So you're a beer lover, have decided to visit Sweden but are a little concerned that you won't have anything good to drink. Don't worry! There is beer in Sweden, even very good beer. Here are some facts that will help you find it.

Pubs Rule

The usual place to experience the Swedish beer offerings is probably pubs.

The majority of pubs have chosen to buy beer from one company only, generally one of the two brewery giants Carlsberg and Spendrups. These companies also act as distributors for other breweries, so in a pub sporting the Carlsberg sign you can expect to find brands like Staropramen, Leffe and Brooklyn, in a Spendrups pub you can find Heineken and Murphy's and others.

The more interesting pubs are also buying beer from other suppliers. Your best chance to find Swedish microbrewery beers will be at some pubs in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Lund, but also in pubs such as the Bishops Arms chain in other cities.

Your best method to find a good pub is to brace yourself for some Swedish reading and have a look at the Pub List (Publistan) on this website. Here are some hints to simplify your reading:

The list is obviously arranged by city. If you cannot find the city you are visiting, you are on your own... For each listed pub we show Öppettider (opening hours, should be easy enough to understand), Huvudleverantör (main supplier), Antal fatöl (number of beers on tap/draught/draft, including keg and cask beers), Antal flasköl (number of bottled beers). In the Kommentarer section you might see some beer or brewery names that can give you an idea of what's generally available.

You will find pubs specializing in Belgian beers, American beers, Franconian beers, beers from as many countries as possible – and some with Swedish microbrews!

You will also find on our website maps showing the location of the best pubs in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö/Lund.

Pub Rules

All pubs in Sweden are also restaurants. They require a permit to sell beer or spirits or both, and an important condition for the permit is the ability to serve hot meals prepared on the premises.

Sales of beer and spirits must not commence before 11:00. Legal closing time is generally 01:00, but many places close earlier, and a very few in major cities have extended hours.

To drink beer in a pub you must be 18 years old.

At pubs in our list you order your drinks at the bar and you will normally be expected to pay for each order, credit cards are almost universally accepted. If you are planning a prolonged session you may start a tab and pay when you leave. If you plan to have a meal, table service is normal, even for drinks; but some pubs like to do things the British way: you order drinks and meals at the bar and pay there. The staff will tell you which procedure applies.

Tipping is totally at the discretion of the satisfied customer. We have observed bar counter tips of about 2 kronor per beer, table service tips of 5-10 % of the bill (the “Moms” amount on your bill is the VAT, not a service charge...). If you pay by credit card, it is preferable to leave the tip in cash. If you don't have the required change, you may add the tip on the Extras line on the credit card slip before you sign.

Legal Stuff

Like in most other countries, there are a few laws and regulations concerning alcoholic beverages.

For taxation and other purposes, beer is subdivided in three categories:

class I

“lättöl – light beer”, maximum 2.2 % a.b.v.

class II

“folköl – folk beer”, maximum 3.5 %

class III

“starköl – strong beer”, above 3.5 %

Of the price you pay for strong beer, 20 % is Value Added Tax – for folk and light beer the VAT is 10.7 %. The price also includes an excise duty amounting to 1.66 kronor per liter and percent alcohol by volume – e.g. 4.32 kronor for half a liter of 5.2 % beer. Beer up to 2.8 % is exempt from excise duty.

Restaurants and pubs are required to add a respectable mark-up to the store price – at least 25 % is the norm.

Class I and II beer is sold where food is sold. You must be 18 to buy class II beer. Pubs seldom offer class II beer, but must offer class I, other low alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages.

Systembolaget

Class III beer is only sold in special state owned Systembolaget stores. There are plenty of them, so buying beer for private consumption is not a big problem. They are open during normal shopping hours 10:00-18:00, one or two nights a week they stay open till 19:00, Saturdays they close at 15:00, and Sundays and holidays they are closed. In many smaller communities where there is no Systembolaget store there is a Systembolaget agency where you can order products to be delivered the following day.

To buy strong beer you must be 20 (unlike pubs, where the age limit is 18).

Systembolaget stock about 300–350 different beers from many countries. You can pick up a free list in any of their stores, or check their webside, http://www.systembolaget.se (in Swedish though; click the button “Öl” and on the next screen press “Sök”). All stores do not have all 300, in most stores you can expect to find between 100 and 200 beers available for immediate purchase. But you can order any other beer in their list, even a single bottle or can, and you can pick it up in 1 or 2 days. You can also call them ahead to order.

That's about it, unless you will be in Sweden for an extended stay. In that case there is more good news:

In addition to the 300+ beers in the standard assortment, Systembolaget also offer another 200 or so beers that are stocked by wholesalers and can be requested for delivery to your chosen Systembolaget store. Normally, however, you have to order a full box or case, 12-20 bottles. Delivery can generally be expected within a week or ten days. There may be some regional limitations where the wholesaler will only deliver within their area.

If you are still not satisfied and desperately want some beer that Systembolaget does not provide, there are ways. But no easy ways, so we suggest you forget about it and enjoy what is available.

Compiled 19 March 2008 by Gunnar H Eriksson