Scan Magazine | Special Theme | A Taste of Norway
Tya Brewery produces five signature beers, as well as seasonal and strong beer varieties. Photo: Jan Ove Skjerping
Beer from the heart of Norway, fit for a fairy tale Two childhood friends and beer enthusiasts, a long car drive, a local building for sale and a good dose of traditional Norwegian folk tales – throw a world-famous illustrator into the mix and you have the recipe for a successful brewery. At least that is how the fairy tale started for Norwegian craft brewery Tya. By Linn Skjei Bjørnsen | Photos: Tya Bryggeri
By the entrance to Jotunheimen, one of Norway’s most famous national parks, and home to some of northern Europe’s highest mountains, lies Årdal – a small industrial village built around the aluminium industry. In the town centre of this charming little village that is home to just over 5,000 people, you will find Tya Brewery – a place where the folklore and traditions of the area are kept alive and celebrated through the creation of great craft beer. 72 | Issue 97 | February 2017
well over budgeted production so far. With the addition of full-time employees, we are excited for the adventure to continue,” says co-owner and general manager Henjum.
A drive that changed it all Now in its third year, Tya Brewery has gone from strength to strength, producing 25,000 litres of beer in its first year and more than doubling the production in 2016 to 56,000 litres – quite impressive figures considering all production has been on a voluntary basis, with founders Arnt Erik Henjum and Tom Hellebø putting in countless hours on weekends and weeknights, with a little help from friends and fellow villagers. “It took off from the very start and we have gone
The idea of starting their own brewery was born when childhood friends and colleagues Henjum and Hellebø were commuting to Oslo for a work meeting. As both of them were long-time beer enthusiasts and hobby brewers, the conversation during the five-hour drive from Årdal to the capital naturally revolved around beer. “We started toying with the idea that perhaps it was possible to turn our hobby into something more. Shortly after, a local building perfect for hous-