Iceland review - 2012, Page 67

beeRS
woRtH
tHe tRY

I was surprised to find
out that Valgeir Valgeirsson
lived next door to me. And when
he suggested that I come over for a
beer-tasting session, I was so excited I had to
bite my tongue in order not to howl like a wolf.
Valgeir sat me down in a brown leather sofa.  He
turned out to be a lot younger than I had expected. And
shorter. And slimmer. For some reason, I had imagined
the fat guy from the TV series Jake and the Fatman.
Valgeir poured the first beer carefully, tilting the glass
like a pro.
“Exported Icelandic beer cannot compete with other
brands when it comes to price,” he said.  “Our edge has to
be something else, such as quality or some kind of uniqueness.” He
handed me the first beer. “Now, be honest. The response I’ve had so far
ranges from ‘total and complete abomination’ to ‘pure taste of heaven’.”
BRíó: This is the beer that won the top prize
for the best German pilsner at the World Beer
Cup 2012.  It was developed and brewed by
Borg brewery and it used to be sold in only one
bar in Reykjavík, Ölstofa Kormáks & Skjaldar.
Due to high demand, it is now also available at
the state-owned liquor store, ÁTVR.
KAldI lAgeR: The beer is brewed in Bruggsmiðjan based
on an old Czech recipe. It is a lager in the classic Czech pilsner
style. Kaldi is the biggest-selling bottled beer in Iceland, includ-
ing all the big brand names. It is perhaps not the absolute favorite
amongst beer-moguls, but the people love it.