BierTalk English 45 - Interview with Kjetil Jikiun, brewer, founder of Nøgne Ø, and a pioneer of Scandinavian craft beer

In this episode, Markus meets Norwegian brewing pioneer Kjetil
Jikiun for a very special “beer cast” recorded in the car. Kjetil
looks back on an extraordinary journey that led him from life as an
airline pilot to becoming one of the key figures of the modern
Norwegian beer revolution. He shares how homebrewing, American
craft beer, and a deep curiosity for flavor inspired him to
co-found Nøgne Ø and help introduce bold styles like IPA, saison,
and imperial stout to Norway. The conversation also takes some
remarkable detours: from brewing what may be the highest-altitude
beer in the world on a mountain pass in Central Asia, to building a
brewery project in Crete and discovering how different beer
cultures can be. Kjetil reflects on innovation, responsibility, and
the balance between brewing as science and brewing as art. A
fascinating episode about adventure, flavor, and the courage to
keep reinventing yourself.