Saturday, March 1, 2014

Three Cheers for today 1st March is Iceland's 25th Anniversary of Beer Day - Skál!

Today, the First Day of March, that amazing country of Ice and Fire, Volcanoes and Tectonic Plate-shifting, Iceland, celebrates that most exciting of days for a brewer and beer lover - Beer Day!

The Icelandic Flag at þingvellir, the site of the first Icelandic Parliament

Today is the 25th Annual Beer Day as beer was illegal in Iceland from 1915 right up to 1 March 1989, after the people felt it was time to embrace the joys of beer. And quite right too! Now it's proper and respectable to have a view like this in your cellar:

50 litre kegs in Reykjavik pub cellar

 I was lucky enough to have a short visit to this incredible island in May last year (corresponding blog to follow when I find the photos). Favourite bar/cafes were Cafe Babalu, Laundromat CafeÖlstofa Kormáks Og SkjaldarBest eating by far was down at the docks in the Sea Baron. They are brewing some delicious beer of all types - from the palest of pilsners to the most imperial of stouts, with everything in between. Get over there if you can - you'll not be disappointed by the welcoming and friendly Icelanders, the out of this world volcanic scenery and the beautiful beer. 
Fagnið pivni daginn í dag! Celebrate Icelandic Beer Day today!
Skál & Slàinte, 
Ken