From mid-October, Norwegian supermarket shelves fill with red and brown bottles of julebrus — literally 'Christmas soda' — a seasonal soft drink that has quietly become one of the country's most beloved festive rituals. More than 21 million litres were sold in 2024, and in the final week before Christmas roughly one in four soft drinks bought in Norway is julebrus.

This isn't one recipe but a whole category: dozens of producers make their own versions, and there were more than 70 varieties on the market in 2024. The two main camps are red and brown. Red julebrus tends to be sweeter and fruity, usually raspberry or redcurrant, while the golden-brown kind has a rounder, mixed-fruit taste. Ask a Norwegian which is better and you may trigger a surprisingly passionate debate — Ringnes puts national preferences at roughly an even split.

The tradition is older than you'd think. One of the earliest references dates to 1912, when a Trøndelag mineral water factory advertised a special Christmas drink. The big turning point came in 1972, when Hamar Bryggeri launched a brown julebrus designed to look like beer in the glass. It worked: Hamar and Lillehammer Julebrus is now the country's bestselling version, moving seven million litres in 2025 under Ringnes ownership.

What makes julebrus really interesting is its regional loyalty. Trondheim swears by E.C. Dahls' brown version from 1979; Bergen drinks Hansa's red; Tromsø has Mack's; Kristiansand has CB; Møre og Romsdal favours Oskar Sylte's Rudolf & Nissens. Most people simply stick with whatever they grew up drinking, and changing a beloved recipe is commercial dynamite.

The drink's limited season is part of its appeal. Unlike everyday sodas, julebrus vanishes after the holidays, building anticipation. Producers are still innovating, though — sugar-free versions are now common, Fanta launched a limited-edition sugar-free red julebrus for 2026, and Roma Brusfabrikk even released a white one called Snøfnugg. Sweden has its own parallel tradition with julmust, a malt-and-hops drink, while Icelanders mix malt drink with orange soda, but Norway's sheer variety of regional brands is unique.

For travellers visiting Norway in November or December, julebrus is one of the easiest local traditions to join. Grab a bottle of each colour, compare them over a plate of Christmas cookies, and pick a side in the red-versus-brown debate — just don't expect anyone to agree with you.