November 8, 2009
Very nice and really beautiful bar and restaurant in a slightly worn down area of Oslo. It’s esentially a large beer hall and restaurant, with a large bar along the left side and large wooden tables throughout the place. Efficient and friendly staff, some of them more knowledgeable than others. Apart from the usual crap taps they had two draught beers from Haandbryggeriet and two from Nögne Ö. Impressive selection of bottled beers, not huge but well selected, from norwegian micros Haandbryggeriet, Nögne Ö, Aegir and Inderöy and a good selection of imported beers. The best beer bar I’ve seen in Oslo so far. A must.

July 30, 2009
The place is looking quite gorgeous after they refurbished it, and it’s now probably the most interesting beer-place in Oslo. Even though the selection isn’t the biggest, it’s the probably the most diverse and quality focused. Norwegian micros, even on tap, international quality beers and every once in a while they get their hands on something special from abroad. Mikkeller, Stone, North Coast and others have all been seen here.

July 30, 2009
Last time I visited this place, ca. four years ago, it was a drunken dump with a rather shabby clientel. These days it’s pretty stunning, burnt umber coloured wooden walls decorated with huge paintings. Massive chandeliers hanging from the roof sets the mood. It’s pretty much a very fancy looking German beer hall - very impressive. The beer selection is probably the best in Oslo at the moment, huge selection of Norwegian micros. Two beers from Nøgne Ø on tap, imperial stout and blond last night. The service was a bit disappointing though, maybe because the place was packed with guests. I hope to be back though, as it is easy accessible by bus number 37, which runs through central Oslo, and stops at their door step.

March 27, 2009
The best place for having quality beer in Oslo at the moment. Selection is the best in town. About 100 beers at the moment, around 80 from micro breweries I’d say. Two Nøgne Ø on tap at all times, changes every month or so. Food is good (only had it twice thouch), service has been great whenever I’ve been there. The staff knows more about beer than any other place I’ve been to in Oslo, and seem interested in discussing beer with you. If you have any questions, ask the guy in the black shirt, though. Knows his stuff. Last time I was there I got two free samples of beer they just got in. It’s pricy, but it’s Norway. It’s more of a restaurant than a bar, and it’s a bit big and open to feel cozy and intimate, but it looks and feels fairly classy.

March 11, 2009
History sits in these walls, large panorama windows towards the street, huge paintings behind the bar, makes this a refuge from the citys busy life. Good selection of beer on tap and bottle, the food selection for my visit, early afternoon wasn’t the best, and tasted just average. Fills up in the evening, mixed clientel. WiFi is accesible as well.

February 28, 2009
Olympen Mat og Vinhus, or Lompa as it is known by the locals was known as a smoky brown (alcoholic regular establishment). After the new owner renovated the place it has improved immensly. I was lucky to get a bartender (black shirt) that explained to me that the Mikkeller Single Hops IPA was brewed with a single hop and was also keen to explain the difference betweeen their different beers and his personal favorites. The beer selection is very good compared to other places in Norway. The food selection is decent. one of the best places to get good beer in Oslo at the moment.

February 7, 2009
Historically interesting "brown" beer hall / restaurant (now refurbished) in the east end of central Oslo. Visited on a Wednesday night, the guy at the bar took it for granted that "a beer" meant the standard pilsener on tap, despite the pub having 50 or so beers (most of them bottled). A couple Nøgne Ø beers on tap are the main attraction for craft beer fans. When we finally got a table to have a meal, the Swedish waitress fortunately seemed far more interested than the barkeeper in letting us choose from the beer list. I had a Nøgne Ø Blond (on tap), a bottled Paulaner Weissbier Dunkel (fairly cheap) and a Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA (more expensive). The food was edible, but too salty.

November 27, 2008
A classic beer hall/restaurant that came back from the dead, with the old wall paintings restored. Gemütlich atmosphere, but a bit gentrified compared to its previous incarnation. A decent selection of bottled beers from Norwegian micros, including seasonals. Nøgen ø and Små Vesen beers should be on tap soon.

November 18, 2008 [ Updated July 30, 2009 ]
An Oslo institution ever since it opened in 1892. The last couple of decades it’s been extremely run down, before it was renovated in 2008. Now really nice upscale place done out in dark wood and dominated by big chandeliers. Seating is either on shared long tables or smaller, more private tables along the sides. There’s also a restaurant at the back, and outdoors serving upstairs. The food menu is a little limited, but the food is very good. The beer selection has 2 Nøgne Ø beers on draft (porter & blond) and about 10 bottled. There are also about 10 Haandbryggeriet beers, 4 Ægir, 4 Smaa Vesen, and a good number of imports. Some of the most interesting stuff is not in the menu, so always make sure to ask for extras. The waiters usually don’t know, but the guy in the black shirt does.

October 19, 2008
It is an old establishment, oozing ambiance, that has now gone beery. Youngish clientelle, nice interior, roomy like a grand café, with nice paintings, depicting this old working-class area, on the wall and huge chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. Service is friendly. The beer selection is great for Norway - there may not be that many bottles on offer yet, but they seem very well selected. There will within days of this review be regular taps for Nøgne Ø and Små Vesen brews. I have not yet tried their food, but critiques give their Norwegian cuisine, available at manageable prices, very good reviews. You may find cheaper beer prices in Oslo (and especially in this area), but quality always costs. To sum it up, Oslo has got one new and very promising beer venue, and the city definitely needs that.