[NOTE: This post first ran as a profile on the Alberta Ale Trail website: https://albertaaletrail.ca/stories/34]

Edmonton has its share of Irish and British pubs, and even a Belgian-inspired beer café or two. But did you know it also has a Scandinavian pub? It is called Three Vikings and to be honest it is something of a Scandinavian-British hybrid, bringing together two distinct cultural traditions.

How did such a rare place come about? You can blame Three Vikings owners Stephanie Moore and husband Finn Mollegaard-Laugesen for that. Finn is Danish and Stephanie spent a period after university working in pubs in the United Kingdom. When they decided they wanted to open a pub in Edmonton, it naturally had to include elements of both heritages. Three Vikings opened its doors in 2018 on the emerging 124 Street.

The space is a fitting testament to both traditions. The décor is Scandinavian minimalist mixed with a cozy English pub feel, and with no shortage of Viking references and paraphernalia throughout. Moore says the aim, in classic Scandinavian style, is “to be inclusive, to be a space for families and to have something for everyone, no matter where they come from”. Moore says she has loved “watching kids grow up here” over the last eight years.

The menu has both British classics like fish and chips and bangers and mash and Danish staples including frikadeller (pan-fried pork meatballs) and pølse (a type of Danish hot dog). They also offer a range of pub food, including burgers, fish tacos and poutine. Moore is proud that almost everything is made from scratch and they source local ingredients “to the best of our abilities” (it is Edmonton, after all).

Their commitment to local is what motivates them to participate in Alberta on the Plate’s annual Local Food Week Festival (which runs August 8 to 17 this year), a province-wide celebration of locally sourced food where restaurants create special dishes to highlight local ingredients. Three Vikings has been a partner in every single Alberta on the Plate festival. “We want to celebrate local producers and take any opportunity to have people learn about where their food comes from”, says Moore.

But what about the beer? The good news is Three Vikings is as committed to local beer as it is to local food. “Knowing the people who brew your beer is just as important as knowing where your food comes from”, Moore observes. She says that their customers are really connected to their local breweries and “get excited” when they find one of their favourite beer on tap. “It is a conversation starter and helps build connection, which is what we are here to do”.

When I was there seven of their ten taps were Alberta breweries (six from Edmonton) including Omen, Polyrhythm, Longroof, Sea Change and Bent Stick, along with additional canned offerings in the fridge. So it is a great place to explore local beer options. Moore explained that given their theme they devote space for British and Scandinavian offerings such as Guinness and Tuborg, but their priority is to highlight local breweries. “We love how close-knit and supportive the Edmonton brewery community is and are happy to support it”.

The appreciation is returned by the breweries. Longroof Brewing is a small southside brewery that mostly relies on taproom sales. It has a permanent rotating tap at Three Vikings. Co-owner Troy Wassill says the pub increases their visibility and helps introduce them to people living on the north side. “We get people coming in telling us they tried us at Three Vikings and they wanted to come visit. It really helps us reach people on the other side of the river”. Wassill says the relationship works because “as a small, independent company they understand what it means to be small and independent”. The two companies now do an annual collaboration beer, naturally a traditional Danish Christmas beer called Julebryg.

For this year’s Alberta on the Plate Festival Three Vikings is going all-Danish. They are doing a smørrebrød platter, which is a selection of traditional open-faced sandwiches. The platter has three half-sandwiches – pickled herring with curried egg salad, roast beef with horseradish whipped cream, and aged Havarti with apple lingonberry chutney – all with a side of Scandinavian potato salad. They will also be recommending traditional beverage accompaniments for the smørrebrød, which include a shot of Aquavit and a glass of pilsner, brewed by Polyrhythm Brewing.

As it turns out Three Vikings is also just across the street from Irrational Brewing and a couple blocks from Arcadia Brewing, so you can also do a mini-brewery tour after you have finished your smørrebrød.