Austmann Bryggeri
Norwegian craft brewery born from family-financed dairy equipment.
Last updated
Austmann Bryggeri is a Norwegian craft brewery located at Sluppen in Trondheim. Founded in 2013 by Thomas Sjue, Vinko Lien Sindelar, and Anders Cooper, the brewery is notable for its unconventional startup financing—capital was raised by refinancing the homes of two of the founders' mothers and one aunt. The original 9 hectoliter brewery, built from recycled dairy equipment, opened at Høvringen in Trondheim and launched over 60 different beers in its first two years, a number that has since increased manyfold.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2013
- Founders
- Thomas Sjue
- Vinko Lien Sindelar
- Anders Cooper
- Location
- Sluppen, Trondheim, Norway
- Original brewery location
- Høvringen, Trondheim
- Original brewery size
- 9 hectoliters
- Export share
- approximately 15%
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Austmann Bryggeri was founded in 2013 by Thomas Sjue, Vinko Lien Sindelar, and Anders Cooper. To build the original brewery, the three raised capital by refinancing the homes of two of their mothers and one aunt. The first brewery, a 9 hectoliter facility assembled from recycled dairy equipment, opened at Høvringen in Trondheim. In its first two years of production, the brewery launched over 60 different kinds of beer, a number that has since increased manyfold, with an increasing share being exported.
In January 2016, the founders partnered with Hansa Borg Bryggerier; today the three founders own 50% of the shares, and Hansa Borg Bryggerier owns the other 50%. A new brewery was later established at Sluppen in Trondheim, where Austmann also opened the Austmann Taproom. The brewery's name comes from the Old Norse word 'Austmann,' a term for Norwegians who departed westwards from the Norwegian coast in the 900s.
Reader's Guide
Austmann Bryggeri holds significance as a Norwegian craft brewery that grew from a modest, family-financed startup into a brewery with a core range available throughout Norway in grocery stores, bars, and restaurants. Its founders' unconventional approach—refinancing homes to fund the original 9 hectoliter brewery built from recycled dairy equipment—underscores the resourcefulness often seen in the early craft beer movement. The brewery's rapid expansion, launching over 60 beers in its first two years and later increasing that number manyfold, demonstrates its early productivity and adaptability. The 2016 partnership with Hansa Borg Bryggerier, resulting in equal ownership between the founders and the larger brewing group, allowed Austmann to scale while retaining half control.
With approximately 15% of its volume exported, the brewery has extended its reach beyond Norway. The establishment of a new brewery and taproom at Sluppen in Trondheim further cemented its presence in the city. The name 'Austmann,' drawn from Old Norse history, connects the brewery to Norway's Viking-era seafaring heritage, adding a layer of cultural identity to its brand.
More in Breweries of Scandinavia and the Low Countries
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Austmann Bryggeri (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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