The Gamborg Gamma Tap Takeover: When Middelfart meets Nordvest

I know, I know—I talk about Gamma a LOT. But when a place consistently nails the trifecta of great beer, local vibes, and cool events, can you really blame me?

A few weeks ago, I headed over with friends from our building for a Tap Takeover and Tasting. If you aren’t familiar with the concept, a Tap Takeover is when a guest brewery "invades" the taps for a night (or another length of time), showcasing their specific range.

This time, the spotlight was on Gamborg, a brewery from Middelfart. They started during the pandemic and have grown quite a bit since—and after tasting their lineup, it’s easy to see why.

What was the tasting like? In a few words: Sours, Stories, and "Risalamande" Beer. We were a group of about 20–25 people, gathered around at 6pm just as the workday was cooling down and the bar was filling up. We tasted 5 or 6 different beers, starting with light pilsners and New England IPAs before moving into what Gamborg is truly known for: Sours.

The presenter was a fantastic storyteller. He’d previously worked at much larger breweries but clearly found his heart in the "small-batch" world where you can actually experiment.

The real showstoppers were the final few pours. I’m usually not a fan of heavy, intense beers, but these were... singular. The "Risalamande" Beer, a beer actually containing grødris, almonds, vanilla and cherries, was surprisingly delicious. So much so, that we started debating if you could actually use it as the "sauce" for your Christmas Risalamande instead of cherry! Apparently, in Middelfart, locals are already buying it specifically for their Christmas dinners. I also really really enjoyed the Forest Berry Coconut Vanilla Lassi Gose one, that was a little less sweet and still not icky, which is what I usually find in beers that dip their toe in the sweet area.

One of the coolest things about the craft beer world is the "collab" culture. Earlier in the day before the event, the Gamborg team spent the day brewing with the Gamma crew. The result? A watermelon-flavored beer that is currently fermenting. Keep your eyes on the taps or cans at Gamma: it should be dropping as a limited edition soon!

By the end of the tasting, our group was already plotting. Gamborg’s home base in Middelfart sounds like a destination in itself: they have a food court and host concerts and events (they just had a massive St. Patrick’s Day bash). It’s definitely on our list for a day trip or a weekend getaway from Copenhagen.

Because you can't live on liquid bread alone, we ended the night in the most best way possible: Ray’s Chicken for burgers and one last beer for the road. Home by 10pm, full of new knowledge, great food, and even better company.

If you haven’t made it to a tap takeover or tasting at Gamma yet, keep an eye on their calendar. Even if you think you aren't a "beer person," you might just find a vanilla-coconut gose that changes your mind.