Christmas beer - a Danish tradition
Juleøl, Danish for Christmas beer, is of the most beloved drinks amongst Copenhageners when the Christmas atmosphere is in the air, starting from the first Friday in November.
Travelers will find Christmas beers everywhere in town – at all the classic Danish dive bars, also known as “bodegas”, as well as at the hip craft beer pubs scattered all over the city.
In the early ’00s, Copenhagen experienced a craft beer revolution, which turned the beer market upside down, also when it comes to Christmas beers. Local and innovative breweries with a focus on high-quality craft beers popped up everywhere and today, practically all of them let the jingle bells ring for one type of Christmas brew or another.
The largest number of Christmas beers in the world
Today, more than 220 Danish breweries produce a world record number of Christmas beers with around 350 varieties – and the Copenhagen breweries are in a fine Christmas mood too, of course. The quality, quantity, and variety of Christmas beers are greater than ever before and nowadays include both non-alcoholic, light, and bitter beer styles too.
Photo:Camilla Stephan
Where to try craft-style Christmas beers in Copenhagen?
As mentioned, you can without any effort at all find some kind of bar serving Christmas beer. But if you're into craft beer, we have picked a couple of good places to go.
Nørrebro Bryghus
Nørrebro Bryghus is the fairy tale of a small local brewery that grew strong. From the beginning, in 2003 the brewhouse became a shining beacon in the young and exciting beer culture that was sproutin...
Brewpub København
Close to the Town Hall Square, in an old protected house, you will find the Brewpub microbrewery, pub, and restaurant.
The pub's courtyard is a fabulous place to spend a long Scandinavian summer nigh...
Ørsted Ølbar
Ørsted Ølbar is a cozy bar in Copenhagen, and the kind that you have to know exists before you find it. Not that it is hiding, but it is just not surrounded by other bars or cafes. It is located just ...
Jernbanecaféen
Jernbanecafeen is maybe the odd one out of this group. They don't have any special Christmas beers or make their own. But what they lack in homebrewed beers they make up for in a cosy atmosphere and out-of-the-ordinary Christmas decorations. And also much closer to an authentic Danish pub experience.
