Lervig Aktiebryggeri

Lore & Background

Lervig Aktiebryggeri was founded in 2003 in Stavanger after the production of Tou beer moved to Oslo. From 2003 to 2005 the beer was produced by Macks Ølbryggeri in Tromsø, then production moved to Hillevåg in Stavanger in 2005. In its early years the brewery mostly produced pilsner as a substitute for the Tou pilsner.

In 2010 the brewery hired American Mike Murphy as head brewer and turned toward craft beers, with heavy imperial stouts and hoppy New England IPAs becoming its most popular styles. After starting NEIPA production, the brewery complained about distribution delays through the government-owned liquor monopoly Vinmonopolet; an IPA produced in January 2017 did not go on sale until March. From June 1, 2017, the dairy company TINE began distributing Lervig beer using their refrigerated trucks. The company has collaborated with other craft brewers including To Øl, Põhjala, Mikkeller, Evil Twin and Beavertown.

Lervig exports a third of its beers to foreign markets; in August 2017, 16.8% of all beer exported from Norway came from Lervig. The brewery was started by fund manager Kristoffer Stensrud. In 2018 the American investment fund Orkila Capital purchased 50% of the company, spending $15 million on shares and a further $5 million on an emission; the fund already owned part of Danish brewery Mikkeller.

Reader's Guide

Lervig Aktiebryggeri's significance lies in its transformation from a regional pilsner producer into an internationally recognized craft brewery. Its hiring of American head brewer Mike Murphy in 2010 marked a decisive turn toward craft styles, particularly heavy imperial stouts and New England IPAs, which became the brewery's most popular offerings. The brewery's inclusion on RateBeer's list of the Top 100 brewers in the world in 2014 signaled its global standing. Lervig's distribution challenges with the state monopoly Vinmonopolet, and its subsequent partnership with dairy company TINE for refrigerated truck distribution starting June 2017, illustrate the logistical hurdles faced by Norwegian craft brewers.

The brewery's export success—accounting for 16.8% of all Norwegian beer exports in August 2017—underscores its role as a major exporter. Collaborations with prominent international craft brewers such as To Øl, Põhjala, Mikkeller, Evil Twin and Beavertown further integrated Lervig into the global craft beer network. The 2018 acquisition of a 50% stake by Orkila Capital, an American investment fund that already held part of Mikkeller, connected Lervig to broader craft beer investment trends.