Bryggeriet Djævlebryg

Lore & Background

The brewery began as a hobby for brothers Rune and Stinus Lindgreen, who started making beer in their mother's kitchen in 2003. After several years of experimentation, a friend, Per Olaf Huusfeldt, suggested they establish a microbrewery to reach a wider audience.

The brewery was formally founded on 06-06-2006 under the name Bryggeriet Djævlebryg Aps. The name plays on the devil as a symbol of passionate or sinful pleasures, including alcoholic beverages, and as a counterpoint to the many monastery breweries. The slogan 'Satans gode øl' (roughly 'devilishly good beers') appears on all bottles.

Djævlebryg gained media attention and respect from beer enthusiasts worldwide. The imperial stout Gudeløs ('Godless'), released at the European Beer Festival 2008, was brewed in collaboration with the Danish Atheist Society, with one Danish krone donated per beer sold. This 'atheism beer' sparked online discussion before its release, notably on P.Z. Myers's blog Pharyngula and the Richard Dawkins message board, and was covered by Danish newspapers, national television, and media in Norway and the United States.

Reader's Guide

Bryggeriet Djævlebryg's significance lies in its distinctive branding and its role in the Danish craft beer scene. As a phantom brewery, it leveraged existing facilities to produce a range of beers that garnered critical recognition. The brewery's awards include 'Best Exhibitor' at the Copenhagen Beerfestival 2007, a gold medal for Nekron on RateBeer in 2008, and medals at the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival for Old Mephisto (gold, 2010) and Gudeløs (silver, 2011). Nekron was voted the third best beer out of over 550 released in Denmark in 2007.

Founders Rune Lindgreen and Per Olaf Huusfeldt received second prize and an honorary mention for their diploma brewer exam project. The brewery's export to Sweden, Finland, and the US by 2012 reflects its international reach. The Gudeløs collaboration with the Danish Atheist Society generated notable media coverage, highlighting the brewery's willingness to engage with provocative themes.