Greetings from Honningsvag,Norway.

[Banjo-guy]

I've spent the last week in the northern most city on the mainland of Norway. The village is Honningsvag and it's well above the arctic circle. I'm playing with a bluegrass band for the Nord Kapp film festival. It's been amazing! The band is on the way to Oslo in the south of Norway. The Norwegians told me that almost none of their countrymen make it up to the northern most section of Norway. Its a 2.5 hour flight from Oslo to the town of Alta and another 2 hour drive north to Honningsvag.

Now for the beer report.
They mainly drink Pilsners in Norway. The highest ABV that you can buy in a bar is 4.8% and it's very expensive. We have been paying 80 krone for a bottle of what I consider very bland beer. That's about 13-14 dollars at the bar. Only Americans tip over here.

The first night I had a great wheat beer from a mikrobryggeri named Nonge O.
The other beers that show up a lot are a Carlsberg brand named Ringes and another hugh company named Mack. Mack is the Budweiser of Norway and tastes like it. The town of Honningsvag has less than 3000 people that live there and they hardly have any bars or places to shop or buy beer. The selection is very limited.

I'm sure that Oslo will have many beers to try. It's hard to sample beers when the prices are so high.
What I really want to try is a farm house ale that uses juniper berries for bittering instead of hops.

Any suggestions about what beers to look for in Oslo?

[swenocha]

Nøgne Ø is very, very good. Glad you got to try some of theirs. That was going to be my recommendation. Sounds like a great trip...

[Inkleg]

Sounds like a fun trip Banjo-guy.

[berryman]

I've spent the last week in the northern most city on the mainland of Norway. The village is Honnignsvag and it's well above the article circle. I'm playing with a bluegrass band for the Nord Kapp film festival. It's been amazing! The band is on the way to Oslo in the south of Norway. The Norwegians told me that almost none of their countrymen make it up to the northern most section of Norway. Its a 2.5 hour flight from Oslo to the town of Alta and another 2 hour drive north to Honnigsvag.

Now for the beer report.
They mainly drink Pilsners in Norway. The highest ABV that you can buy in a bar is 4.8% and it's very expensive. We have been paying 80 krone for a bottle of what I consider very bland beer. That's about 13-14 dollars at the bar. Only Americans tip over here.

First, that is very cool that you are performing there. I would have thought the great beers were unlimited there and I had no idea that they would cost that much. I guess tip like an American and enjoy your stay........................

[mashani]

See if you can find some Sahti. Not really Norwegian, but Finnish, but it's possible you may find some...

It's a multi-grain concoction usually has rye and oats along with the barley, and uses Juniper for flavoring.

[Chuck N]

If you run into any of Ole's relatives tell them that Ole is doing fine.

Oh. Wait.

You're in Norway. They're ALL Ole's relatives.

Sounds like a COOL trip.

[Dawg LB Steve]

What an experience! ENJOY it!

[evily]

What a cool trip to be on! Too bad the beer's so expensive, but otherwise it sounds like a blast! ENJOY!

[Chuck N]

Actually, I've been to Norway once also. But I've never been on Norway. The ship I was stationed on spent three days parked in a Norwegian fjord. As close as I ever came.

[philm00x]

nice! hope you enjoy your trip, and have fun playing w/ your band!

[Brewbirds]

Awesome opportunity for you BanjoG hope you are having a great time. Give them all some good Blue Grass tunes.

[DaYooper]

Way cool! Wishing you luck that the Northern Lights decide to peek out while you are there.