In downtown Malmö, Sweden, sits a small corner microbrewery called the Malmö Brygghus.
It’s one of only three breweries located in Malmö, Sweden’s third most populated city, and the only existing microbrewery in Southern Sweden. I sat down and sampled the Cacao Porter, a beer in Sweden with a chocolaty flavor due to the infusion of cacao beans in the fermentation mixture. Sitting at the bar, I got to talking with a gentleman sitting next to me named Lasse, apparently a regular there. After mentioning my Californian place of residence, he immediately insisted upon giving me a personal tour of the brewery and acquainting me with all of the working staff there. Lastly, Lasse introduced me to the owner, Anders Hansson, who bought the building with his parents in 2002.
The three-story industrial-era brick building initially housed the historic Richter Brewery starting in 1898, and the Mazetti Chocolate factory later on. A short time later, Anders and his parents purchased the neglected structure and transformed it into the microbrew-house that it is today. The upstairs houses a banquet hall and a nightclub with a separate bar and conference center. The main downstairs brewpub serves burgers, ribs, and other mouth-watering pub food to complement their seasonal beer varieties. Decorations almost bring the vibe back to the Wild West days of America, although I’m sure the intended theme follows more along the lines of historic Malmö. High chairs at the polished wooden bar complement the tables, many of which are simply distillery barrels recycled as furniture. The Malmö Brygghus, its food, its atmosphere, and its people tell an interesting tale and provide an enjoyable evening visit any night of the week for a beer in Sweden.
Malmö Brygghus is located on: Bergsgatan 33 214 22 Malmö, Sweden
PHOTO LOUIS ALCORN