The wild ales from Grugg & Makk draw their flavor profile from Iceland’s diverse microbiota. The ale is brewed using a unique method that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern science. The result is a selection of beverages that highlight the biological diversity and the vital role of microorganisms in the environment.
Every valley, beach, pasture, and mountain peak, hosts a distinct microbial community that is constantly changing depending on the time of day, season, or even weather. In creating the wild ale, Grugg & Makk has developed a process to capture a single moment, preserving it in a bottle.
Grugg & Makk, is Iceland’s first brewery dedicated to crafting wild ales. Founders Sveinn and Kjartan’s journey began with a passion for capturing the essence of Icelandic nature. By harnessing the unique microbiota from specific locations across the island, Grugg & Makk aims to create beers that authentically reflect Iceland’s terroir.
Through the magic of fermentation, the brewery unlocks the distinctive flavors inherent to each place, delivering a one of a kind tasting experience in every bottle. Their mission is to showcase Iceland’s wild beauty, one wild ale at a time.
The idea for Grugg & Makk was born from conversations between founders Sveinn and Kjartan about what is Icelandic beer, What makes it unique?
Their conclusion was to look to the local microbiota to craft a wild ale using yeast found in Icelandic nature, revealing the distinct flavors they would hold. They began developing a method for finding and collecting these wild yeasts, and after years of experimentation and testing, they successfully cultivated reliable yeast cultures.
In 2022, they released their first commercial brew a beer that authentically captures Iceland’s terroir. Since then, they have continued refining their techniques and deepening their connection to Iceland’s wild flavors.
It will be exciting to see what the future holds and what new flavors Icelandic nature has to offer. With time, they hope to uncover patterns within their yeast bank that reveal an intricate relationship between environment and flavor, further defining what makes Icelandic beer unique.
