Ytteborg Brewery

The Ytteborg Brewery, known in Norwegian as Ytteborg Bryggeri, operated in Christiania, now Oslo. It was established in 1836 by Nils Jensen Ytteborg, who worked as a master tanner and served as a Member of Parliament. Over more than a hundred years, the business saw several name and ownership changes. In 2011, Foss Bryggeri AS restarted operations, also based in Oslo.

Early years

The brewery’s first buildings stood at Hausmanns street 8–12, where the Blue Cross Building now stands. In 1844, cooling and storage cellars were built on the Aker hill near Old Aker Church.

These large storage rooms, with brick walls and vaults, were considered highly advanced when they opened in 1843, and Crown Prince Oscar attended the opening. The timber-framed structure above ground at Akersbakken 22–24 was used for bottling beer. It was torn down in 1953 when the site became part of the churchyard.

In 1897, Ytteborg Brewery moved its production to Øvre Foss and changed its name to Foss Brewery. Nils Jensen’s son, Carl Theodor (1827–1888), whom he had trained as a brewer, took over after his father stepped down. In 1888, the founder’s grandson, Inge Ytteborg (1864–1920), became owner and CEO of Ytteborg Brewery and later Foss Bryggeri AS.

Milestones

In 1900, Foss Brewery opened the Hotel Continental in Oslo, along with Theatercaféen, on Stortingsgata across from the National Theatre. Foss Brewery was bought by Schou Brewery in 1917, and by 1922 Schou had stopped using the Foss brand. In 1977, Schou’s merged with Frydenlund to form Frydenlund Schous Bryggeri.

That company was acquired by Nora Industrier in 1978, which already owned Ringnes. Ringnes was then bought by the Carlsberg Group in 2004. After more than fifty years of closure, Foss Bryggeri AS resumed operations in Oslo in 2011.

World War years

During World War II, when Oslo was occupied, the brewery’s cellars were converted to store vegetables for German soldiers, and a new entrance was opened from Akersbakken. In 1953, the above-ground building was demolished when the Old Aker cemetery was expanded.

In popular culture

At its peak, Ytteborg beer, especially its Bavarian style, was so popular that it appeared in the Norwegian folk song "Oleanna": "And Munchener beer, as sweet as Ytteborg's, runs in the creeks for the poor man's delectation."