Beer in Sweden has a brewing history that predates written records, with Vikings producing ale and mead. Modern Swedish beer includes styles ranging from low-alcohol folköl to stronger starköl.
History
Beer brewing in Sweden dates back to the late Iron Age. Vikings used brewing to produce ale and mead, with mead being preferred. The most common historically was svagdricka, a low-alcohol beer around 2.5% that tasted like kvass. Until the 19th century, brewing was mainly done at home for daily consumption. The industrial revolution led to the rise of commercial breweries, with many small breweries appearing in major cities. By the late 20th century, consolidation resulted in three major companies, though a craft beer movement emerged in the 1980s-90s.
Types and styles
Swedish law classifies beer based on alcohol content. Lättöl (below 2.25%) is considered a light drink and sold without age restrictions. Folköl (2.25-3.5%) can be sold in grocery stores to those over 18. Starköl (above 3.5%) is sold only in Systembolaget state stores to those over 20, or in pubs to those over 18. Many international beer brands are sold in two versions in Sweden to meet these regulations.
How it is sold
Beer with alcohol content between 2.25-3.5%, known as folköl, is sold in grocery stores. Any stronger beer has been sold exclusively in Systembolaget state stores since 1955, which has a monopoly on alcohol above 3.5% (previously 4.5% until 1977). This system regulates where and how different beer strengths are distributed in Sweden.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Пиво в Швеции, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.