A basic guide. (May 2008)
If you just ask for a beer in Norway, you will get a Pilsner.
Most draught beers are Pilsners, but you also find Munchener ("Bayer") and imported beers and ales.
In winter you often find draught Christmas Beer.
A few pubs also sell bottled beer from some micro brewery.
Most common pub times are from 11.00 to around midnight.
A few pubs might open 08.00 and some close 02.30.
Beer glasses normally contain 0.33 and 0.5 liters.
Beware, trendy bars often use 0.4 liter glasses and a few pubs also 0.6 liters.
At pubs in Oslo you may find prices from 4 to 10 euros for a half a liter of pilsner.
Other beer types will be even more expensive.
The east part of central Oslo is where you find the cheapest places. They normally have very few alternatives to pilsner.
Norwegian beers keep a high standard, treatment in pubs varies. Normally beer is served too cold.
It's customary to pay each time you order a beer, except when served with food.
In some bars you may depose your credit card and make up the bill when you leave.
Credit cards are widely accepted in Norway.
Tipping is not compulsory, but given good service, most people will round off the sum.
Smoking is prohibited indoors at all pubs, cafés, bars and restaurants. Many pubs got an outdoor drinking area.
Most Norwegians are able to communicate in English.
Don't be afraid to approach people. When sober, Norwegians are a bit shy.
In Norway, it is illegal to serve people who are drunk. If you are visibly drunk or fall asleep,
the staff in a pub is obliged to refuse to serve you more alcohol and may throw you out of the pub.
It has not been a common practice to buy rounds due to our too high prices,
but this tends to change somewhat since people get more money and adopt continental habits.
Beer to be consumed off the premises, you buy in a supermarket or food store.
In some areas there are special beer shops, and in a few rural areas you can't buy beer at all.
Off license sale of beer close at 20.00 Mondays to Fridays and 18.00 Saturdays. (No sales on Sundays and holydays).
Local authorities may impose even stricter regulation.
Beer with the strength above 4.75% ABV (or wine or spirits), you buy at the special state monopoly shops "Vinmonopolet".
They use local shopping hours, often 10.00 to 17.00 on weekdays and 09.00 to 13.00 on Saturdays. (Some keep open till 18.00 on weekdays and 15.00 on Saturdays.)
The age limit is 18 years for buying or consuming beer and wine, and 20 years for strong spirits. You might be asked to prove your age.
To keep out youngsters, a few pubs restrict entrance to higher ages.
Usually children accompanied by adults are allowed to enter pubs and restaurants.
Don't drink and drive.
The limit of alcohol in your blood is 0,2 % (20 mg per 100 ml of blood).
The Norwegian police perform random checks and may stop any car at any time. You might end up in prison and lose your driving license.
'Traditional' Norwegian beer styles
Pale lagers
Pilsner (max. 4.75 % ABV).
Sterkøl / Ekstra (max. 6.75 % ABV) "export lager".
Lettøl / Light (max. 2.50 % ABV) low alcohol beer.
Alkoholfritt øl (max. 0.70 % ABV) non alcohol beer.
Dark lagers
Bayer / Münchener (max. 4.75% ABV) Munich style.
Recently a couple of breweries made non alcoholic versions of this syle.
Bokkøl (max. 6.75 % ABV) Bock beer.
Juleøl (max. 6.75 % ABV) traditional Christmas beer (dark brown/red, a little sweetish).
Julebrygg (max. 4.75 % ABV) lighter Christmas beer brewed since 1993
when the stronger beer not could be sold in regular shops anymore).
Seasonal lagers:
Seasonal lagers: normally 4.75 % ABV, but some are also brewed in low alcohol versions.
Sommerøl "Summer Beer"
Oktoberfest "October Feast"
Påskebrygg "Easter Brew"
Today, several breweries also brew British and continental style ales.
- European Beer Consumers Union - EBCU - European Beer Consumers Union -
