More than 160 BeerSweden Forum members voted for their favourite beers, breweries, bars and beery personalities in eight categories during January. All the finalists had previously been nominated by BSF members, with those attracting the most votes advancing to the final voting round.

So without further ado let’s see who took first place in the country’s biggest online award scheme organised by beer drinkers for beer drinkers!

Best Swedish Brewery

Oppigårds Bryggeri was never in danger of losing this category. Having started out strong the Darlana brewery just got stronger, taking home first place with an impressive 70% of all the votes cast.

Best Swedish Beer

Again it’s Oppigårds in pole position with Drakens DIPA (which was brewed to a recipe created by hardcore homebrewers Tomas Lundqvist, Rick Lindqvist and Magnus Ahlström).

Best International Beer

This category went down to the wire and at the last second it was one vote that meant the category was tied between Great Divide Brewing’s Yeti Imperial Stout and ‘Hello, My Name is Ingrid’ from BrewDog in Scotland. The honours are shared!

Best International Brewery

I know, some of you may ask how can a guy from Denmark called Mikkel Borg Bjergsø be called a brewery? Well he’s a new kind of ‘one-man’ brewery that travels to breweries around the world where he transforms his very active imagination into beer. The so-called ‘Godfather of Gypsy Brewing’ Mikkel is also one of the most prolific brewers out there and is threatening to close in on 100 different Mikkeller beers in a single year. The BSF-ers salute you!

Best Swedish Beer Bar/Pub/Restaurant

Beer emporium Akkurat in Stockholm once again leads the field and underlines its status as a must-visit bar whenever you’re in the capital (particularly if you like cask ales and lambics). Congratulations to Stene, Rille and the whole ‘A-Team’!

Best Swedish Importer/Distributor

Those nice guys at Brill have really spoilt the Swedish beer community with a succession of hard-to-get craft beers from both sides of the Atlantic over the past year and their passion for what they do has clearly paid off, earning them an emphatic pat on the back from BSF members.

Best Swedish Beer Event

Probably no surprise here. The Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival is not only the largest beer show in Sweden but it’s one of the largest in the world. Ultra-professionally run with the largest gathering of Swedish beer brands and personalities in one place the SBWF continues to set the standard for how a beer show should be run.

Swedish Beer Personality of The Year

I have to confess to feeling more than a little awkward here as I have ended up winning this category myself (I’m putting it down to home advantage). I am obviously incredibly grateful and humbled for all the nominations and votes. I’d like to give a special mention to Magnus and M2 and Magnus Bark who were both also nominated in this category and who all – in their own unique ways – do so much to contribute to the beer community in this country. The fact that three bloggers were nominated says a lot about the role beer blogs are playing right now in spreading knowledge about our favourite drink.

A huge thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate and vote. As the awesome BeerSweden Forum continues to grow (now over 20,000 posts, 575,000 post views and almost 700 members) I’m confident next year’s awards will be even bigger and better!

All winners will shortly be receiving swanky certificates as recognition of their achievement. Once I’ve made them that it…..

Cheers and Beers everyone!

Darren

 (ps: If you’re not a member of the BeerSweden Forum yet then why not sign up right now? It only takes seconds and costs nothing. That’s right – nix! Within minutes you could be chatting to other beer enthusiasts, checking out food and beer pairings, discovering the latest beer scene news and reading honest reviews of beers from fellow BSF-ers. And that’s just for starters! What are you waiting for?!!)

It’s not been without its difficulties though. Whichever way you twist and turn it Stone Brewing is a long way away and the length of time it takes to get their beers over here has caused concern at the brewery (which is famously fanatical for its ‘drink fresh’ policy) and of course with the team at Great Brands.

But those mighty brains at GB have now come up with a nifty new way of ensuring you get your hands on a great selection of Stone beers before the recommended ‘Best Before Date’ with the launch this week of an online pre-ordering service.

The idea is this: Great Brands transports Stone beers every few months to Sweden. Now they’re giving you the opportunity to pre-book your own cases of beer to come along for the ride.

Just visit their site (Note: you have to opt for the Swedish language selection), choose the PrivatImport tab and click on the ‘Förboka Här’ link. Now you can choose from 5 classic Stone beers and order by the case.  Your beer will be delivered on the next shipment (currently due some time in May) and you pick up and pay for the beer at the Systembolaget store you nominate. The deadline for orders for the next shipment is February 29th.

“By pre-ordering we can minimise the length of time it takes from delivery to Sweden and into your fridge where it belongs”, said Justin from Great Brands.

The monopoly has given us a mini-break from releases in January (in the case of the BeerSweden community I like to think of it as time off for good behavior) but now it’s time for the beer year to start in earnest.

In the morning 12 new beers will appear on the shelves of around 30 Systembolaget stores and as usual I’m giving you a short (Ed Note: are you having a laugh?) breakdown of what to expect.

An even better list is available over at the BeerSweden Forum that includes clickable links to RateBeer.com for those of you that want dig a little deeper into the beers as well as lots of lively debate among members about the new releases. In fact every month’s releases are listed in detail on the Forum so I can’t recommend highly enough you become a member there just for this useful feature alone.

So, from the top with the two BrewDog beers (normal disclaimer applies here of course). You can read what I think about AB: 08 here (it’s a real mind-buzz of a beer) and although I’ve yet to review the Jura (expect one imminently) the Paradox range has yet to disappoint so this 15% ABV reincarnation aged in Jura whisky casks promises much – Recommended

I’ve enjoyed the Fullers Brewers Reserve series so far and No 3 sounds fascinating – an English Strong Ale that’s been aged in old Auchentoshan whisky barrels for 800 days!  Recommended

The next beer out, Gouden Carolus Cuvée van der Keizer Blauw 2011, brings back special memories for me. Here’s a cut and paste from my tasting notes dating back to early 2007: Served before the stroke of Midnight on New Years Eve 2006/7. My last beer of 2006 was also arguably my best of the year (and ever). A 2002 vintage……the aroma was quite light, with subtle brandy/caramel notes. It somehow doesn’t do justice to what comes next. A sip reveals a deliciously balanced sweetness of figs, melted brown sugar and nutmeg.  It converted a table of non-beer drinkers to the possibilities of great beer, and for me it was the highlight of a great beer year”.  Must Buy! (and age!!)

Can XX Bitter get any more hardcore? Apparently it can with De Ranke’s Hop Harvest 2011 promising a fix for the hop-heads among us. I’m already addicted, so Must Buy!

The most ‘boutique’ beer of tomorrow’s release has to be the Mikkeller/Three Floyds collaborative brew BooGoop. It’s the fourth time these two rock stars of the brewing scene have jammed together – this time producing a buckwheat barely wine- Great label, cool name and a very solid beer, although it’s just a little too ‘kitchen sink’ * for me. Recommended though!

Lets pick up speed here or this release review will last forever! I tried Oppigårds Ekporter at SBWF 2011 and in my somewhat confused notes appear to have liked it. It’s a porter that uses lots of specialty malts and is then introduced to ‘light and dark’ oak chippings which it happily sits on for six months at 11 degrees. As with pretty much everything from this Darlana brewery – Recommended (and check out the 330ml bottle!)

Next out is a concussing one-two combo from Sierra Nevada. No need to say too much more about their Celebration Ale and their Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale (longest beer name of 2012 so far?) is a much anticipated hoppy opposite to this one. Must Buy!

Leave no Stone unturned at the monopoly tomorrow! Stone Double Bastard Ale is as aggressive as it sounds. The evil big brother of Arrogant Bastard Ale this 10.5% American strong ale’s amazing reputation Stateside makes it a clear Must Buy. On the other hand the Vertical Epic concept is, if I’m being honest, a little odd for me. The last version had me all confused. It’s anyone’s guess what this year’s vintage flavoured with Anaheim chiles and cinnamon will taste like….

Finally a welcome incursion from the Three Amigos from Denmark. The Three Amigos go by the very un-Mexican names of Jesper, Jakob and Lars, all ‘flying brewers’ who created this smoky porter at Fanø Bryghus. Bit pricey perhaps….

Footnote: Cigar City Humidor Series IPA was due to launch tomorrow but due to logistical issues will be turning up next month instead.

* ”Everything But the Kitchen Sink ”

Craft beer is a term that is seemingly impossible to tie down. It shifts, turns and changes meaning depending on when, where or who you speak to.

Even though I use it practically every day on this blog I admit I still struggle to define what craft beer really is.

But one thing I am 100% certain of; whatever craft beer is – this is it.

(The picture shows amphoras – ceramic vessels once commonly used to ferment wine and beer – filled with world famous Belgium brewery Cantillon‘s lambic beer. Breathtaking isn’t it! More lambic porn can be seen at Cantillon’s Facebook page).

Holland in 3 words: cheese, tulips, clogs.

This is, of course, being incredibly unfair on the Dutch, so here’s a few more: amazing painters, football, windmills, funny smelling cafes, Heineken, Amstel and Grolsch.

It’s those last three words that I’m going to concentrate on here (we may return to the funny smelling cafes at a later date).

In world brewing terms the Dutch are a major force, producing a substantial amount of the fizzy pale lager that comes out of Europe. And they’re really good at it too. Over half the country’s annual production is exported and Heineken is the only non-US brand in the top ten biggest sellers in the States, where it is considered something of a premium brand.

The Dutch craft beer scene is blossoming (Ed Note: Yellow card for cheesy pun)

So it’s rather strange then that when you think of the world’s top beer countries Holland rarely, if ever, comes to mind.

That’s because in beer terms for the uninitiated Holland is the USA of Europe. It has a domestic market so dominated by three mega brands that it’s almost impossible to find relief from them. The quip often spoken about US beer (you know, the one about sex, a canoe and water) also applies here.

But whereas the US craft brewers decided to do something about it the Dutch have been a little slower joining the revolution. However it’s a fight a small army of Dutch craft breweries have taken up and one, at least in terms of quality and innovation, they appear to be winning.

In my next monthly beer talk at Duå in Umeå this Friday I’ll be going ‘double dutch’ and tasting six Dutch craft beers; three from the Dutch master himself Menno Olivier and his acclaimed De Molen brewery and three from the less well-known but upcoming Emelisse brewery.

For beer enthusiasts De Molen really needs no introduction. Ranked the 12^th best brewery in the world last year by Ratebeer.com its eclectic range of small batch whimsically named beers are highly sought after – if you can get hold of them that is. I’m particularly looking forward to trying their Bommen & Granaten (Bombs and Grenades), a barley wine with some reputedly explosive flavours of orange and caramel.

But as much as I’m already excited at trying some more of Menno’s masterpieces I’m almost looking forward most to trying the three beers from Emelisse – a small Dutch brewpub situated on an island in southwestern Holland.

Emelisse is the playground of Holland’s celebrated homebrewer turned pro Kees Bubberman, who is clearly enjoying his work there creating dozens of different styles of beer of which I’ve never tried a single bottle. I’m hoping his Emelisse White Label Imperial Russian Stout Laphroaig BA will get people talking double dutch at the beer talk this Friday.

There are still a handful of places left at the second sitting of my ‘Double Dutch Beer Talk – No Heineken Allowed!” which kicks off this Friday (February 3^rd) at 20:30. For details and to book just ring Lars or Per on 090-7800303.

Do I look sad? Well that’s because I am, with the news that has just reached me that one of my favourite beers of all time, the utterly elegant Saison Dupont, is facing the ignominy of a T9 listing and the threat of a slow and painful demise at the monopoly.

T9 is the type of listing few beers want (unless you’ve managed to qualify up from the ordering assortment that is). If you’re a T9-er it basically means the Systembolaget doesn’t have to stock you on their shelves anymore and only local demand will ensure you’re ever seen in public again. It’s where all beers that haven’t sold enough eventually end up. A kind of ‘God’s Waiting Room’ for beer if you will.

Sadly this is now the case for Saison Dupont. I can’t say enough nice things about this beer and I still get goosebumps when I recall stumbling across an uber-fresh keg of it in Biarritz last year.

Saison Dupont is intelligent beer. It forces you to think, wills you into trying to unwrap its spicy cloak of lemon and sweet pears. It a world where so many simple beers give it up on the first date Saison Dupont would have you get down on one knee and offer it a ring before allowing you to go any further.

Saison is a style of beer that hasn’t been explored that much by the Swedish beer industry yet (but when it has been it’s been magnificent) and is perhaps considered a little odd by many.

However as a food beer saisons are hard to better. The sage of beer and food pairings, Garrett Oliver, once proclaimed: “If I were forced to choose one style to drink with every meal for the rest of my life, saison would have to be it.” We should listen to him. He really does know what he’s talking about.

So is this really the end for Saison Dupont in Sweden? Are we listening to the death rattle of a classic beer? Well that’s up to you and me to decide. Only by buying the occasional bottle at our local stores will we keep it from slipping into oblivion.

For this reason alone it’s my AfterWork Friday beer this week and will be every Friday until it comes back to us and reclaims its rightful place on the shelves of the monopoly.

After the camera stopped rolling (and the horse galloped off) I spent the next hour or so sipping this beer and came to the conclusion it was thinner in the mouthfeel than I would have expected for a beer of this weight. Also the ‘spirituous’ character I mentioned in the film is very strong, so make sure you’re a fan of whiskey/bourbon flavours.

I gave it a score of 4.2 and I think with some aging it could reach that. I would however, and with reflection, score it in the 3.8 – 4 range right now with the above in mind. Still a formidable beer – just not quite there yet.

She’s sending signals. Your heart quickens and you suddenly start to feel uncomfortably warm. There’s a glow spreading across your stomach, an almost palpable vibration.

You take a shallow breath, clench your jaw and face her now. Slowly your hand reaches into your pocket and you pull it out. You’ll later tell people that she let out a tiny squeal of delight when you put it to your ear.

She’s seen your iPhone. More than that she’s seen it Punked.*

(ED note: OK, ok this was not the way I intended to write the intro of this competition post when I got up this morning. It was supposed to be far more standard “look cool, amaze your friends” but then I went and got all Mils and Boon. I can’t explain why. Maybe it’s the lack of sunlight up here, mixed with a bit of restless boredom and the need to write a novel. I’ll get back on track now).

Let’s face it – iPhones are sexy and anyone who has one, by association, is better looking than an Android user. Big statement I know but it’s true because Stevie once said so (allegedly).

Android users will hate you. Everyone else will love you.

So how can you make the world’s sexiest phone even sexier? That’s impossible – it’s like trying to make Magnus Uggla’s hair more curly, right?

Well BrewDog** have managed to pull it off with this ultra exclusive iPunk cover for your favourite mobile device.

So exclusive is this iPhone cover (fits all iPhone 4 models) that not even BrewDog’s founder James Watts himself has one yet nor are they available to buy in the BrewDog online shop.

But I have managed to get my hands on one to give away, so to be the first person in Sweden to Punk your iPhone here’s what you’ve got to do:

BrewDog’s Hardcore IPA has recently qualified from the ‘ordering assortment’ and onto the shelves of the Systembolaget, which means you can now order single bottles to your local store.

So to win the iPunk cover grab a bottle and your camera and capture an awesome Hardcore IPA moment (please note the use of IPA in that last statement). It can be funny, cool, natural, processed – anything as long as it has something to do with BrewDog Hardcore IPA.

Then send you photo (max resolution 500kb) to me at darren@beersweden.se . I will then post it right here under this post for everyone to see. You have until midnight on Friday, 10^th February to submit your photo, after which I will get the team at BrewDog to pick their favourite. The winner will be announced on Monday, February 13^th.  

This competition is open to anyone living in Scandinavia.

Any questions just mail me. Good luck everyone!

 *I appreciate that a few ladies follow this blog so just switch genders in the bar story if you feel the need to (although under closer scrutiny the penis innuendo falls down a bit……)

**Actually it was those nice people at Cask Sweden that first came up with the concept of these iPhone covers. Kudos!

———————————————————————————–

Here’s the first entry from Jens. Can you do better?

 Emmanuel has gone all Pop Arty!

Hans simply can’t wait and has made his own attempt at iPunk-ing his phone….

Something a little fishy from Jonas….

Members of the BeerSweden Forum – this country’s largest and most active forum dedicated to beer – have spent most of January voting for their favourite beers, breweries and beery people in eight categories.

More than 130 votes have already been registered and as it stands right now:

Oppigårds is romping away with the title ‘Sweden’s Best Brewery’ with 69% of the votes cast. Sigtuna Brygghus is in second place.

Oppigårds is also in pole position for ‘Best Swedish Beer’ with Drakens DIPA (which was actually created by Tomas Lundqvist, Rick Lindqvist and Magnus Ahlström). The brewery’s mesmerizing Amarillo is in second place.

Who's taking the title of 'Best International Beer' during 2011? It's very close. You decide!

Just one vote currently separates Yeti Imperial Stout from Great Divide Brewing and Hello My Name is Ingrid from BrewDog in the ‘Best International Beer’ category. Is the award staying in Europe or heading over the Atlantic?

With just over 43% of the votes cast Mikkeller is a strong contender for ‘Best International Brewer/Brewery’ with the shock jocks from BrewDog giving him a run for his money in second with 25% of the votes.

Stene and Co at Stockholm’s famous beer bar Akkurat have already polled almost half the votes in the ‘Best Swedish Beer Bar/Pub/Restaurant’. Are Oliver Twist or Tre Små Rum ever going to catch them up?

It looks like the team at Brill may as well start writing their acceptance speech as they have what looks like at unassailable lead in the ‘Best Swedish Beer Importer/Distributor’ award with 54% of all the votes counted so far.

In the ‘Best Swedish Beer Event’ the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival is powering ahead, while in the ‘Best Swedish Beer Personality’ it’s….erm….me that’s rather awkwardly ahead (a huge thanks for all your support mind you!)

But there’s still time to change things by going into the BeerSweden Forum and casting your vote. Voting is only open to members but it’s totally free to join and just takes seconds. Not only will you join the most amazingly friendly and knowledgeable group of beer fans in Sweden but a recent scientific survey revealed that BSF members are 243% more likely to survive a nuclear holocaust. Allegedly.

So what are you waiting for? Get voting! The polls shut at midnight on January 31^st.