Greenland Beer: Where To Buy In The Us

Greenland is known for its beer, which is often brewed using water from melted icebergs. The country's first brewery, Greenland Brewhouse, was founded in 2004 and pioneered 'ice beer'. Today, there are only two breweries in Greenland: Godthaab Bryghus in Nuuk, and Immiaq in Ilulissat. While imported Danish beer is the most common and cheapest beer in Greenland, there are a few local beers available, including Qajaq Brewery, which is sold in local supermarkets, and Godthaab Bryghus, a craft beer offered in some restaurants and hotels. So, if you're in the United States and want to try Greenlandic beer, your best bet is to look for Qajaq or Godthaab Bryghus beers at specialty beer stores or online.

Greenland Brewhouse, the country's first brewery, was located in Narsaq, Southern Greenland

The brewery's beer was crafted using water collected from icebergs, which local fishermen transported to the brewery by boat. Unfortunately, the Greenland Brewhouse filed for bankruptcy in October 2008, and despite being the country's first brewery, it left behind a debt of four million kroner.

The legacy of the Greenland Brewhouse lives on in the country's current microbrewing scene. Brewery Immiaq, based in Ilulissat, is one of the biggest breweries in Greenland, producing around 20,000 litres of beer annually. Immiaq uses fresh local water and spices its beers with flavours of Greenland, creating unique tastes that reflect the country's nature.

Another notable microbrewery in Greenland is Godthaab Bryghus, located in Nuuk. This brewery offers a variety of beers, including coffee stout, Baltic porter, and Irish porter.

While Greenland Brewhouse may no longer be operational, its impact on the country's brewing industry is evident in the diverse range of craft beers now available from breweries across Greenland. These breweries continue to innovate and showcase the unique flavours and ingredients that the country has to offer.

Greenland beer is brewed from 4,000-year-old icebergs

Greenland is undergoing a gastronomic revolution, with a new focus on locally sourced ingredients. This includes the country's beer, which is being brewed from 4,000-year-old icebergs.

The Greenland Brewhouse in Narsaq, founded in 2004, was the country's first brewery. It pioneered 'ice beer', brewed from 2,000-year-old natural Arctic ice harvested from glaciers. Local fishermen collected the meltwater from icebergs and transported it to the brewery. However, the process was time-consuming and expensive, requiring fishermen to chip off pieces of ice weighing no more than 30 kg at a time. Despite this, the Greenland Brewhouse remains an important part of the country's beer history.

Today, the Qajaq brewery in Narsaq is at the heart of Greenland's beer revolution. Founded by Kattie and Fridrik, who bought the local brewery to prevent its closure, Qajaq aims to introduce Greenlanders to high-quality, locally brewed beer. Fridrik believes that using pure, local water, including iceberg water, will encourage Greenlanders to choose their beer over cheaper imported Danish options. He says, "It’s water which has been frozen for 1,000-4,000 years ago, it’s as pure as it can be, but not only that you get the feeling you’re drinking history."

Another key player in Greenland's beer scene is Brewery Immiaq in Ilulissat, one of the country's two major breweries. Immiaq produces 11 different types of classic and specialty beers, including 'Taseq', a thyme-infused beer, and 'Ullorissat', made from black crowberry. While Immiaq's former owners attempted to use iceberg water in their beers, the current brewer, Andreas, now uses fresh local water, adding spices and herbs to capture the flavours of Greenland.

While it may be challenging to find Greenland beer in the United States, it is certainly worth seeking out for a unique taste of Greenland's history and culture.

The two biggest breweries in Greenland are Godthaab Bryghus in Nuuk and Immiaq in Ilulissat

Greenland is currently experiencing a beer revolution, with a growing emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and a shift away from foreign imports. This shift is largely attributed to the microbrewery Qajaq, founded by Kattie and Fridrik, the owners of Hotel Narsaq. Fridrik purchased the local brewery a few years ago when it was facing closure and has since been at the forefront of the movement, advocating for Greenlanders to buy Greenland beer instead of cheaper imported Danish beer.

Immiaq Brewery, on the other hand, is a microbrewery connected to Murphy's Diskotek, Cafe Iluliaq, and Ice Cap Tours. Together, these establishments form a social hub for the 4500 residents of Ilulissat. Immiaq produces 11 different types of classic and specialty beers, including 'Taseq,' a crisp beer infused with Arctic thyme, and 'Ullorissat,' made from black crowberry. The brewery uses fresh local water instead of iceberg water and spices its beers with flavours inspired by Greenland.

Greenland beer is hard to find in the US but can be purchased in Nuuk

Greenland beer is hard to find in the United States, but it can be purchased in Nuuk, Greenland's capital and largest city. Nuuk is home to Godthaab Bryghus, one of the country's major microbreweries. This brewery offers a range of craft beers, including the Godthaab Coffee Stout, Godthaab Coco Porter, and Godthaab Keller Lager.

While it may be challenging to find Greenland beer in the US, it is possible to join a beer revolution currently underway in Greenland itself. This revolution is characterised by a shift towards locally sourced ingredients and a desire to showcase Greenlandic culture and products. At the forefront of this movement is Qajaq Brewery, founded by Kattie and Fridrik, who bought the local brewery in Narsaq, Southern Greenland, to prevent its closure. Qajaq Brewery aims to introduce Greenlanders to high-quality, locally brewed beer and foster a sense of unity and pride in Greenlandic products.

The unique aspect of Greenlandic beer is the use of pure, pristine water derived from melted icebergs, some of which have been frozen for thousands of years. This 'ice beer' is a speciality of the Greenland Brewhouse, the country's first brewery located in Narsaq. However, due to the challenges of harvesting iceberg water, not all breweries continue this practice.

Another notable brewery in Greenland is Immiaq Brewery, based in Ilulissat. This microbrewery produces a range of classic and specialty beers, including the popular 'Taseq', a crisp beer infused with Arctic thyme, and 'Ullorissat', made with black crowberry.

While Greenland beer may be difficult to find in the US, it is an integral part of the country's culture and gastronomic scene, offering a unique taste of Greenland's pristine nature and its rich brewing history.

Greenland beer is also available in local supermarkets in Greenland

In fact, Godthaab Bryghus, based in Nuuk, is one of the biggest breweries in Greenland. It is also one of the smallest, as there are only two beer productions in the country.

Breweries in Greenland are typically microbreweries, catering to small towns and settlements. Another example is Brewery Immiaq, based in Ilulissat, which is connected to Murphy's Diskotek, Cafe Iluliaq, and Ice Cap Tours. Together, these businesses form a social hub for the 4,500 residents of Ilulissat.

Brewery Immiaq produces 11 different types of classic and specialty beers. The beer is crafted by hand, using local products, and the brewery expects to produce about 20,000 litres of beer this year.

While imported Danish beer like Carlsberg and Tuborg is the most common and cheapest beer in Greenland, there are a few local beers to try, too.

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