Skaal, Copenhagen

Recent trips to Copenhagen have usually included a (free) visit to the Davids Samling / The David Collection, Kronprinsessegade 30-32, overlooking the green space of Kongens Have.

As well as the Islamic art which the gallery is renowned for, there is an inner room with paintings by Vilhelm Hammershøi that should not be missed.

On Friday 14 September, I was also able to view 'The Hippie Trail' an exhibition of slides and photos by Torben Huss, who first set off eastwards to Afghanistan from Copenhagen in the 1960s.

Leaving after 3pm, with time to fill before Bicycle Brewing opened at 4pm, left me with a choice between revisiting a favourite - Charlie's Bar (one minute by bike) or a first visit to Skaal Beer & Food, which opened on 21 September 2017 (two minutes by bike).

Feeling adventurous, I decided to visit Skaal, on the corner of a square, near Nørreport station, at Kultorvet 11. The Skaal tables in the square were fairly busy.

However, there were only a few customers inside when I entered the bar on the first floor.

'Good to see you!'

A welcome sign gives a good first impression.

At the top of the stairs a diagram explains the brewing process.

There are 48 draught beers to choose from with details on the screens behind the bar.
I ordered a 25cl glass of k:rlek 12, the 12th edition of Mikkeller's hazy pale ale, brewed with Mosaic hops, costing 42 Dkr (£5).

From my stool at a table in the dim interior of the bar, there was a view towards the tables by the windows which overlook the square.

Another room provides seating away from the main bar with specially commissioned artwork.

There is a mural on the opposite wall and fridges filled with bottles of beer at the far end.
By now it was after 4pm and Skaal was getting busier so I left to retrieve my parked bicycle and pedal to Bicycle Brewing in Østerbro, which would seem tiny in comparison to Skaal!

This visit to Skaal satisfied my curiosity but my current recommendation for a bar in this part of Copenhagen would be to visit Charlie's which is more like a pub, has cheaper prices and even serves cask ale from the UK!

Charlie's Bar, Pilestræde 33, Copenhagen

Skaal Beer & Food, Kultorvet 11, Copenhagen

Bicycle Brewing, Ålborggade 20, Copenhagen