Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ICELANDIC BOOZE
Icelanders have a lot of time in winter to perfect their crafts. It's no wonder then that a
slew of good local distilleries and breweries have sprung up. Here's a quick cheat sheet
for your next bar-room order:
Brennivín
Caraway-flavoured 'black death' schnapps, nicely neon-green (80 proof).
Opal
Flavoured vodka in several menthol and licorice varieties (52 proof).
Flóki
Icelandic single-malt whisky.
64° Reykjavík
Microdistillery producing Katla vodka, aquavit, herbal liqueurs and
schnapps (think juniper or blueberry).
Reyka
Iceland's first distillery, in Borgarnes, with crystalline vodka.
BEER!
Egils, Gull, Thule and Viking are the most common beers (typically lagers) in Iceland. But
craft breweries are taking the scene by storm and you can ask for them in most Reykjavík
and larger city bars.
Borg Brugghús
(
www.borgbrugghus.is
) Award-winning craft brewery with scrump-
tious beers from Bríó pilsner to Úlfur IPA and Garún stout, all whimsically named. Its
sheep-dung-smoked IPA Fenrir is an acquired taste.
Einstök Brewing Company
(
www.einstokbeer.com
)
Akureyri-based craft brewery with
a fab Viking label and equally distinctive Icelandic Pale Ale, among other ales and porters.
Kaldi
(
www.bruggsmidjan.is
) Produced using Czech techniques, Kaldi's popular micro-
brews are widely available, and its cool
Kaldi
bar offers seasonal draught beers on offer
nowhere else.
Steðji Brugghús
(
www.stedji.com
)
This little, family-run Borgarnes brewhouse crafts
several beers each year, from strawberry beer to lager.
Ölvisholt Brugghús
(
www.brugghus.is
)
Solid range of microbrews from south Iceland,
includes eye-catching Lava beer.
