Ale

[from Old Norse ol, in today's Norwegian: øl]

The history of beer goes back 6000 years, in Norway back to the Bronze age. In the old Nordic society, beer was the most common drink. Every farm brewed its own beer (especially for Christmas).

Today's production is much less on a private basis. There are only around 18 breweries in Norway, compare with around 120 in Belgium!

In Norway, the beer is split into 4 categories:

• Class 0 (0-0,7 vol.per.)
• Class 1 (0,7-2,5 vol.per.)
• Class 2 (2,5-4,75 vol.per.)
• Class 3 (4,75-7 vol. per.)

Norwegians drink more beer than wine, the reason is probably to be found in history: that there hasn't been any wine production due to the cold climate and the availability of beer has thus traditionally made it the "winner".

Of all beers, Norwegians prefer the pilsner. 92 percent of all beer produced in Norway is pilsner. Why is that? The stronger beers (more than 4,75 volume percent) are sold at Vinmonopolet, which makes them more difficult to get hold of.

Other beers are eksportøl/gulløl, bokkøl, juleøl (for sale at Christmas time only), bayersk øl and lettøl (light beer). Other "beers" are non-alcoholic white beer and vørterøl (ginger ale).

In Norway, it's prohibited to make publicity for alcohol stronger than class 1, and the beers for sale at Vinmonopolet have no publicity at all. In addition to heavy taxes, the result is that these stronger kinds of beer are dying. The beer lovers will be the poorer by this, and in the end the only Norwegian beer produced will be the quite so popular but oh, so boring, pilsner.

Imported beer only constitutes 2 percent of the total consummation of beer. In the future, there might be more beers on the market, but for the time being, the Norwegian pilsner is not threatened at all.