Raising a Glass to Tradition

Written by Emma Enebak

Montana-based beverage company is bringing a taste of Norwegian traditionoverseas, by making Norway’s oldest and most beloved beer available in North America.

When visitors pull into the railway station of the populous southeastern municipality of Drammen, Norway, there are two things they are likely to notice right away. One is the surging waters of the 192-mile-long Drammen River, one of the longest rivers in Norway. And the other is the massive fjordside building that rests on its shore, which projects from its central location almost as if a marquee for Norway’s fifth-largest city. Inside these walls was born a tradition so old and valued, it has come to be viewed as a foundational element of Norwegian culture—Aass Beer.

Aass Brewery is the oldest continuously running brewery in Norway, and its award-winning Aass Beer is the oldest beer in Norway. Founded by Poul Loritz Aass in 1834, the brewery originally started as a trade house, with brewing as a side business, but today it produces more than 30 million liters of beer per year. In its nearly two centuries of existence, Aass Brewery has continually developed, acquiring new buildings, utilizing new equipment and taking on new roles, even bottling Coca Cola for 40 years. But one thing has remained the same—the brewery has never left the Aass family. Now in its fifth generation, Aass Brewery is still proudly family-owned and -operated, and its shares are divided between the approximately 100 descendants of Poul Loritz Aass.

When producing its beer, Aass Brewery has learned to strike a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation. With roots in Germany and the Czech Republic, Aass proudly follows the tradition of Norwegian brewing, producing classic styles of beer including fatøl, bayer, Christmas beer and wort beer. Yet, it also maintains a microbrewery on-site, where brewers experiment with new styles and techniques, allowing for exploration and growth alongside the modern beverage market.

From Norway to North America

It is estimated there are more than 5 million people of Norwegian descent living across the U.S. and Canada today. When separated from their homeland by oceans, what better way for these Norwegian descendants to reconnect with their roots than raising a glass of the same beer their ancestors enjoyed centuries ago? Thanks to the Norwegian Beverage Co., this impactful experience is now possible. Based in Belgrade, Montana, Norwegian Beverage Co. has a passion for the rare history, tradition and values of Aass Brewery—and is committed to bringing its one-of-a-kind beer to the North American market.

Norwegian Beverage Co. was founded in 2023 by Jørn Marki and Duke Johnson. Marki, who was born and raised in Drammen just a short distance from Aass Brewery, has always recognized Aass as a foundational element of his heritage. After moving to Montana and connecting with Johnson, who owned a café in Belgrade, Marki began researching ways to serve Aass Beer at Johnson’s cafe. Soon enough, the pair got into contact with Lauritz Aass, the fifth-generation majority owner of Aass Brewery.

“I remember him saying, ‘So, you want this for Montana?’ And our response was very quickly, ‘No—we want this for North America,’” recalls Marki.

Distributing a variety of canned and bottled Aass beer, including pilsner, lite Norwegian lager, UTEN (a nonalcoholic beer), IPA mango and juleøl premium, Norwegian Beverage Co. is excited to not only bring a taste of home to those with Norwegian roots, but to spread the unique and signature taste of Norwegian beer to beer lovers abroad. When you cheers a glass of Aass, allow the signature taste to take you back in time. The crisp, cool beer is the same beverage our ancestorst enjoyed nearly 200 years ago—a tradition that goes far beyond beer.

“Having the chance to experience this beer is to get the taste of a real Norwegian brew,” says Marki. “We hope this will mean as much to you as it does to us.”

Tradition for Quality

It is no secret that Norway is one of the most environmentally progressive countries in the world. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranked it third on its list of the best countries for green living in 2023. In all its operations, Aass Brewery closely aligns itself with Norway’s environmentally friendly practices and philosophies, a tradition which produces great quality. It is important to Norwegian Beverage Co. to spread both this tradition and quality to other parts of the world, so more beer lovers can be inspired by the convergence of green living and great beer.

“We really want to make the Aass family proud and do this in the right way,” shares Marki, who is committed to honoring Aass Brewery’s focus on environmental conservation.

Much like Norway itself, Aass Brewery has set a number of sustainability goals for the next few years, including reducing production waste by 50%, increasing its raw material yield by 20% and reducing its water usage per liter produced by 10%, all by 2025. This commitment not only serves the planet and future generations, but also contributes to producing a higher quality product. It’s a difference you can taste—the water Aass Beer is brewed with comes directly from crystal blue Glitre Lake in Viken, Norway. Norwegian Beverage Co. agrees that the clear, clean waters of Norway are the best resource possible for brewing an exceptional beer and is excited to share this quality with beer lovers overseas.

Aass for the People

One of the reasons Aass Brewery has kept people coming back for almost two centuries is because it cares about its customers—and has a commitment to serving them well. This starts with health and safety. Aass Brewery is Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standard (BRCGS) Food Safety Certified, which means it is inspected each year and controlled for compliance with a universal set of standards for food safety. Customers can be assured they are consuming a product that is regulated and safe, and better yet, a result of one of the leading countries in environmental conservation. Aass Brewery also alleviates some of the health concerns often associated with drinking beer, by also brewing calorie reduced, certified gluten-free beers.

All of these measures are taken because Aass Beer is a beverage for the people. Since 1834, the Norwegian-style beer has been served and enjoyed as a representation of heritage, identity and tradition, and it will continue to represent and serve the people—from Norway to North America—for years to come.

If you’re located in North America and are looking to raise your own glass of Aass Beer, visit norwegianbeverageco.com.