With a large number of beers on tap, ranging from hop-forward IPAs to barrel-aged stouts, there’s always something new to try.

Närke Kulturbryggeri

This small brewery in Örebro has earned cult status for its legendary Kaggen Stormaktsporter, often hailed as one of the best imperial stouts in the world. Närke focuses on creating complex, flavorful beers that respect tradition while adding a Swedish touch. The brewery has a quirky and down-to-earth vibe, and its small production makes their beers rare and sought after. They offer brewery tours with beer tasting for groups with advance booking only. They are also open on Tuesday evenings to sell samples of their beer to try on the premises and sales of their low- and non-alcoholic beers that you can take home with you.

Nerdbrewing

Nerdbrewing in Malmö was founded in 2015 and specializes in imperial stouts with interesting flavor combinations. They refer to their beer as open source because all of their recipes are available for homebrewers to try.

Nynäshamns Ångbryggeri

One of Sweden’s most beloved small-batch breweries, Nynäshamns Ångbryggeri has been crafting traditional Swedish beers since 1997. The brewery is located in the coastal town of Nynäshamn, south of Stockholm. Their beers focus on classic European styles. They offer brewery tours with advance booking and are sometimes open for events, including summer pub afternoons, but they are not otherwise open to the public, so check their website or social media for information and book in advance when needed.

Four stemmed glasses filled with different dark-colored craft beers are lined up on a bar counter. The glasses feature a neon green graphic design, creating a striking contrast with the beer. — Omnipollo Omnipolloscope #1, #2, #3, and #4

Omnipollo

Omnipollo has earned an international reputation for pushing the boundaries of beer making with its creative brews. Founded by brewer Henok Fentie and designer Karl Grandin, Omnipollo is as much about art as it is about beer, with striking label designs that reflect the experimental nature of the beverages inside. Their beers often incorporate unusual ingredients, resulting in a one-of-a-kind tasting experience. They have a taproom in Sundbyberg, Stockholm with brewery tours, beer tastings, and a bar and restaurant.

Oppigårds Bryggeri

Oppigårds, a family-run brewery in the village of Hedemora in Dalarna, is a fixture in the Swedish beer world, producing a range high-quality beer that is both approachable and full of flavor. Groups can book a brewery tour and beer tasting on selected dates, and they have pub nights that are open to the public in the summer.

Poppels Bryggeri

Sustainability meets innovation at Poppels, Sweden’s largest organic craft brewery, founded in 2012. It’s known for its diverse beer lineup that includes IPAs, saisons, and porters, among other styles. Poppels focuses on high-quality brews crafted with a minimal environmental footprint. At the brewery in the scenic countryside in Jonsered, just outside of Göteborg, you can take a tour combined with a beer tasting or enjoy a meal in the restaurant, with suggested beer pairings for each dish.

Stigbergets Bryggeri

Stigbergets, one of the largest craft breweries in Sweden, brew a variety of beer styles. They have a bar on Ringön in Göteborg that’s open in the summer, a restaurant in Göteborg, Shangri-La, that holds beer tastings, and a bar and restaurant in Stockholm, Stigbergets Fot.

Dugges Bryggeri Off the Lip Craft Beer.jpg

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Stigbergets Fot Stockholm Mariatorgets Mikrobryggeri Blend 6 Craft Beer.jpg

There are many more fantastic craft beer breweries in Sweden beyond this list, and new ones are popping up all the time. Sweden’s craft beer scene is creative, dynamic, and produces so many fantastic beers. So, the next time you’re in Sweden, venture beyond the mainstream and explore. Skål!