Home Brewer: Torkjel Austad

Torkjel Austad with juniper twig and traditional Norwegian ale bowl (photo by Martyn Cornell )

Torkjel Austad is going to be busy during this year’s festival, because he’s participating both as a home brewer, and as Bygland Bryggeri . Torkjel was already a home brewer when he discovered the farmhouse ale tradition, and started to explore it. Since he has family roots in Setesdal, he tracked down local brewing legend Jon K. Rysstad, and visited him to learn how to brew Setesdal-style beer. The beer he’s serving at the festival is the one he learned to brew from Jon.

The beer:

• Setesdalsøl, 10%? - Fermented with Idun Blå. Juniper infusion and reduction-boiled wort.