Craft beer in Stockholm: the complete guide to breweries, bars and taprooms
Where can I drink craft beer in Stockholm?
Top addresses: Akkurat (Hornsgatan, Södermalm) for the widest selection (600+ varieties); Mikkeller Stockholm (Upplandsgatan, Vasastan) for Danish craft; Omnipollo taproom (Hökens Gata, Gamla Stan) for the Stockholm brewery's own beers; Brewdog Kungsholmen for international craft. Sweden has a growing local craft brewery scene — Omnipollo, Nils Oscar, and Dugges are the main Stockholm-area names.
Stockholm’s craft beer scene
Sweden has one of Europe’s strongest craft beer cultures for its size. The rapid development from the late 2000s — driven partly by the Swedish homebrewing tradition, partly by the influence of American craft styles, and partly by the particular quality-consciousness of Swedish food culture — has produced a brewery scene disproportionate to the country’s population.
Stockholm is the centre. The city has taprooms, specialist bars, and brewpubs spread across several neighbourhoods, and the Systembolaget off-licence network gives access to a curated selection unavailable in most European cities.
This guide covers the essential stops.
The anchor bar: Akkurat
Hornsgatan 18, Södermalm. No cover. Open most evenings.
Akkurat is the starting point for any discussion of craft beer in Stockholm. The bar has been operating since 1995 and has built one of Scandinavia’s largest and most carefully selected beer lists — over 600 varieties, combining Belgian ales, Scandinavian craft, German traditional styles, and international selections.
The tap selection changes regularly and is posted on the chalkboard above the bar. The bottle and can list is available as a physical menu and covers Belgian Trappist (Westvleteren is sometimes in stock), Lambic and Gueuze, American craft, and the full range of Swedish craft brewing.
The basement is a dedicated whisky bar — 700+ varieties of Scotch, Irish, Japanese, and American whisky. For a combined craft beer and whisky evening, Akkurat is self-contained.
Food: Good pub food — Swedish open sandwiches, herring plates, proper pub food rather than snacks.
Crowd: Mixed local and visitor, serious drinkers rather than casual party crowd. You can have a quiet conversation here.
Omnipollo: the Stockholm brewery taproom
Hökens Gata 2, Gamla Stan. Open evenings, closed Monday.
Omnipollo is the most internationally recognised Stockholm craft brewery — founded 2011, known for creative recipes, striking label art, and technical precision. Their beers are available across Europe and North America; their Gamla Stan taproom is the best place to drink them fresh.
The taproom occupies a double-height space with exposed brick and steel. The food menu (shared plates, bar snacks with Nordic influences) is genuinely good — this is a restaurant as much as a bar. The tap selection changes weekly and includes trial batches and limited releases not available elsewhere.
Best beers to try: Zodiak Hazy IPA, Anagram (their flagship wheat ale), and any of the barrel-aged stout releases. Ask the bartender what is fresh and interesting on the day.
Location: Gamla Stan, which makes it a good stop on an evening that starts with the Old Town and proceeds south to Södermalm.
Mikkeller Stockholm
Upplandsgatan 9, Vasastan. Open evenings.
Mikkeller is the Copenhagen gypsy brewery — one of the world’s most recognised craft beer brands, brewing at facilities across Europe and releasing constantly changing one-off and seasonal beers. The Stockholm bar is part of the Mikkeller global bar network.
The tap selection at Mikkeller Stockholm rotates constantly through Mikkeller’s own releases plus other craft beers. The interior design is a Mikkeller signature — graphic, clean, colourful. The atmosphere is younger and more fashionable than Akkurat.
For visitors who already know Mikkeller beers, this is a comfortable and reliable destination. For those new to craft beer, Akkurat’s wider and more eclectic selection may be more interesting.
Brewdog Kungsholmen
Kungsholms Strand, Kungsholmen. Open daily.
The Stockholm outpost of the Scottish craft brewery franchise. Brewdog maintains a mix of its own core range (Punk IPA, Hazy Jane, Neon Overlord) and local and international guest taps. The bar is well-run, reliably open, and has a good range in the approachable craft beer spectrum.
For visitors who are familiar with Brewdog elsewhere in Europe, the Stockholm bar provides the same quality and comfort. For craft beer explorers looking for something Stockholm-specific, Omnipollo and Akkurat are more distinctive.
The beer scene by neighbourhood
Södermalm: The natural centre. Akkurat is the anchor; the neighbourhood has a cluster of bars with decent craft selections along Hornsgatan and in the SoFo area.
Gamla Stan: Omnipollo taproom. One excellent destination rather than a circuit.
Vasastan: Mikkeller Stockholm and several neighbourhood bars with rotating craft taps. A quieter beer area — more locals, fewer tourists.
Kungsholmen: Brewdog and a few neighbourhood bars. Good for a beer near the City Hall or before the ferry to Ekerö.
Systembolaget: the off-licence option
For self-catering visitors, Systembolaget is a surprising resource. The state monopoly has invested in craft beer curation as part of its consumer-choice remit, and larger Stockholm branches stock a selection of Swedish and international craft beer that compares well with specialist bottle shops elsewhere.
The central Systembolaget branches (Klara Norra Kyrkogata 24 near T-Centralen; Hamngatan 22 near NK) have the widest selections. A good strategy: visit Systembolaget in the afternoon, pick up a selection of Swedish craft cans (Omnipollo, Nils Oscar, Brekeriet), and pre-drink in the apartment before going out — cutting the bar spend significantly.
Practical note: Systembolaget is closed on Sundays and has reduced hours on public holiday eve (including Midsummer’s Eve, Christmas Eve, and Easter Saturday). Plan ahead.
Swedish craft breweries worth knowing
Omnipollo (Stockholm): Creative adjunct styles, internationally recognised, fresh at their Gamla Stan taproom.
Nils Oscar (Södermanland, distributed across Stockholm): Traditional Swedish lager and pilsner alongside craft ales. The God Lager is a genuine Swedish classic.
Dugges Ale & Porterbryggeri (Gothenburg): Scandinavian hazy IPAs and fruited sours. Widely distributed in Stockholm’s better bars.
Brekeriet (Landskrona, Skåne): Wild fermentation, Lambic-inspired sours, fruit beers. The best Swedish producer in the Lambic tradition.
Omaka (Stockholm, newer): A nano-brewery producing small-batch releases with interesting local ingredients. Available primarily through Systembolaget’s ordering service.
Beer and food pairings in Stockholm
Swedish food and craft beer pair well naturally — the saltiness and umami of pickled herring works with malty amber ales; smoked salmon with dry hopped IPAs; kanelbulle (cinnamon roll) with brown ales and sweet stouts. If you are eating Swedish food and drinking craft beer in the same evening, Akkurat’s food menu is designed with these pairings in mind.
Frequently asked questions about craft beer in Stockholm
Does Sweden have a craft beer tradition?
Yes — a strong and growing scene since the late 2000s. Omnipollo is internationally the most celebrated Swedish craft brewery. Nils Oscar, Dugges, and Brekeriet are other important names.
What is Systembolaget and can tourists use it?
Sweden’s state off-licence monopoly — the only legal retailer for alcohol above 3.5% ABV. Freely available to any adult (18+) with ID. Good craft beer selection in larger branches.
What is Omnipollo?
Stockholm-based craft brewery founded 2011, known for creative styles and visual identity. The Gamla Stan taproom (Hökens Gata 2) serves fresh beers from the tank.
What is a typical craft beer price in Stockholm?
Bar: 90–130 SEK for 330–400ml. Off-licence (Systembolaget): 40–80 SEK per can.
Is Belgian beer available in Stockholm?
Yes — Akkurat (Hornsgatan 18, Södermalm) has one of the best Belgian beer selections in Scandinavia, including Trappist ales, Lambic, and Gueuze.
Frequently asked questions about Craft beer in Stockholm
Does Sweden have a craft beer tradition?
Yes — Sweden has a strong and growing craft beer scene that developed rapidly from the late 2000s. Swedish craft breweries focus on clean, technically precise beers often influenced by American craft styles but adapted to Swedish terroir and brewing philosophy. Omnipollo (Stockholm) is internationally the most celebrated Swedish craft brewery. Nils Oscar, Dugges (Gothenburg), and Stigbergets are other important names. Swedish craft beer is widely available in Stockholm's better bars and restaurants.What is Systembolaget and can tourists use it?
Systembolaget is Sweden's state alcohol monopoly — the only legal off-licence retail channel for alcohol above 3.5% ABV in Sweden. You cannot buy craft beer in supermarkets; you must go to Systembolaget. It is freely available to any adult (18+) with ID. Stockholm's central Systembolaget stores have a better craft beer selection than most specialist off-licences in other European cities — the monopoly has invested in curation. A useful stop before a picnic or apartment stay.What is Omnipollo?
Omnipollo is a Stockholm-based craft brewery and one of the most internationally recognised Scandinavian craft breweries. Founded in 2011 by Henok Fentie and Karl Grandin, they are known for creative adjunct styles (pastry stouts, fruit-forward IPAs) and the visual identity of their labels. The Omnipollo taproom and restaurant (Hökens Gata 2, Gamla Stan) opened in 2018 and is both a great place to drink their beers fresh from the tank and a genuinely good restaurant.What is a typical craft beer price in Stockholm?
At craft beer bars and taprooms, a 330ml can or 400ml glass of a mid-range craft beer (4–6% ABV) costs approximately 90–130 SEK. Imperial stouts and barrel-aged beers cost more: 130–200 SEK for smaller servings. Off-licence at Systembolaget: a can of good craft beer (330–440 ml) costs 40–80 SEK. The savings from pre-drinking at the apartment with Systembolaget purchases before going to a bar are significant.Is Belgian beer available in Stockholm?
Yes — Akkurat (Hornsgatan 18, Södermalm) has one of the best Belgian beer selections in Scandinavia. Belgian Trappist ales, Lambic and Gueuze, Saison, and the range of regional breweries are all represented. The bar takes Belgian beer as seriously as it takes craft beer. For Belgian-focused beer drinking in Stockholm, Akkurat is the only address you need.
