Amager Bryghus

Why it is renowned

Amager beer is sold in about 30 countries, and the brewery has been on RateBeer's list of the world's 100 best breweries since 2009.¹² Its imperial stout Hr. Frederiksen was its first beer in RateBeer's top 50, and on the strength of it the brewery began exporting to the United States through Shelton Brothers.² It pours at beer festivals abroad every year and has brewed collaborations with American breweries such as Jester King, 3 Floyds, Cigar City and Trillium.³⁴ In 2013 the Swedish state alcohol retailer Systembolaget refused a label for its beer Lust, a row the Swedish press covered.²⁵

The story

Two school friends and home brewers from Amager, Morten Lundsbak and Jacob Storm, founded the brewery in 2007 in a former nuclear shelter in Tårnby, on borrowed money, meaning to brew for the island.¹ In 2017 it moved to larger premises at Kirstinehøj in Kastrup, next to Copenhagen Airport.² The two founders still own it alone.¹ It keeps 10 to 15 beers in its range and brews 20 to 30 new ones a year, many of them aged in barrels that once held Scotch, Irish and American whisky, wine, tequila, mezcal, port or cognac.⁴ It has also brewed a saison with elderflower for Noma.⁴

What to know it by

• Hr. Frederiksen²Imperial stout; its first beer in RateBeer's top 50
• Barrel-aged beers⁴Stouts and other beers aged in spirit and wine casks