TOPIC:

If that's not an oxymoron...

I may be making a trip to Kiruna, 200km north of the Arctic Circle, next month and I was wondering if anyone had any Swedish experiences (of the beer kind!) they could share. It's a remote spot, and I'd say my colleague and I could do with a night out there.

Although the nights are short at this time of year. About two hours I've been told!

Sounds fantastic.

Sweden has scads of top craft breweries, I'm told. The only one whose beers I've tasted[/url:36q7nnol] (and only a sip) is Ølfabrikken and they were fantastic. The porter is amazing. Nils Oscar is the other Swedish craft brewery that gets loads of good press and wins awards everywhere.

However, since this is Scandinavia, you probably won't be able to just wander into a pub and get them. I'm told the state off licence Systembolaget[/url:36q7nnol] has a more widespread network than its Norwegian equivalent, but some research would still be worth your while. Preferably, if you know someone already there, send them to the shop in advance for you.

(Edit: Kiruna seems to have a branch[/url:36q7nnol], but I'm not seeing a list of what they stock.)

Thanks. I don't know the client well enough to mail him to get me beer, but I'll work something out <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

I'll also need a pronunciation guide for the beers it seems!

Systembolaget is a funny old thing. They close at 5 or 6 so if you're working there you'll need to make a trip at lunch break. I don't recall it being a great place to get craft beer but I could be wrong.

Didn't experience much by way of craft beer while I was in Stockholm but if you do pass by that way, Wirstroms in Gamla Stan has some decent tap beers and a good selection of scotch.

Hi Adeptus,

I lived in Gothenburg for four years and only returned to Ireland recently. Although Swedish beer/alcohol laws are draconian and antiquated, the local microbrewery scene is fantastic.

Systembolaget - although it has limited opening hours and is a state organisation - can have a great selection, but the outlet in Kiruna will be much smaller than in Stockholm or Goteborg. Here is a list of what they stock (in Kiruna) today:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="www.systembolaget.se/Applikationer/Sok/R...p;Asc=1&BackUrl=">www.systembolaget.se/Applikation ... 1&BackUrl={9742A1F8-6EC7-4E20-8D4C-E3DF240B014F}


RECOMMENDATIONS of Swedish brews, if you can find them:
- 'Hell' (hell style, but unusually high in hops)
- 'Fallen Angel Bitter'
- Slottskällans Imperial Stout
- Slottskällans Pale Ale
- Nils Oscar Barley Wine
- Nils Oscar Imperial Stout
- Nils Oscar India Ale

Do NOT drink:
- Falcon
- Mariestad
- Norrlands Guld


Enjoy Sweden,
/Rory

Wow, that's excellent. <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D --> Not a great range in that outlet as you say, but now I have a list to try and work down. And thanks for the tips on what to avoid <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

Am I misunderstanding here, or are you guys just making it sound like there's no pubs there? <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D --> I'll have to check the hotel website to see if they offer anything nteresting (beer wise!)

<edit>
I just noticed the multiple pages for that outlet on you link, and it apears the range available is not bad at all. We may be going over the day before the meeting, as flights to Kiruna are like hens teeth, so we may take a half day off to go and do tourist things. Might give me an oppertunity.