When Bloodhound Bar's co-owner David Bajka first heard that Norwegian brewer Ægir's beer (named after the Norse god famed for brewing his own special ale) was coming to Australia, he says, "we jumped at the chance to showcase something that's from a very far away place - obviously from a very beautiful place, Norway - to show what people are doing over there."
Bajka decided he wanted to bring it to his bar and have a "tap takeover" - explaining this is when a brewery serve their beers on all of the taps at a bar, to showcase their beers in a new location.
"Bloodhound Bar is one small cog in the wheel of the craft beer industry," the bar's co-owner David Bajka tells SBS Norwegian.
"But we're trying to do our best in Brisbane to spread the word and educate people about [craft beer]."
"Our interest in beer is through the passion that craft beer lovers have," says Bajka. "We love seeing what these people are producing: their love, their passion for their craft. We love showcasing it, we love understanding it, we love telling people about it and spreading the word."
As to how the bar first got involved with the Norwegian brewer, Bajka explains, "Ægir have exported from Norway to Australia a shipment of their beers."
"We were fortunate enough to hear about the shipment at quite an early stage, so we were able to negotiate ten different kegs from that shipment - I believe we were able to get the biggest variety of beers from the shipment, out of anyone in Australia.
"Ægir is not a very huge brewery - it's micro to medium size, so for them to ship them all the way to Australia - obviously quite a way away, that doesn't happen often."
Bajka himself hasn't yet tasted any of Ægir's beers but says "we're all in a new experience over here, but we're very excited to see what they taste like."
A selection of the beers available from Ægir brewery Source: Flamsbrygga.no
Bajka explains the brewery has had many great reviews and has collaborated with many renowned breweries around the world - so he isn't worried about letting them take over all the taps.
"It gives a strong indication that through these collaborations they are the real deal," says Bajka. "Otherwise these other brewing companies from the UK and around the world would probably not collaborate with them."
He's no stranger to other brews from the Scandinavian nation though.
"I have a fair bit of experience with Nøgne Ø - probably the most famous Norwegian brewery here in Australia and around the world," says Bajka.
"They have been around for a number of years and produce very high quality craft beer. For most people, that's the way into Norwegian beer."
"There's a beer from Nøgne Ø called 'Sunturnbrew' and it's very interesting - it's brewed on one day of the year - the shortest day of the year."
On the night of a "tap takeover", Bajka says it is all about sharing a passion and there are always a lot of like-minded people at a venue - that's why he loves to put them on.
"There's already been a good response from some Norwegians for it," says Bajka.
"I definitely think it will draw some interest from the Norwegian crowd."
By taking on Ægir's beer he want to showcase what is brewed in Norway and expand the horizon for himself and his guests.
Bajka says that the passion in the industry fueled his own interest for craft beer, and sharing this passion is what he wants to do with Bloodhound Bar.
Source: David Bajka - Bloodhound Bar
"Beer is going through this great renaissance at the moment - similar to what food and wine has done before it," says Bajka.
"People are understanding that it's coming from small producers now, it's about a family-run business that is doing it out of passion - so that's were my personal passion stems from."
Explaining his personal interest in the industry, Bajka explains "It was only at a later stage that I came to understand that beer can be more than just a mass-produced lager from a foreign brewery."
Pictured: bar ownes David Bajka and Noni Source: David Bajka - Bloodhound Bar
"It can be also locally produced, it can be made lovingly, it can be made in an artisanal way."
