1. Food experiences in Norway
  3. Norwegian craft breweries

Norwegian craft breweries

Norway’s brewing traditions date all the way back to the Vikings who used to brew barley-based beers during the cold winter months. King Haakon the Good who ruled from 934 to 961 even made it a law that to celebrate Christmas with a beer. Those who didn’t include beer in their Christmas festivities would be fined.
3 min readUpdated: Feb 27, 2026By: The Fjord Tours team
Woman enjoying amber craft beer at cozy bar, savoring flavor with eyes closed, warm lighting, and rustic decor in the background.
A few centuries later the Norwegian legislative assembly, known as the Gulating, took the law one step further and required all households to brew Christmas beer for the festive season. Today, seasonal Christmas ales continue to be a (non-mandatory) part of the holiday season in Norway. And, in recent years, a great interest in craft beers, artisanal beverages, and microbreweries has emerged in Norwegian culture. Here are the best places to enjoy a craft beer while on vacation in Norway!
Wooden flight board with small cider glasses, candle, and "Ægir Meny" menu, suggesting a cider-tasting experience.

Ægir Brewery, Flåm

Ægir Brewery is located at the end of the world’s largest and deepest fjord. So, appropriately, the brewery is named after Ægir, the god of the sea in Old Norse mythology. The pub is meant to feel like a Viking-style longhouse. You can enjoy your beer beside a warm fire pit located inside the brewpub. You’ll have a range of drinks to choose from. The Ægir Brewery makes everything from lagers to sour beers to non-alcoholic brews and even gin and aquavit, a distilled spirit primarily produced in Scandinavia.
If you are in Flåm during winter, try a Fjord safari with Viking dinner and beer tasting in Ægir Brewery, a fun and cultural activity!
Gourmet platter with chocolate dessert, seafood, bread, and craft beers, served on a rustic wooden table with animal fur.

Nøgne ø, Grimstad

Nøgne ø is Norway’s largest supplier of craft beer, so you will find their products at many local pubs and bars around the country. Nøgne ø means ‘naked island’. The name was pulled from a poem by Henrik Ibsen and symbolic of the journey the original founders took to begin brewing and selling craft beer in the early 2000s when much of Norway was still primarily interested in the old-faithful classic lagers they had become accustomed to. Tours of the brewery, located in Grimstad, are available for pre-bookings and will give you an opportunity to taste Nøgne ø beer and learn more about the brewing process.
Close-up of person shoveling malt into containers in a rustic, industrial-style setting with wooden wall.

Svalbard Brewery, Longyearbyen

For those of you looking to explore the Arctic during your Norway travels, don’t worry, you’ll be able to find craft beer up there too! Svalbard Brewery proudly holds the title of the world’s northernmost craft brewery and is only accessible by boat during the summer months. Book a visit to tour this craft beer brewery to learn all about how the production team deals with the challenges of their northern location. You’ll also have a chance to sample beers and learn more about the brewing process. From IPAs to pilsners to pale ales, you’ll have plenty of varieties to sample in Norway’s beautiful Arctic setting.
Two women smiling and conversing at a stylish bar in Oslo with cozy lighting, champagne in hand, and waterfront view.

Grünerløkka Brygghus, Oslo

If you’re looking for a microbrewery in Oslo, look no further than Grünerløkka Brygghus. This gastropub offers great English-inspired pub food, an easy atmosphere, and 22 beers on tap, most of which are brewed by their very own microbrewery. You’ll also find a few other local and imported microbrews on tap. If you’re interested in more than just a pint or a meal, consider signing up for one of their tours or one of their beer courses!
Lively outdoor scene at "Schous Bryggeri" with people enjoying drinks under umbrellas, red brick building, and clear sky.
Contrary to popular belief, Norway offers much more than the classic favorite lager. In fact, Norway’s history of brewing of specialty beers dates all the way back to the Vikings and seasonal Christmas blends developed as early as the 900s. Today, those traditions continue with an abundance of microbreweries popping up all over the country. You’ll be sure to find a craft beer to sample no matter where you visit, even if your travels take you all the way to Norway’s remote Arctic region!

Norwegian food tours

Many of the food experiences below can be added to longer journeys through Norway.
Cozy glass-fronted waterfront restaurant glowing warmly at twilight, reflections shimmering on calm water surface.
Fjord cruise and dinner at Cornelius
Bergen • 5 hr
From 1695NOK
Available all year
Traditional Norwegian lapskaus stew served at Flåm farm
Hidden Gem in Flåm
Local food tasting in Flåm
Flåm • 1 hr
From 750NOK
1 May - 1 October
Silver bowl of shrimp with lemon wedges, surrounded by bread, plates, condiments, and napkins on a boat deck.
Oslofjord Sunset Cruise with shrimp buffet
Oslo • 3 hr
From 802NOK
1 May - 4 October
Musician playing traditional Hardanger fiddle during intimate concert in rustic barn at Flåm
Local Food & Concert in Flåm
Flåm • 2 hr 30 min
From 990NOK
15 May - 14 September
Elegant table setting with wine and food aboard cruise boat
Bestseller
Dinner cruise on the Oslofjord
Oslo • 2 hr 30 min
From 1490NOK
Available all year
Yellow Ulriken cable car ascending to mountain top restaurant in Bergen with fjord and city views below
Ulriken Gondola & lunch with a view over Bergen
Bergen • 2 hr 30 min
From 1081NOK
Available all year
Tourists on the boat deck on the winter cruise on the Geirangerfjord surrounded by a beautiful world heritage landscape
Geirangerfjord winter cruise
Ålesund • 9 hr
From 2933NOK
1 November - 31 March
Norwegian cider tasting with local food at Ciderhuset Balestrand overlooking Sognefjord
Cider & lunch in Balestrand
Balestrand • 2 hr
From 860NOK
4 May - 30 September
Family of three enjoying a meal by a fjord, with a boy reaching for a strawberry and adults laughing.
RIB boat tour with cheese tasting from Flåm
Flåm • 3 hr
From 1395NOK
1 May - 20 September
Red inflatable boat speeding through rippling water, carrying yellow-jacketed people, framed by snow-covered mountains.
RIB boat winter tour in Flåm
Flåm • 2 hr 30 min
From 1220NOK
1 November - 31 March
Cheerful pair enjoying waffles with cheese and jam at outdoor park, with sunny weather and surrounding trees.
Oslo street food tour
Oslo • 2 hr 30 min
From 1590NOK
Available all year
Two smiling kayakers in a yellow tandem kayak on calm blue water, surrounded by green hills and waterfalls in a peaceful fjord.
Sea kayaking day tour in Gudvangen
Gudvangen • 7 hr 30 min
From 1396NOK
6 April - 30 September
Table with cider glasses, bread, cured meat, and mountain backdrop, suggesting a relaxing moment in nature.
Cider tasting & lunch in Ulvik
Ulvik • 1 hr
From 795NOK
13 April - 14 October
People on boat raise arms watching northern lights.
Northern Lights cuisine cruise in Tromsø
Tromsø • 3 hr 30 min
From 1890NOK
Available all year
People in bright thermal suits and life vests on a boat, smiling and excited, surrounded by snow-covered mountains and icy fjord waters.
Winter fjord safari and viking dinner in Flåm
Flåm • 2 hr 45 min
From 1650NOK
1 November - 31 March
Fresh seafood platter with oysters, clams, and sea urchin on ice, served elegantly at sophisticated indoor event.
Fjord cruise and shellfish tower at seafood restaurant
Bergen • 5 hr
From 2295NOK
1 March - 19 December
Man pouring golden cider into glass at Ciderhuset fruit farm in Balestrand, Norway
Cider tasting in Balestrand
Balestrand • 1 hr 30 min
From 700NOK
1 June - 28 August
Viking dinner with 5 courses and beer tasting at Ægir Brewery in Flåm featuring local Norwegian ingredients
Viking dinner and beer experience in Flåm
Flåm • 1 hr
From 775NOK
1 October - 31 March
Two women smiling and conversing at a stylish bar in Oslo with cozy lighting, champagne in hand, and waterfront view.
Oslo food & beer tour
Oslo • 3 hr
From 1990NOK
Available all year
Geodesic dome tent illuminated from within, set against starry night sky with snow-capped mountains.
Glamping at Trolltunga
Multiple locations • 1 day 4 hr
From 4400NOK
1 May - 1 December

Articles about Norwegian food and cuisine

A group of friends enjoying an outdoor meal at a cozy table with a white tablecloth, candle lantern, and small plant.
Traditional Norwegian food
Norway has a lot of interesting traditional food, and any travelers visiting Norway would do well to sample some of the local cuisines. Culinary traditions in Norway have been dominated by meat, fish, and seafood that could be hunted or caught. These days the Norwegian food space represents an interesting mix of old and new due to culinary influences from all over the world.
Close-up golden sparkling cider poured into glass outdoors under bright sky with branches in background.
Norwegian cider’s rise in popularity
Cider brewing is a Norwegian custom that dates all the way back to the 13th century. However, once the Vinmonopolet or the Wine Monopoly came into effect, the practice largely died down. Despite this, Norwegians continued to brew cider in their homes and cellars. And now the drink is experiencing a surge in popularity yet again. If you’re a cider lover planning a visit to Norway, here’s everything you need to know!
Man in orange jacket reaches for fish mid-air on a boat at sea.
Top 3 Norwegian recipes to try
If you are a foodie or even just a lover of barbecue, then you will definitely want to make sure that you take a trip to Norway to experience the incredible local cuisine in places like Bergen and Røros. To give you a small taste of the kind of culinary experience you will get in Norway, here are three top Norwegian recipes that you can easily make at home.
An elegant presentation of cured salmon with pepper crust, creamy sauce, and fresh herbs on a stone plate.
Sustainable eating trends
Norway is already publicly recognized by almost every foodie as being home to some of the tastiest cuisine options in the world, with some truly exquisite national recipes like lutefisk and pinnekjøtt originating in Nordic countries. But what you may not know is that Norway is also a leader in bio-farming and sustainable food production.
Under Restaurant in Lindesnes - this unique restaurant serves the dinner under water, a truly unique experience
Here's what you'll experience at this record-setting underwater restaurant
There are a lot of fantastic things to experience on land in Norway, but there is a new exciting activity that takes you under the water. At the southern tip of Norway in Lindesnes, you can find the world's largest underwater restaurant.
Wooden Viking-style table with food preparation, herb butter, wooden bowls and crackers, and historical figures in background.
What did the average viking eat?
When your every-day activities include pillaging villages and exploring the impressive fjords in Norway, you are going to need a lot of energy to sustain yourself. This means eating some pretty astonishing meals in order to maintain proper health with such an active lifestyle.
A block of brown Norwegian goat cheese sits on a plate with a cheese slicer resting on top, surrounded by jars and traditional food packaging.
What do you eat with Brunost?
Every culture will have its own set of unique food items that either impress or disgust visitors when they try it upon visiting. Norway is no different and offers an assortment of delicious Norwegian food that is unlike anything that can be found anywhere else in the world. Some of the more common examples include lutefisk and pinnekjøtt.
A rustic scene with rolling pins and dough being prepared for lefse, with flour on the surface.
What is lefse?
Whether you’re planning to visit Norway or are just interested in Norwegian culture and tradition, you’ll want to find out more about lefse. Lefse has a long-standing history as a traditional food in Norway, and it remains about as popular today as it was a hundred years ago. Let’s take a closer look at what this tasty, simple food is all about!