Tonight I was just trying to get settled back from my trip to Norway and I was really tired … so I pulled a can I’ve had in reserve out of the fridge to keep up my streak.  This was a can I purchased at the local convenience store by my hotel: Dominikaner Pilsener (from the Holsten Group of Brews (Hamburg)).

A decent Pils … it was a nice cap to an evening from a long day of travel.  Welcome back to Germany, Beer Mentor!

If you look hard enough, you can find your favorite kind of beer — and I did.  We went back to the Liquor Store in Harstad and they had several of these hand-crafted beers from this company: Haandbryggeriet

The first one I’m trying (I bought 3 others … LOL) is the IPA.  Yummy.  This was an excellent IPA, and it is really special in that they use wild hops in it that grow in a stream bed near their brewery.  The taste was excellent.

A nice Norwegian IPA to finish off my trip above the Arctic Circle.

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

Today I was finishing up a few errands, completing a couple of tasks, and then we ended up relaxing in the room, taking the opportunity to sample another Norwegian beer.  Today’s brew was another Rignes … not the Pilsener this time — The Premium Lager.  This beer was drinkable (I guess it is one of the more common Norwegian brews).  I’m just about finished with my Norwegian tour — one more day … maybe one more Norwegian Beer!

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

It was a full moon last night so I tried to get a couple of pictures … working with my wonderful digital camera, I managed to capture a couple of interesting shots.  This first one is a picture through the window in my room — you can see the reflection of the moon on the glass — the bright circle is the actual moon, the one that looks like the moon is the reflection … cool.  The other shot is from outside with the night time exposure on my camera — obviously I couldn’t get a good zoom — and it was about -12 celsius at the time so I decided not to spend anymore time outside trying to figure it out!

You may ask, what beer was I drinking while I took these amazing shots?  Well, I was drinking Mack’s Winter Party Beer!  This is a wheat malt based beer that was actually quite good.  Very drinkable — but I guess they mean for it to be that way.  A refreshing beer to drink after you’re finished skiing or whatever!  Pretty funny label — check out the pics.

Beer Mentor

Today I ran 8 miles for the first time ever … in Norway … above the Arctic Circle! Ha ha.  Yes, it was cold, but not as cold as earlier in the week … I think it was only -4 Celsius.  I actually got a little warm about mile six.

You can tell from these pictures how beautifully cold it is here — and that it is pretty far north.  The picture with my shadow and the shot of the sun were taken between 12 and 1 pm … The sun didn’t get too high in the sky …

How did I celebrate the completion of my first-ever 8-mile run?  We went out for dinner in Harstad — had a Ringnes Pilsener at a couple of different locations … I would say the overall experience was good.  The Pils was flavorful and hit the spot!

Beer Mentor

Ok, I’ll strike this one off of my bucket list (just like seeing the Northern Lights!)

Fishing in a Norwegian Fjord in winter …. yes!  What a blast!  I had a great time with my new Norwegian friends — good fellowship (and we caught a few fish!)

How do you celebrate the ending of such a  great day?  You drink a nice Norwegian Beer! Ha ha!

This one was a Hansa Fatøl — a decent beer … not the greatest, but it worked.  Although they can trace a brewing tradition for about 400 years, this company is a result of several mergers of Norwegian Breweries.

Beer Mentor

Although I am in Norway, there are some Austrians here with us.  I had the pleasure of hanging out with one of them today … and he had brought a few different beers with him … and some home made Schnapps.  The Schnapps he brought is called “Obstler” — which means it is a mix of fruit … in this instance Apple and Pear.

Wow! This stuff was good — it set me up nicely to follow it with a good Austrian Beer: Schwechater.   They’ve been making beer for 350 years — not real old, but old enough!   This is a very nice beer … I’m looking forward to visiting Vienna in April and sampling a few more Austrian brews.

Beer (and Schnapps) Mentor

Today my friend took me up to his “hometown”–where his parents live.  This was a pretty cool trip — we saw some interesting sights (Viking Museum, a Church built in the 1200s, and the Liquor store!).  Here are a sampling of the pictures I took of this trip …

I’m not a cold weather fan, but this place is beautiful.  Wow.  The scenery here is just spectacular.  I did go into the Liquor store and picked up a Norwegian specialty–aquavit.  Aquavit means “Water of Life”–similar to the Gaelic word for “Whisky.”  Actually, I got a couple of bottles …

The one called “Linie Aquavit” has a special story associated with it, but the short version is that it is sent on a ship from Norway to Australia (in French Oak casks) and then back, therefore crossing the equator — that’s why it’s called Linie.  The thought is the sloshing back and forth in the cask adds a certain characteristic to it — I’m ready to try!

So, what beer would be appropriate to close out my great day today?  Well, how about the Mack “Arctic Beer.”  We are above the Arctic Circle here–I have seen the Northern Lights.  It’s only appropriate!  LOL

(Yes, I sleep in the same shirt every night) Ha ha!

Enjoy!

Beer Mentor

Today was a relaxation day for me (if you call running 3 miles relaxing…)  I went to the room to watch a movie (check out the headphones) (The Legend of the Shadowless Sword – recommended) and enjoy a nice Norwegian Beer.   This beer is brewed by Frydenlund (actually Ringnes Brewery) in Oslo.  A smooth style lager that is quite enjoyable: Frydenlund Fatøl.

Beer Mentor

First, before I talk about my day’s beer, you can see a picture of my “beer stash” I have to help us pass the time while we are here in Norway.  Of course, I haven’t been drinking any of this since I’ve got all this expensive Norwegian Beer to drink! LOL

However, I am helping the others in the group keep themselves “beerhydrated.”

Today’s beer was another one from the Mack Brewery: Haakon.  This beer was named for a Norwegian king (I think) and you can see the helmeted figure on the bottom of the can.  Either way, it was a decent beer … fit for a king? Maybe ….

Beer Mentor