CASK
CASK AS is a Norwegian importer and distributor of premium craft beer, quality spirits, mixers, and non-alcoholic beverages, distributing 30+ international brands across Retail, Vinmonopolet, HoReCa, and Travel Retail channels in Norway as part of Moestue Group AS.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CASK does
CASK AS is a Norwegian importer and distributor of premium beverages, founded in 2009 by CEO Marius Vestnes. The company specializes in exclusive, character-driven international brands across premium beer, quality spirits, mixers, and a growing non-alcoholic alternatives range. Its producer portfolio spans Belgian Trappist breweries (Rochefort, Westmalle, Het Anker, Tilquin), Norwegian craft (Ægir Bryggeri, Amundsen, Oslo Handverksdestilleri), UK craft (BrewDog, Verdant, The Kernel, Northern Monk, Fentimans), Scottish producers (Vault City, Edinburgh Gin, GlenAllachie, Glengoyne, Kilchoman, Tamdhu, Ian Macleod), Swedish craft (This Is How), German liqueurs (The Bitter Truth, Paulaner), Japanese whisky (Nikka, Chichibu), Haitian clairin, and American craft and whiskey (Goose Island, Michter's, Spike). CASK is part of Moestue Group AS, one of Norway's largest and fastest-growing beverage groups, with wholly-owned sister entities Moestue & Cask AB in Sweden and Cask International in the UK providing international reach.
CASK distributes across all four major Norwegian sales channels: Retail (Dagligvare grocery), the state-owned Vinmonopolet monopoly, HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, cafés), and Travel Retail (duty-free and airports). Pricing is unit-based, publicly disclosed through Vinmonopolet listings, and ranges from approximately Kr44.90 to Kr849.90 per bottle. The company's go-to-market is sales-led, built on close, two-way producer relationships and a storytelling-focused brand approach ("every bottle carries a story"). Direct-to-consumer engagement is driven through the Cask Club membership program, which offers early access to tastings, event invitations, and allocation rights on limited releases.
Operationally, CASK AS is a small, specialized team of 14 employees headquartered in Oslo (Bygdøy Allé 23). Senior staff hold WSET Level 2 Spirits, Cicerone, and Sommelier certifications, and the leadership includes Managing Director Markus Amarloui and a CEO with full ownership history since 2009. The business is privately held and operates with no external funding rounds; growth is funded through Moestue Group AS. There is no disclosed proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or digital platform — the value proposition rests entirely on human expertise, exclusive producer agreements, and multi-channel distribution access.
CASK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CASK
- Legal name
- CASK AS
- Website
- https://casknorway.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CASK AS is a Norwegian importer and distributor of premium craft beer, quality spirits, mixers, and non-alcoholic beverages, distributing 30+ international brands across Retail, Vinmonopolet, HoReCa, and Travel Retail channels in Norway as part of Moestue Group AS.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CASK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Beverage Import and Distribution
- NAICS
- Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alcohol Importers & Brand Owners (Wholesale) (CRAOAIAB), Craft & Specialty Beverage Wholesale (Local/Artisanal) (AFAIAGAH), Alcoholic Beverage Brand Owners & Holding Companies (Multi-category Portfolios) (CRADAIAL)
Keywords
Where CASK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
CASK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Beverage Import and Distribution: CASK imports, sells, and markets exclusive quality brands in beer and spirits to the Norwegian market, distributing across retail, Vinmonopolet, HoReCa, and Travel Retail channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer retail pricing through Vinmonopolet |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
CASK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CASK imports and distributes premium craft beers, quality spirits, mixers, and non-alcoholic beverages from international producers to the Norwegian market. Operating since 2009, the company curates an exclusive portfolio of brands with heritage and craftsmanship, distributing across retail grocery, the Norwegian state alcohol monopoly (Vinmonopolet), HoReCa, and Travel Retail channels. CASK also operates the Cask Club membership program offering early access to special releases and curated tastings.
Product overview
CASK is a leading importer and distributor of premium beverages in the Norwegian market. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio distributed across four main sales channels: Retail, Vinmonopolet/Monopoly, HoReCa, and Travel Retail. Their product offering consists of five interconnected categories: (1) an exclusive Cask Club membership program offering early access to special releases and events, (2) a premium beer portfolio featuring Belgian Trappist beers (Trappistes Rochefort), Norwegian craft beers (Ægir Bryggeri), British craft beers (Verdant Brewing Co, The Kernel Brewery), Scottish sour beers (Vault City Brewing), and Swedish IPAs (This Is How); (3) a quality spirits portfolio including aquavit, gin, agave spirits, mead, herbal bitters, and liqueurs from producers such as Ægir Bryggeri and The Bitter Truth GmbH; (4) market-leading mixers; and (5) an expanding range of non-alcoholic alternatives. The company is part of Moestue Group AS with sister companies in Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cask Club
Companies that use CASK
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CASK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CASK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy (Rochefort)coreCASK imports and distributes Rochefort Trappist beers (Trappistes Rochefort 6, 8, 10, and Triple Extra) in Norway. The brewery is an active Trappist monastery founded in 1230, with brewing resuming in 1952 in modern form.
- Ægir BryggericoreNorwegian craft brewery founded in 2007 in Flåm by Evan Lewis and Aud Melås. CASK distributes their full range of beers including IPAs, stouts, meads, gins, and aquavit. Award-winning brewery with 'Årets Øl 2012' recognition.
- Verdant Brewing CocoreBritish craft brewery established in 2014 in Penryn, Cornwall by Adam Robertson, James Heffron, and Richard White. Known for hop-forward, hazy, juicy beers. All products are unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% vegan.
- Vault City BrewingcoreScottish brewery founded in 2018 by Steven Smith-Hay in Edinburgh. Specializes in modern sour beers with heavy fruit profiles, from session sours to imperial stouts. Among the world's leading producers of fruity sour ales.
- The Kernel BrewerycoreLondon-based brewery established in 2009 in Bermondsey by Evin O'Riordain. Pioneer of the British craft beer wave, focused on quality over quantity with a philosophy of simplicity and balance.
- This Is HowcoreSwedish brewery started in 2017 in Piteå with two 150-liter kettles in a bus garage. Produces over 200,000 liters annually. First independent brewery served at Bastard Burgers on Arlanda airport and at Nobel's official after-party.
- The Bitter Truth GmbHcoreGerman bitters and liqueur producer founded in 2006 by bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck. Pioneered bringing back classic cocktail bitters to Europe, including aromatic bitters, Creole bitters, and historical liqueurs.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
CASK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arcus ASA: Norway's largest wine and spirits distribution group, importing and marketing branded alcoholic beverages through Vinmonopolet, HoReCa, and retail. Direct competitor to CASK in the Norwegian premium beverage wholesale space with similar multi-channel structure.
- Interbrands Nordic: Nordic importer and distributor of premium alcoholic beverages, distributing international wine and spirits brands across Sweden and the Nordics. Comparable as a multi-market premium beverage distributor in the same region.
- Speciality Drinks: UK-based premium spirits importer with exclusive agency agreements and a curated portfolio of independent and craft distillers. Comparable producer-relationship model and premium focus.
- Hans Just Group: Danish importer and distributor of premium wines, spirits, and beers across retail, monopoly, and HoReCa channels. Directly comparable in business model and curated-producer strategy to CASK.
- Bibendum Wine Co: UK premium wine and spirits distributor serving on-trade and independent retail with a curated portfolio of independent producers. Closely comparable as a premium-focused, story-led importer-distributor in a mature market.
- Maverick Drinks: UK importer and distributor specializing in craft beer, artisanal spirits, and mixers, working with independent producers and emphasizing storytelling. Direct peer to CASK's craft beer and premium spirits portfolio strategy.
- Solera Beverage Group: Swedish importer and distributor of premium and craft beverages, including wine, spirits, and craft beer, serving Systembolaget and HoReCa. Closely comparable as a Nordic importer/distributor focused on premium and craft brands from independent producers.
Broad incumbents
- Anora Plc: Nordic alcoholic beverage company formed from the merger of Altia and Arcus Finland, operating across wine, spirits, and beer across the Nordics. A broader incumbent with overlapping Nordic distribution and brand portfolio comparable to CASK and its Moestue Group affiliates.
- Pernod Ricard Nordic: Global premium spirits major with Nordic distribution operations selling through Vinmonopolet, Systembolaget, and HoReCa. Overlaps with CASK on premium spirits distribution but operates at far broader scale with owned global brands.
- Diageo Nordic: World-leading premium drinks company with Nordic subsidiaries distributing through state monopolies and HoReCa. Adjacent incumbent competitor for premium shelf space and on-premise listings alongside CASK's portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CASK social profiles
Digital presenceCASK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CASK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
CASK subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CASK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CASK M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CASK
What does CASK do?
CASK imports and distributes premium craft beers, quality spirits, mixers, and non-alcoholic beverages from international producers to the Norwegian market. Operating since 2009, the company curates an exclusive portfolio of brands with heritage and craftsmanship, distributing across retail grocery, the Norwegian state alcohol monopoly (Vinmonopolet), HoReCa, and Travel Retail channels. CASK also operates the Cask Club membership program offering early access to special releases and curated tastings.
Is CASK a public or private company?
CASK is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CASK founded?
CASK was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CASK based?
CASK is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does CASK make money?
One revenue line is on record: beverage Import and Distribution.
Who are CASK's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arcus ASA, Interbrands Nordic, Speciality Drinks, Hans Just Group, Bibendum Wine Co, Maverick Drinks and Solera Beverage Group. Broad incumbents are Anora Plc, Pernod Ricard Nordic and Diageo Nordic.
Does CASK have an API?
No public API is recorded for CASK.
What industry is CASK in?
CASK's product category is Beverage Import and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAIAA, Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution, with a secondary code of CRAOAIAB, Alcohol Importers & Brand Owners (Wholesale). Its NAICS code is 4248 and its SIC code is 5180.