Locally produced anniversary brew will tell our story

– This is an exciting dissemination project. Through the anniversary brews, we get a lot of good storytelling linked to church and medieval history, monastic life and not least local food culture, says Lena Antonius, project manager for Stavanger 2025.

There is a lot of exciting storytelling in good food and drink, and gathering together around a meal is, and always has been, an important part of holidays, anniversaries and other major celebrations.

Traditional drink

It is uncertain how far back beer has been brewed and drunk in Rogaland, but there are indications that various varieties of fermented drink have been made as far back as the Stone Age.

– Beer was an important part of the old farming society, and it was brewed on all farms. In fact, it was the case that the old Gulating Act required everyone to brew beer, if you did not follow the law you could be fined. Beer built social relationships and marked events such as births, weddings and deaths, says cultural scientist Trude Eriksen.

Furthermore, traditions related to the production and use of beer can say something about changes in our society:

– Industrialization in the 19th century changed the production conditions, and people went from self-produced to a greater degree of industrially produced food. The same applies to beer brewing. In Stavanger we got, among other things, Tou brewery, which was for a long time one of the city’s biggest workplaces. In recent years, we have seen increasing interest in home brewing and many have learned to brew their own beer. Old traditions are brought up again and adapted to our own times, says Eriksen.

900 years of history told with local beer

The storytelling around the jubilee breweries is prepared together with local historians, cultural experts and mediators from Stavanger Museum.

– In connection with the restoration of the cathedral, we gain new knowledge about both the building and the people who have lived here. We can, for example, assume that beer has been brewed in the bishop’s farm which was attached to the church. Until 2025, we may learn even more about the brewing traditions here in the city, says Antonius.

Fermented drink for god and everyman

On the occasion of the 900th anniversary, the history of the brewery will be told, and Stavanger 2025 invites you to a talk about local brewery history at Lervig Local on Thursday 11 April at 19.00.

Historian Gunnar Roalkvam and cultural scientist Trude Eriksen tell about our local beer and brewing history, and designer Maria Jørgensen tells about how she works with Lervig brewery’s distinctive and easily recognizable visual profile. The talks are led by Stine Honoré at Stavanger 2025. Musical feature with this year’s Stavanger artist Emilie Eie. The event is free.