A pandemic-era health kick has turned into a new beer brand for Icelandic entrepreneur Hrefna Bachmann, who is bringing an ultra-low-carb lager called Björt to the UK market. We’ve that, “Words to Drink By” and more.

Icelandic-Inspired Low-Carb Beer Debuts in UK

A pandemic-era health kick has turned into a new beer brand for Icelandic entrepreneur Hrefna Bachmann, who is bringing an ultra-low-carb lager called Björt to the UK market.

Originally inspired by the low-carb beer trend already popular across Iceland and Scandinavia, Björt is being positioned as a lighter option for drinkers who still want the experience of a premium lager without loading up on carbs. Each 330ml bottle contains just 0.3g of carbohydrates, far lower than many beers currently available in Britain.

Bachmann came up with the idea during lockdown after returning home to Iceland and adopting a keto diet. With strict daily carb limits, she quickly discovered that even a single beer could take up a large chunk of her allowance. Back home, though, low-carb lagers were already easy to find, giving her a glimpse of a category that had yet to fully arrive in the UK.

When she returned to London, she noticed there were very few similar options on shelves. That gap in the market became the starting point for Björt, a beer aimed at health-conscious drinkers looking for something lighter without sacrificing flavor.

The lager is brewed in Sussex by Hepworth Brewery using a three-week fermentation process. It is also naturally gluten-free and lower in calories than traditional lagers, adding to its appeal as more consumers look for healthier drinking options.

Bachmann believes the UK could follow the same path as Nordic countries, where low-carb beers have already become a successful part of the market. Whether British drinkers embrace the trend in the same way remains to be seen, but Björt is arriving at a time when lighter and wellness-focused drinks continue to gain attention.

Words to Drink By

“People are complicated. Relationships are complicated.  But you remember when someone has been good to you.” – Bob Lefsetz, Music industry writer and media analyst

(Image courtesy of ANGRYBLUE)

Best Beer Labels of 2025

A craft beer label’s look is important. It’s doorway into the drinking experience – a reflection on and an invitation to the brewer’s art.

And on March 5^, 2025 USA Today announced its Readers’ Choice Top 10 Best Beer Label. These 10 beer labels, nominated by an expert panel and voted as the best by their readers, have “mastered the art of grabbing attention, then delivering a delicious brew.”

1. Don’t Answer The Phone – Xul Beer Company (Knoxville, Tennessee)
2. Homeslice – City Built Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
3. Dan The Wiser – Kinkaider Brewing Co. (multiple locations, Nebraska)
4. Ever Haze – Tripping Animals (Doral and Oakland Park, Florida)
5. When We Swung From The Rafters and Danced Upon Bars – Burial Beer Co. (Asheville, North Carolina)
6. Stout at the Devil – Straight to Ale (Huntsville, Alabama)
7. Bigfoot – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, California and Mills River, North Carolina)
8. Winter Grind – Mother’s Brewing Company (Springfield, Missouri)
9. Cran Orange Wheat Ale – Great Lakes Brewing (Cleveland, Ohio)
10. Age of Otters IPA – 3 Floyds Brewing (Munster, Indiana)

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