The History
Until Covid-19, Denmark, Sweden and Norway have met for the Scandinavian Championship in Copenhagen during the Danish national championship. The Danish championship has been organized over the course of a weekend, and their finalists have submitted 1 extra bottle which has then been judged in a final Scandinavian final. Beer judges from Sweden and Norway have brought their top 3 beers from their national championships. It has varied between 1 and 2 judges from each country, i.e. from 3 to 6 judges. The beers have been judged based on typicality, with varying use of the judging form and argumentation for what has been the best.
Norbrygg has used a trip to the Scandinavian final as a prize for the Norwegian winners, and then usually a couple from the NM committee have joined as judges (and a little thank you for the NM effort).
Then Covid-19 came, and it went quiet in the years that followed.
In the fall of 2023, we found out that it was time to do something again. Homebrewing in the Nordic countries has different conditions, among other things, it is not allowed to brew beer at home in the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The idea of an expanded championship was sent to the Danish and Swedish beer judges, and to a nice Finn who has often been to the Scandinavian final.
Per Øyvind has some contacts in the Faroe Islands, but unfortunately did not get any leads there. However, he did get some leads from the fermentation club in Iceland, which makes cheese, pickled herring, kimchi, hakarl and the like, and which occasionally gets unlucky and gets a yeast infection in the wort they have standing.
The kick-off meeting was 2023-11-19, with very different parties:
Finland with 2100 members, EBCU representative, uses BJCP. Started in 1995, their national competition has 300 beers that are judged by 30 judges.
Denmark with 210 beer judges, of which 60 are active. Does not have a specific homebrewing association, they are part of the Danish Beer Enthusiasts, which has a total of 7,000 beer drinker members. Their national competition usually has about 240 participants. Their own type definitions.
Sweden with 2,000 members, 200 beer judges (100 active). 650 beers in the national competition, which are judged at the SM with 1,500 visitors. Their own type definitions.
Iceland, with 80 members and just over 200 “unlucky” wort boilers. Uses BJCP.
…and Norway, with 4,000+ members, about 60 active judges and 400 participants in the NM.
In advance, it was budgeted to invite 2 finalists, 1 beer judge and 2 from the board from each country to RØL, and that Norbrygg covers accommodation. The countries themselves cover travel and food.
The idea of inviting to a final in Stavanger during RØL was launched, and very well received.
A meeting was then held every month to coordinate, where competition rules and logistics were agreed upon.