It doesn’t get more Swedish than crayfish parties, with quirky culinary traditions and funny songs at long communal tables, and what have you. If like me, you don’t really fancy seafood en masse, you can still enjoy the party – with a nice beer in hand. Here are three of my favourite brews to bring along, if invited to a proper kräftskiva.

Let’s start with a bang: Nils Oscar God Lager. This is one of the country’s best and most popular lagers made by a microbrewery, praised for its malty character with notes of white bread, honey, citrus and herbs. God Lager is the brewery’s flagship beer, launched just a year after it was founded in 1996. The name actually means tasty lager – what more do you need?

Well ok, another fabulous Swedish lager is Helsinge Pilsener, with the expected bready notes as well as a decent level of bitterness. Made by Helsinge Ångbryggeri, pretty close to my hometown in the region of Hälsingland, this beer is outstanding when served fresh. Started in 2004, the microbrewery has a fairly small core range, focusing on what they know; German style lagers. The Rauchbier called Helsinge Rököl is great too, with balanced smokiness, some herbs and spices, and maple syrup bread.

Photo: Sveriges Bryggerier

Photo: Sveriges Bryggerier

And last but not least, a beer style that generally works really well with seafood is Witbier, a Belgian style wheat beer. If you want to devour a great Swedish version with your crayfish (or without the crawlers, like me), go for Belgian Witbier by Poppels Bryggeri. This is one of my all-time favourite Swedish breweries, founded in 2012 by a group of beer lovers in Jonsered, just outside Gothenburg. In this delicious beer, the brewers have used coriander and orange peel – for the typical light spiciness and citrus notes that you would expect in a well-made Witbier.

Now you’re all set, with the beer at least. For some helpful insider’s tips on crayfish party etiquette, check out our special feature in this issue.

Malin Norman Booking.com

Read the feature on issuu