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Brewing Gammeltøl, Denmark’s Strong and Smoky Harvest-Time Farmhouse Ale

Typically, gammeltøl was brewed in March for drinking in the autumn, but the Danish tradition of brewing this strong, smoky raw ale has virtually died out. You can help revive it.

Lars Marius Garshol Nov 27, 2023 - 9 min read

Brewing Gammeltøl, Denmark’s Strong and Smoky Harvest-Time Farmhouse Ale Primary Image

Photo: Matt Graves

Most of Denmark is ideal for farmers: flat, fertile soil with plentiful rain, yet also warm and sunny. In the old days, that meant that farmers had more than enough grain to feed themselves, so they did what any sensible person would do: They brewed beer with the rest.

In fact, they brewed so much that Danish farmers drank beer against thirst every day. The custom was that on the table in the living room a big beer mug would stand, and anyone who was thirsty would go there and drink their fill. If the mug was empty, they went into the cellar to refill it. And if the barrel was about to run out, the housewife would brew more. In summer she might do that every other week.

While Danish farmers certainly cared about their beer, it was also an everyday thing, and opening a new beer barrel was no cause for much anticipation or fuss—except, however, for once a year. That was when they broached the barrel of gammeltøl.

Around the Farmhouse Table

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