Gothenburg’s vibrant beer scene

By Malin Norman

Some of the world’s best breweries are based in the Gothenburg area. Here, the likes of Poppels, Beerbliotek, Stigbergets and Dugges brew nothing but outstanding beer. We take a closer look at the city’s bubbling beer scene – this is local beer at its best.

Gothenburg has a long-standing brewing tradition. Back when the city was founded in 1621, a number of breweries were located here. In the 16th and 17th centuries, brewers like George Carnegie laid the foundations for the city’s brewing industry. And during the days of the East India Company in the 18th century, much of the beer was exported around the world.

Photo: Poppels Bryggeri

The beginning of a new era in Gothenburg’s beer history awaited in the early 2000s, with a renaissance for small-scale, local craft breweries. According to the official visitors guide goteborg.com, there are now around 40 breweries in the area, many of which also have taprooms – the perfect place to taste the beer fresh and get a feel for the craft beer vibe.

Photo: Felicia Careberg

Sweden’s beer capital

“Gothenburg has a fantastic range of craft beer and is even referred to as Sweden’s beer capital, which is a fair description,” says Anders Storm, marketing manager at Poppels Bryggeri. “Many local breweries offer incredibly high quality and have a solid reputation in Sweden and abroad.”

Poppels is one of the city’s most successful breweries and, since the outset, the team has worked hard to make craft beer more easily accessible; for instance, with style descriptions, plus beer and food pairings on the beer labels. “If you buy Poppels, you know that the beer will be good,” says Storm. “We also have an amazing community with over 5,000 shareholders, who do great work as ambassadors for the brand.”

Photo: Beerbliotek

Located in Jonsered, Poppels has also opened an additional venue, a restaurant called Citybryggeri. The area around Ringön is well worth a visit, according to Storm. “In addition to our restaurant, you will find, for instance, Stigbergets, Vega Bryggeri, Ivans Pilsnerbar and Två Små Grisar here – all superb breweries with taprooms.”

On 4 August, Poppels releases its new beer Above the Clouds NEIPA, a hoppy and hazy IPA, in collaboration with Finback Brewery from New York. Other exciting news is the berry collection on 6 September, where people can leave berries from their gardens at the brewery. “Later, we’ll use the berries to brew a beer, and everyone who donated berries will have their name added to the label,” says Storm. “In the past, the release has nearly caused fights between the berry donators, who wanted to get their hands on a bottle. Naturally, we don’t want any fighting, but we’re hoping for a lot of enthusiasm!”

Photo: Beerbliotek

Beer bus and collaborations

“Gothenburg’s beer scene is bustling with life thanks to an unusually engaged community,” agrees Richard Bull, co-founder and managing director at Beerbliotek. “Breweries, bars, beer enthusiasts and event organisers cooperate to create something bigger – together.”

An example of the close-knit community spirit is the free ‘hop-on, hop-off’ bus service on Saturdays, a project between Beerbliotek, Stigbergets, Vega, Spike and Poppels. “The bus takes you between our taprooms, so it’s a great way for locals and visitors to discover our lively beer scene.”

Photo: Beerbliotek

Brewing in an industrial area in Majorna, the six friends who run Beerbliotek are driven by innovation and a passion for experimenting. Something is always happening here, with new beer releases, collaborations and events.

“We love to push the boundaries, constantly striving to be better and to brew a broad spectrum of exciting beers,” says Bull. “Right now, we’re proud of our Nitro Stout, a collaboration with The Red Lion in Gothenburg. We’ve managed to create a well-balanced stout with character, which is not easy. It stands out, technically as well as in flavour.”

Poppels Bryggeri. Photo: Felicia Careberg

Old rockers and nurses

Also at the forefront of the city’s beer culture is Dugges Bryggeri, founded by Mikale Dugge Engström in 2005. The brewery is located in Landvetter, on the outskirts of the city, and has a taproom called Dugges Pils in Linnéstaden. With over one million ratings on Untappd, the app for finding and rating beers, its beers are no doubt loved by consumers. One of the bestsellers is Tropic Thunder, a sour fruit ale that tastes like a popsicle – a modern classic.

Another trailblazer in local craft beer is Electric Nurse, started in 2012 when a nurse (Ida Engström) and an electrician (Peter Robertsson) met and bonded over their love for beer. This brewery is also based in Landvetter, with its beer available at many beer bars in the city.

There is more! Odd Island Brewing in Lindome, south of Gothenburg, was started in 2016 by Daniel Svensson and Peter Iwers from the metal band In Flames, when the rockers decided to leave touring life and focus on brewing; anyone is invited to check out the tap room, which is open Friday and Saturday. And small brewery O/O Brewing, named after its founders Olle and Olof, is a must too, with innovative flavours and cool labels. This brewery has its own bar, O/O Bar, on Bangatan 22 near Masthugget Church. And the list goes on.

Photo: Beerbliotek

Highly anticipated All In Beerfest

In addition to its many breweries and taprooms, the city has a tradition of hosting great beer festivals, such as GBG Beer Week and Gothenburg Beer & Whisky Fair (next edition on 17-18 April 2026), as well as the popular All In Beerfest, which is considered one of Sweden’s best beer festivals. Started by local brewery All In Brewing in 2013, it attracts many beer lovers that have the same passion for beer as the brewers.

This year’s edition of All In Beerfest takes place 7-8 November at Världskulturmuséet (The Museum of World Culture) and is bound to be an unforgettable event with nothing but the best beer. “All In Beerfest is a highlight of the year,” confirms Bull. “We have just taken over the restaurant at Världskulturmuséet, which opens up to a new platform where we can create outstanding events and experiences.”

If you love beer, there is plenty to explore and look forward to in Gothenburg. Thanks to its heritage, the many pioneering and world-class breweries, and a growing craft beer culture, the city has certainly earned its reputation as Sweden’s beer capital!