Posts Tagged Drink
Making Norway’s best beer
Posted by admin in Food and drink, Shopping on March 13, 2010
Fancy a beer? Then remember this name, Nøgne Ø, next time you go down to your local Vinmonopolet! The brewery (the name means ‘barren isle’, and comes from a poem by Henrik Ibsen!) snapped the first four places in the Norwegian Beer Club Association’s (Norøl’s) listing of Norway’s best beers in 2009. The winner in the ‘Norwegian beer of the year’ category was Nøgne Ø Special Holiday Ale. Nøgne Ø had new fewer than 8 beers in the top 10 in this category. The ‘Norwegian brewery of the year’ award went to (no points for guessing!) Nøgne Ø, followed by Haandbryggeriet, Aass and Berentsen Brygghus.
Best imported beers, by the way, were the Danish Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel which came first, followed by American Flying Dog Snake Dog and Stone Brewing Special Holiday Ale.
I haven’t tried any of these yet, so I can’t tell you more, but I thought that was an impressive pedigree. I promise to investigate on your behalf! Cheers! (or rather Skål!)
More info on Nøgne Ø, in English, at www.nogne-o.com
More on beer in Norway at the Beer Academy in Oslo www.ol-akademiet.no (Norwegian only)
The state-owned Vinmonopolet: A Norwegian institution
Posted by admin in Food and drink, Photos and videos, Shopping on February 11, 2010
Vinmonopolet outlets in Østfold
Posted by admin in Food and drink, Shopping on February 11, 2010
In Norway you can only buy strong alcohol from the state-owned Vinmonopolet (commonly known as ‘Polet’), which has the exclusive right to retail wine, spirits and strong beer. To help you find your nearest shop, I’ve put together a list of the 10 Vinmonopolet outlets located in Østfold, with contact details and opening times for each one of them.
- Askim, Haugomgata 17. Open Mon-Tue 1000-1700, Wed-Fri 1000-1800, Sat 0900-1500. Tel: 69 88 88 89.
- Fredrikstad (Gamlebyen), Færgeportgate 78 A. Open Mon-Wed 1000-1700, Thu 1000-1800, Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1400. Tel: 69 32 01 40.
- Fredrikstad (Torvbyen), Brochs gate 8-10. Open Mon-Thu 1000-1800, Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1500. Tel: 69 31 17 42.
- Halden (Tista Senter), Walkersgate 4. Open Mon-Fri 1000-1800, Sat 0900-1500. Tel: 69 18 88 68.
- Hvaler, Strandveien 7, Skjærhallen. Open Thu-Fri 1000-1700, Sat 1000-1400. Tel: 69 37 88 29.
- Moss, Prinsens gate 7. Open Mon-Wed 1000-1700, Thu 1000-1800, Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1500. Tel: 69 25 11 43.
- Mysen, Smedgata 30. Open Mon-Wed 1000-1700, Thu-Fri 1000-1800, Sat 0900-1500. Tel: 69 89 77 11.
- Rakkestad, Storgata 17. Tue-Thu 1000-1630, Fri 1000-1700, Sat 1000-1400. Tel: 69 22 97 00.
- Rygge (Rygge Storsenter), Carlbergveien 2. Open Mon-Wed 1000-1700, Thu 1000-1800, Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1500. Tel: 69 26 02 27.
- Sarpsborg (Storbyen Shopping Centre), Roald Amundsens gate 28. Open Mon-Thu 1000-1800, Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1500. Tel: 69 16 14 40.
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For more info visit www.vinmonopolet.no (Norwegian only)
Juleøl is popular this time of year
Posted by admin in Food and drink, Photos and videos on December 25, 2009
Norwegian Christmas drinks
Posted by admin in Food and drink on December 25, 2009
- Gløgg: The Norwegian take on mulled wine. You mix the sirupy mixture with hot red wine, and add chopped almonds and raisins. My personal favourite, it gets me in the Christmas mood instantly.
- Juleøl: There are two kinds of Christmas beers, which are basically spiced beers brewed specifically for the Christmas season. The strong ones are only available from the Vinmonopolet, while the weaker variety can be found in stores everywhere. Most Norwegian breweries make several Christmas beers every year, ranging from non-alcoholic to strong. Of the beers available from the Vinmonopolet, julebukk is usually the strongest variety.
- Aquavit: The spirit of choice for Christmas (and many other special occasions) in Norway. See former entry on this blog.
- Home-brewed juleøl: A disappearing tradition, but an important one in the old days, when each family would brew its own non-alcoholic beer in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Some Norwegians uphold the custom to this day.
- Julebrus: Fizzy soft drink, red in colour and with a very artificial taste, slightly reminiscent of raspberry. Popular with children.
- Julmust: Imported from Sweden, and consumed by some Norwegians as an alternative to cola in the festive season.
How much duty-free can I take into Norway?
Doing any travelling this Christmas? Check out how much duty-free you can take into Norway, and avoid nasty surprises at the border.
- 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products and 200 leaves of cigarette paper (travellers over 18 years of age).
- Either 1l of spirits over 22% volume and 1.5l wine, or 3l of wine; and and 2l of beer up to 4.75% alcohol (travellers over 20 years of age).
- A small amount of perfume and eau de cologne.
- Up to a total of 10kg of meat and meat products, cheese and foodstuffs (except dog and cat food).
- Other goods to the value of Kr3,000-6,000.
(source: www.toll.no)