Ytteborg Brewery
Ytteborg Brewery was a historic Oslo brewery founded in 1836 and later renamed Foss Brewery.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Ytteborg Brewery, known in Norwegian as Ytteborg Bryggeri, was a historic brewery established in 1836 in Christiania, the former name of Oslo, Norway. It was founded by Nils Jensen Ytteborg, a master tanner and member of the Norwegian Parliament who also became a brewer. The business began at Hausmanns gate 8–12, where its original facilities occupied a site now associated with the Blue Cross Building. The brewery developed infrastructure suited to nineteenth-century beer production and storage. In the 1840s it constructed substantial cooling and storage cellars on Aker hill near Old Aker Church. The underground rooms, built with brick walls and vaulted ceilings, were regarded as technologically advanced for their period. A royal connection was recorded at the opening of the storage facilities, which was attended by Crown Prince Oscar. The timber-framed structure above the cellars, at Akersbakken 22–24, was later used for bottling beer. Ownership and management remained closely connected to the Ytteborg family for much of the brewery's early history. Nils Jensen Ytteborg's son, Carl Theodor Ytteborg, was trained as a brewer and succeeded him after leaving his earlier position. In 1888, the founder's grandson Inge Ytteborg became owner and chief executive. The enterprise changed its industrial identity in 1897, when production was transferred to Øvre Foss and the company adopted the name Foss Brewery. This move linked the business to the Foss district and marked the end of Ytteborg Brewery as the principal operating name. Foss Brewery retained a place in Oslo's commercial and hospitality history. In 1900 it opened Hotel Continental on Stortingsgata, opposite the National Theatre, including the Theatercaféen. The brewery was acquired by Schou Brewery in 1917, and Schou discontinued the Foss Brewery brand in 1922. Later corporate consolidation brought Schou together with Frydenlund in 1977, followed by acquisition by Nora Industrier in 1978. Nora already owned Ringnes, which was eventually acquired by the Carlsberg Group in 2004. The brewery's sites also reflect Oslo's wartime and urban-development history. During the German occupation of Oslo in the Second World War, the cellars were used to store vegetables intended to supply German troops, and an additional entrance was opened from Akersbakken. The bottling building above ground was demolished in 1953 when the surrounding area was incorporated into the Old Aker cemetery. The original brewery operation did not continue under its historic form. However, Foss Bryggeri AS resumed brewing activity in Oslo in 2011, more than half a century after the earlier Foss operation had ceased. The available reference material does not establish the precise relationship between that revival and the original Ytteborg corporate entity, nor does it confirm that Ytteborg beer remains commercially available. Historically, the brewery is particularly associated with Bavarian-style beer, whose popularity was remembered in the Norwegian folk song "Oleanna," which compares Munich beer with the sweetness of Ytteborg's beer.
History
Ytteborg Brewery was founded in 1836 by Nils Jensen Ytteborg in Christiania, the city now known as Oslo. Ytteborg was a master tanner and member of Parliament who established the brewery as a significant local industrial enterprise. Its first premises stood at Hausmanns gate 8–12. During the 1840s the brewery expanded its production and storage infrastructure. It built large cooling and storage cellars on Aker hill near Old Aker Church. These facilities used brick construction and vaulted ceilings, providing a relatively advanced environment for storing beer before modern refrigeration. The opening was attended by Crown Prince Oscar. A timber-framed building above the cellars at Akersbakken 22–24 served as a bottling facility. The company was managed for a period by members of the founding family. Carl Theodor Ytteborg, the founder's son, received brewing training and later succeeded his father. In 1888 the founder's grandson, Inge Ytteborg, became owner and chief executive. In 1897 the company moved its manufacturing plant to Øvre Foss and changed its name to Foss Brewery. The new name reflected the brewery's new location and became the principal identity of the business. Foss Brewery also participated in Oslo's hospitality economy. In 1900 it opened Hotel Continental on Stortingsgata, opposite the National Theatre, together with the Theatercaféen. The brewery was acquired by Schou Brewery in 1917. Schou ended use of the Foss Brewery brand in 1922, bringing the historic brand's principal commercial life to a close. The business subsequently became part of a sequence of brewing-industry mergers and acquisitions. Schou merged with Frydenlund in 1977 to form Frydenlund Schous Bryggeri. Nora Industrier acquired that company in 1978; Nora already owned Ringnes. Ringnes later became part of the Carlsberg Group after its acquisition in 2004. The brewery's physical sites experienced further historical change. During the German occupation of Oslo in the Second World War, the cellars were used to store vegetables for German soldiers, and a new entrance was made from Akersbakken. The bottling building above the cellars was demolished in 1953 when the area was incorporated into the Old Aker cemetery. In 2011, Foss Bryggeri AS resumed operations in Oslo. The available reference does not provide enough information to determine whether this revival constituted a direct legal continuation of the original Ytteborg Brewery or a later business using the Foss name. Ytteborg's historical reputation was strongly linked to Bavarian beer. Its popularity was preserved in the folk song "Oleanna," which refers to Munich beer as being as sweet as Ytteborg's and running in streams for the enjoyment of poor people.
- 2011
Foss Bryggeri AS resumes operations
[1]A company named Foss Bryggeri AS restarted operations in Oslo.
- 2004
Ringnes acquired by Carlsberg Group
[1]The brewing group linked through Nora and Ringnes became part of the Carlsberg Group.
- 1978
Acquired by Nora Industrier
[1]Nora Industrier acquired Frydenlund Schous Bryggeri.
- 1977
Schou merged with Frydenlund
[1]Schou combined with Frydenlund to form Frydenlund Schous Bryggeri.
- 1922
Foss brand discontinued
[1]Schou stopped using the Foss Brewery brand.
- 1917
Acquired by Schou Brewery
[1]Schou Brewery acquired Foss Brewery.
- 1900
Hotel Continental opened
[1]Foss Brewery opened Hotel Continental and the Theatercaféen in central Oslo.
- 1897
Manufacturing moved and name changed
[1]The manufacturing plant moved to Øvre Foss and the company became Foss Brewery.
- 1888
Inge Ytteborg takes control
[1]The founder's grandson became owner and chief executive of the brewery.
- 1843
Advanced storage cellars opened
[1]Large brick and vaulted storage rooms on Aker hill were opened near Old Aker Church.
Products and positioning
A historic Oslo brewery associated with nineteenth-century brewing, advanced cellar infrastructure, and popular Bavarian-style beer.
Beer
Ytteborg Bavarian beer
Ytteborg was especially associated with Bavarian-style beer, which was remembered as a popular product during the brewery's heyday. The available reference does not identify a formal product name, recipe, alcohol content, or packaging format beyond the historical association with Bavarian beer.
Beer
Bottled beer
The brewery operated a bottling facility at Akersbakken 22–24 above its storage cellars. Specific bottled labels and product variants are not identified in the available material.
Brand decisions
1922
Discontinuation of the Foss Brewery brandStrategyBackground
Schou Brewery had acquired Foss Brewery five years earlier.
Action taken
Schou stopped using the Foss Brewery brand.
Aftermath
The historic Foss identity disappeared from regular commercial use, although the name was later revived by Foss Bryggeri AS.
1917
Schou Brewery acquisitionM&ABackground
Foss Brewery was operating under the name adopted after the 1897 relocation.
Action taken
Schou Brewery acquired Foss Brewery.
Aftermath
Schou discontinued the Foss Brewery brand in 1922.
1897
Relocation and rebranding as Foss BreweryStrategyBackground
The brewery moved its manufacturing plant from its earlier Christiania premises to Øvre Foss.
Action taken
The company adopted the Foss Brewery name after the relocation.
Aftermath
Foss became the brewery's principal operating identity and remained in use until later ownership changes and brand discontinuation.
Sources1 sources
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