Beer and aquavit from Innherred

Sundnes Aquavit from Inderøy: A Storied Spirit with Deep Roots

Sundnes Brenneri on Inderøy was once one of Trøndelag’s most prominent distilleries, producing aquavit until the turn of the 20th century. With a legacy dating back to 1844, it played a central role in the region’s agricultural and industrial development – and in shaping the rich heritage of Norwegian aquavit.

A Pioneer of Spirits in Trøndelag

Established in 1844 by Swedish coppersmith Andreas Mattson at Sundnes Gård, the distillery quickly became a cornerstone of spirit production in Trøndelag. Mattson had already spent a decade running a distillery in Trondheim before bringing his expertise to Inderøy.

In 1848, the property was acquired by Herman Løchen, a visionary landowner with formal training in distilling from Germany. Løchen had previously managed his father’s distillery in Christiania (now Oslo) and Jenssen’s distillery in Vinje, Mosvik.

Under Løchen’s leadership, Sundnes Brenneri flourished. He introduced spice-infused spirits – what we now know as aquavit – and Sundnes Aquavit quickly earned a reputation to rival that of the renowned Lysholm Aquavit.

From Inderøy to Trondheim: M.H. Lundgreen’s Enke

Though produced in Inderøy, Sundnes Aquavit was distributed by M.H. Lundgreen’s Enke, a spirit merchant based in Trondheim. Løchen, who also operated a large-scale farming business and exported cattle to England, faced financial hardship during a sudden price collapse in 1874. Following his bankruptcy and passing, the distillery was taken over in 1877 by M.H. Lundgreen’s Enke, who continued production of the popular aquavit.

In 1899, ownership passed to A. Karseth, but Lundgreen’s Enke retained the rights to the Sundnes name, continuing production in Trondheim under the label “Sundes Akvavit.”

The Lysholm Legacy and Modernisation

That same year, Jørgen B. Lysholm & Co., famous for its own aquavit production in Trondheim, bought Sundnes Brenneri. Tragically, a fire destroyed the original facility, but it was soon rebuilt as a cutting-edge distillery. By 1900, it was considered one of the most advanced in Norway.

Although Lysholm continued to produce spirits at Sundnes, increasing taxes made the business less viable. In 1908, Lysholm decided to phase out production.

Farmers Take Ownership: A/S Sundnes Brænderi

The shutdown would have had a significant impact on local agriculture, which had long relied on selling grain and potatoes to the distillery. In 1912, a group of farmers from Inderøy and surrounding areas joined forces to form A/S Sundnes Brænderi, purchasing the facility to preserve local industry. Farming operations were separated from the distillery, ensuring continued use of locally grown produce for spirit production.

The Birth of Vinmonopolet – and the Challenges That Followed

The Norwegian prohibition on spirits, introduced in 1916 following a national referendum, meant that all alcohol could only be sold through pharmacies. In 1920, farmers at Sundnes aimed to relaunch the traditional Sundnes Aquavit. To do so, they had to negotiate with Lundgreen’s Widow, who still held the rights to the brand and its recipes. The rights were bought back for around NOK 20,000, and new distillation equipment was ordered from Germany in preparation for the relaunch.

However, before production could begin, the Norwegian government established Vinmonopolet – a state-owned monopoly granted exclusive rights to the distillation of pure spirits. This move aimed to curb the growing problem of illegal alcohol production. The state took control of all distilleries in Norway, confiscating equipment, stock, and recipes.

In 1923, Sundnes Brenneri was forced to dismantle its distillation apparatus, receiving compensation of NOK 132,000. Despite this, the distillery continued to produce raw spirits for Vinmonopolet until 2019.

The prohibition on spirits was lifted in 1927, making it the only law in Norwegian history introduced by referendum and later overturned by Parliament.

Decades later, Norway’s inclusion in the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1994 brought new scrutiny to the state monopoly. The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) challenged Vinmonopolet’s exclusive rights to both produce, sell and import alcohol, arguing that it could violate EEA competition rules. Norway defended the monopoly by emphasising its role in promoting public health and controlling alcohol consumption. After legal and political debate, Vinmonopolet was allowed to continue operating, but with adjustments to ensure compliance with EEA regulations – which meant that places like Berg farm, Inderøy Farm brewery and Fæby farm brewery could start producing beer and aquavit .