Bicycle Brewing, Østerbro, Copenhagen

Returning to Ålborggade, Copenhagen, for the first time in almost 50 years, it was a nice surprise to discover newly established Bicycle Bar, facing towards a window from where I had once observed life in this narrow Østerbro street.

On Friday 14 September, 2018, I had set off on a borrowed bicycle from my friends' house in suburban Værløse to catch the S-train directly to Ryparken station. It was the first off-peak fare service (11.10am) costing a 20.80 Dkr debit to my Rejsekort (approx £2.50) for a relaxing journey of 10 stops, taking 20 minutes.

Ryvangen Naturpark

My plan was to first visit the original site of Tuborg brewery, now housing a waterside shopping development, after a ride through Ryvangen Nature Park. A well surfaced cycle path, with low level lighting at intervals, runs alongside a track for pedestrians and joggers, into the park.

Gateway marked: Tuborgs  Bryggerier

Returning to the street at Tuborgvej, I passed the original entrance to the brewery on Strandvej. This is the entrance I would have used in the 1970s for a free tour of the large brewery followed by a beer tasting. Tuborg brewery closed in the 1990s and the beers are now brewed at Carlsberg brewery.

The next stop on my route was to marvel at Tuborgflasken - the giant Tuborg bottle, designed in 1888 as an observation tower. (On Saturday I would find out that Villy Madsen, my brother-in-law, once a crane operator, was involved in a temporary move from its current site, at the junction of Strandvej and Dessaus Blvd to Rådhuspladsen in 1988 for its 100th anniversary.) 

It was 12.30 when I had the good fortune to spot Bicycle Bar, Ålborggade 20, in the Østerbro neighbourhood, north of central Copenhagen. As the bar was closed I decided to return later, after cycling around the new developments of Nordhavn, and into central Copenhagen for a first visit to Skaal.

On my return to Østerbro the A-sign outside X-Pressen at Århusgade 10 caught my eye. The bar is open from 10am until 1am with special beer prices of 17 Dkr or 21 Dkr (approx £2 or £2.50) between 11am and 3pm. 

At all times, 50cl draught lager is available for 30 Dkr (approx £4) or Ale 16 brewed by Refsvindinge brewery (bottled by Vestfyen brewery) for 35 Dkr (approx £4.50).

Ålborggade - looking west

Århusgade is a broad street with a wide pavement. One street to the south, Ålborggade is a one way street (eastwards) with not much room left for pedestrians after bicycles are parked on the pavement. Street lights are strung overhead.

After parking my bicycle on the pavement opposite Bicycle Bar, the home of Bicycle Brewing, it was 16.30 hrs when I walked inside and found the small bar already quite busy but not full. The magnetic beer board uses Scrabble like tiles for details.

I ordered one of the three draught beers - 4.9% ABV Handlebar IPA (50 Dkr / £6+) which was not especially bitter and very much to my taste. The other choices were 4.8% ABV Fixie Organic Lager and 4.1% ABV Short John Porter. Appropriately all the beers have bicycle themed names. 

When brewer / barman Alex had a quiet moment, I introduced myself and gave him a copy of West Berkshire CAMRA's Ullage magazine. Alex explained that he and his wife Kristina had use of this space for brewing since 2016 but they had only opened it as a tasting room to the public since around July 2018. 

It was interesting to hear Alex explain that because they could not find bar mats or coasters to suit the brand, they had screenprinted their own circular cork mats.

The small bar is tastefully decorated with wheels, 

coloured glass shutters, 

bottles and succulent plants.
The archway into the Bottle Room reveals a tall fridge where 75cl bottles are stored.

The brewing area is in the room behind the bar behind a glass partition with a nice illustration of the brewing process on the wall behind the brewing vessels. The 200 liter brewing capacity stainless steel kit was supplied by Ss brewtech from the USA.

Also in this back room is a colourful display of 1970s era American beer cans including Rolling Rock and Colt 45.
I would have liked to stay longer and try another beer but it was time to head back to Ryparken station for the S-train back to Værløse where my friends' cats would surely be getting impatient for their evening meal!

Bicycle Brewing
Brewery & Tasting Room
Ålborggade 20
Copenhagen 

Thursday  16:00 - 22:00
Friday       16.00 - 22.00
Saturday   16.00 - 22.00

No cash

Facebook: @bikebrewing