What Kølster does

Kølster is an organic microbrewery headquartered at Krogerup Avlsgård (Krogerup Farm) in Humlebæk, Denmark, founded in 2008 by Per Kølster, a pioneer in Danish organic food production. The company produces a portfolio of 16+ organic craft beer styles spanning Pilsner, Berliner Weisse, Vienna Lager, Dry Stout, Baltic Porter, Rauchbier, Amber Lager, Session IPA, Modern IPA, Irish Red Ale, Belgian Wit, and non-alcoholic variants, all brewed with certified organic ingredients. In January 2026, Kølster extended into the Saft & Brus category, launching organic sodas (Cola, Hindbær, Hyldeblomst, Appelsin, Citron, Tonic) and juices (Æblemost, Rabarbersaft, Hyldeblomst Saft) — all produced without citric acid (E330) or ascorbic acid (E300), a positioning that distinguishes the company in the premium clean-label beverage segment.

The business operates on a dual-channel model. Direct-to-consumer revenue is generated through a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront (koelster.dk) shipping via PostNord across Denmark with home, business, and parcel shop delivery options, supplemented by monthly subscription boxes (abonnementskasser). B2B revenue comes from HORECA and specialty retail — restaurants, bars, hotels, gastropubs, and organic grocers — including flagship partner Noma and distribution partner Aarstiderne. The company also runs an owned taproom (Kølsters Tolv Haner) in Copenhagen and offers private label/OEM services to aligned food brands such as Garbanzo. Pricing on the D2C site ranges from 25–35 DKK per 33cl beer can and 450 DKK per 24-can soda frame.

The company operates as Kølster Malt & Øl ApS (CVR 34090122), is privately held with no external investors or parent company evidenced, and runs with a small team of 1–10 employees led by CEO Christian Brandt. It maintains a national Danish footprint with 100+ retail and restaurant accounts spanning all major regions, including Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Helsingør, Roskilde, and the island of Møn, with no international operations evidenced.

Name

Kølster

Legal name

Kølster Malt & Øl ApS

Website

https://koelster.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kølster is an organic microbrewery in Humlebæk, Denmark, producing 16+ organic craft beer styles and, since January 2026, organic additive-free sodas and juices under the Saft & Brus line. The company serves Danish consumers via DTC e-commerce and B2B HORECA distribution through 100+ restaurant and retail partners including Noma and Aarstiderne.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Low/No-Alcohol Fermented Beverage Production (Hard Kombucha Base, Dealcoholized) (AFAFAHAI), Fermented Beverage Contract Manufacturing & Private Label (AFAFAHAJ), Organic & Natural Beverage Wholesale (AFAIAJAE)

Keywords

• Organic craft beer
• Organic microbrewery
• Craft soda production
• Non-alcoholic beer
• Private label brewing

Headquarters

HQ city

Humlebæk

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through the company's Shopify-powered e-commerce store to individual consumers in Denmark, with home delivery, business delivery, and parcel shop pickup options via PostNord. Products sold in mixed crates (frames) of cans (330ml) and bottles (275ml/330ml).
2. B2B Wholesale & Distribution: Supply of organic beers and soft drinks to restaurants, bars, hotels, and specialty food retailers across Denmark. The company also offers private label solutions for partners wanting custom branded products.
3. Subscription Boxes: Kølster offers subscription boxes (abonnementskasser) for recurring deliveries, with payment charged when the order is dispatched. Subscriptions can be cancelled with one week's notice.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kølster is an organic brewery based at Krogerup Avlsgård in Humlebæk, Denmark, that produces and sells certified organic craft beer (16+ styles), organic additive-free sodas (Brus), and organic juices (Saft) under brands such as PIVERT, SORT SYN, MÅNESTØV, BILLE, COLA BRUS, HINDBÆR BRUS, and ÆBLEMOST. The company sells direct-to-consumer through a Shopify e-commerce store with subscription boxes, and to B2B/HORECA customers (restaurants, bars, specialty retailers, distributors like Aarstiderne) across Denmark, including private-label beer production for partner brands.

Product overview

Kølster is an organic brewery based in Humlebæk, Denmark, founded by Per Kølster. The company produces a portfolio of organic beers including Pilsners (PIVERT, HIMMELFRYD, NORDLYS), IPAs (MÅNESTØV, STJERNETÅGE, SYDLYS), Berliner Weisse variants (YUZU, BÆRLINER, BROMLINER), lagers (BILLE, RAVSKY, RØGSLØR), stouts (SOLULV), porters (SORT SYN), and seasonal ales (HØSTGLØD, HØJSOMMER). In January 2026, the company expanded into the Saft & Brus (Juice & Soda) category, offering organic sodas without E-numbers or preservatives including Cola Brus, Hindbær Brus, Hyldeblomst Brus, Appelsin Brus, Citron Brus, and Tonic Brus, as well as juices like Hyldeblomst Saft, Rabarbersaft, and Æblemost. The company also offers merchandise (tote bags) and mixed case bundles. All products emphasize organic ingredients, sustainability, and minimal additives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PIVERT Organic Pilsner A fresh, well-hopped organic pilsner brewed with 100% organic pilsner malt and German hops; a traditional hand-crafted Bavarian-style lager.
• SORT SYN Baltic Porter A full-bodied, round Baltic Porter with soft notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, and lightly dried fruit, with malt depth and rounded taste without significant bitterness.
• SOLULV Dry Stout A light and dry stout with fine roasted notes of coffee and cocoa, soft and rounded in the mouth with a crisp, dry finish — an elegant, easy-drinking dark beer.
• NORDLYS Organic Non-Alcoholic Pilsner A fresh and crisp non-alcoholic pilsner brewed with 100% organic Pilsner, Munich, and Pale Ale malt with well-balanced hops — a genuine hand-crafted Bavarian-style lager without alcohol.
• SYDLYS Organic Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale A light and fresh non-alcoholic beer with gentle hop aroma and crisp finish — light, lively, and balanced.
• MÅNESTØV Organic Modern IPA A fresh and juicy modern IPA filled with soft aromas, rounded in flavor thanks to high-aromatic American hop varieties, brewed with organic pilsner malt, wheat, and oats from the farm.
• STJERNETÅGE Organic Session IPA A well-hopped and drinkable organic Session India Pale Ale brewed with pilsner malt, wheat, and oats, dry-hopped with a selection of aromatic organic hop varieties.
• YUZU Organic Yuzu Berliner Weisse A fresh, aromatic, and well-balanced Berliner Weisse with yuzu, fermented with lactic acid bacteria and topped with generous portions of European yuzu lemons from Corsica.
• BÆRLINER Organic Raspberry Berliner Weisse A tart, juicy, and aromatic Berliner Weisse brewed with pilsner malt, raw wheat, and fermented with fresh organic raspberry purée.
• BROMLINER Berliner Weisse A fresh Berliner Weisse brewed with organic malt and fermented with blackberries and blueberries, with crisp acidity, mild fruit sweetness, and a discreet touch of pink pepper.
• HIMMELFRYD Organic Pilsner Kølster's first pilsner — a fresh and well-hopped pilsner brewed with pure organic pilsner malt and organic hops.
• BILLE Organic Vienna Lager

Quantifiable outcome

• 31+ organic beverage products across beer, soda, and juice categories
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• NomaflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNoma is a flagship restaurant partner for Kølster. The partnership is described as a natural fit, with shared values around ecology, sustainability, and refined quality. Kølster's organic beer aligns with Noma's uncompromising approach to ingredients and taste, adding authentic depth to the culinary experience. Noma's international reputation provides Kølster with a prestigious platform to present beer as a natural part of the gastronomic universe.
• GarbanzocoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerKølster and Garbanzo formed a private label partnership, combining Kølster's organic beer with Garbanzo's organic pitabröd. The green design on the beer symbolizes both sustainability and freshness, highlighting the collaboration's vision of delivering high-quality flavor experiences that also respect nature.
• AarstidernecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAarstiderne is a key distributor and retailer for Kølster's organic beer. Their shared focus on ecology, sustainability, and quality creates natural synergy. Kølster's organic beer fits perfectly into Aarstidernes' branding as an ambassador for authentic, sustainable products. Aarstidernes' strong profile and dedicated customer base provides Kølster with an ideal platform to reach consumers who value quality and responsibility.
• JaggercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJagger is a natural match for Kølster, with a focus on uniting quality and accessibility. Jagger redefined fast food with honest ingredients and gastronomic principles, and Kølster's organic beer adds authentic drinking culture that completes the experience. Together they create a universe where taste, responsibility, and accessibility go hand in hand.
• Restaurant GorillacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe partnership between Kølster and Restaurant Gorilla connects beer culture with Copenhagen's vibrant urban life. Gorilla's unique atmosphere and cultural vibe fits perfectly with Kølster's vision of gathering people and creating memories over cold beers. Shared passion for craftsmanship, quality, and great experiences anchors the partnership.
• Kølsters Tolv Haner (Taproom)coreOthersKølsters Tolv Haner is Kølster's own taproom located in Copenhagen N, serving as both a direct sales channel and brand experience venue. It features 12 taps of Kølster beers, providing a physical hub for brand engagement and customer interaction.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fanø Bryghus: Danish regional craft brewery offering a wide variety of beer styles with farm/regional identity and on-trade focus — comparable product breadth and Danish craft positioning to Kølster.
• Bryghuset Møn: Small Danish microbrewery producing craft and seasonal beers for regional HORECA and direct channels — directly comparable in scale, SKU breadth, and small-team distribution model.
• Nørrebro Bryghus: Copenhagen craft brewery with an on-site restaurant and broad craft portfolio, competing for similar urban gastronomy customers, restaurant taps, and craft beer consumers as Kølster.
• Herslev Bryghus: Danish microbrewery focused on organic and sustainable brewing with farm-connected production — the closest direct peer to Kølster in terms of organic certification, craft positioning, and Danish HORECA distribution model.
• Mikkeller: Copenhagen-based craft brewery and globally recognized Danish craft beer brand, operating a similar DTC + on-trade distribution strategy in Denmark and competing for the same premium HORECA accounts.

Emerging players

• Dry & Bitter Brewing Company: Danish craft brewery focused on modern hop-forward styles and contemporary craft formats, overlapping with Kølster's IPA portfolio and Copenhagen craft consumer base.
• Nohrlund: Danish organic craft cocktail and non-alcoholic beverage brand with similar clean-label, additive-free positioning — directly comparable to Kølster's Saft & Brus expansion into quality non-alcoholic beverages.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Unibrew: Large Danish-listed beverage group (Faxe, Royal, etc.) with broad beer and soft-drink portfolio — the dominant Danish incumbent competing for the same retail shelf, HORECA placements, and now the quality organic soda segment Kølster is entering.

Regional players

• Omnipollo: Swedish craft brewery with experimental, design-led positioning and modern styles — comparable in product innovation ethos (Berliners, IPAs, adjunct-led recipes) but serving primarily Swedish and international markets.
• Thisted Bryghus: Established regional Danish brewery (brewer of Porter and other classic styles) — overlaps with Kølster's craft lager and porter range but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Koelster/?locale=da_DK
• Instagraminstagram.com/koelster_cph

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kølster