Beer brewings traditions
The fact that Mariestad is known by many people, both nationally and internationally, is partly due to the beer. The brewing tradition in Mariestad goes back a long way and the well-known beer Mariestads was produced here from the beginning - but no longer.
The site of the former brewery is now called Humleparken. A lovely oasis next to the river Tidan with lush greenery, birdsong and one of the city's senior housing estates directly adjacent.
Mariestad's old brewery
On 6 March 1848, snuff manufacturer Fredrik Rosenlind bought the Manila site between Drottninggatan and the Tidan river in Mariestad. He built his snuff factory but also started a brewery to produce the new, dark and bitter beer that had arrived in Sweden from Bavaria a few years earlier. The brewery was named Mariestads Bayerska Bryggeri. In 1886, the factory was taken over
As technology developed, production increased and the Mariestad brewery was rebuilt and expanded in stages. In 1902, the brewery had 14 employees and by 1940 the number had increased to 45. In the 1950s and 1960s, soft drinks of various kinds were also produced, such as cuba cola, raspberry soda, pear soda and gooseberry soda.
At the end of the brewery era, the trend was towards large-scale production and a few groups became dominant in the beer and soft drinks market. Mariestad's brewery was one of many that were bought up and closed down. The brewery and all its buildings were demolished in May 1978 to make way for the retirement home and park whose name recalls the former business.
Drinking cars outside Mariestad's old brewery. Copper tank at Bryggeriet Mariestad and brewmaster Niklas serving Esplanad beer.
The brewing tradition lives on
Microbreweries are keeping the city's brewing tradition alive, creating new beers to join the well-known Mariestad beer on menus.
The Mariestad brewery brews Esplanad beer in premises on Esplanaden, right in the centre of town. Tasting sessions and tap rooms are organised here. The beer is available in local restaurants and at Systembolaget.
Torsöl is a small-scale microbrewery on the shores of Lake Vänern overlooking Torsö. The Torsöl range is also available in local restaurants and at Systembolaget. Torsöl organises brewing courses and beer tasting for private parties in its boathouse on the Vänern shore.
3D model of the brewery
On site in Humleparken there are a couple of information signs with a QR code that links to a 3D model. Scan the QR code with your mobile phone to see what the brewery area looked like at the time.
