Kaldi, Iceland’s first micro-brewed beer, will be available in wine stores in Iceland next week. Kaldi is brewed according to a Czech tradition.
“This is very exciting,” Júlíus Steinarsson of the government run alcohol retailer, ÁTVR, told icelandreview.com. “Anticipation is in the air. A lot of people have called and asked about the beer,” he explains.
Kaldi is the debut project of Bruggsmidjan ehf., a brewery located in the town of Árskógssandur in north-east Iceland, between Akureyri and Dalvík. The production started on 22 August.
“This has been an adventure,” brewery manager Agnes Sigurdardóttir told icelandreview.com. “Since I first got the idea in July last year my husband and I have worked like crazy to make this happen.”
Sigurdardóttir claims that Kaldi is healthier than other beers as it contains no added sugar or preservatives. It is not pasteurized, so none of the healthy elements will get lost in the process of brewing.
Kaldi is also brewed for a whole month before consumption to guarantee the highest standard of quality. But due to lack of preservatives, the beer should be consumed within three months. The price will be comparable to other bottled beer.
With quality products from the Czech Republic and pure Icelandic water, Sigurdardóttir promises the most excellent taste. Last week Bruggsmidjan offered its first beer tasting. “The reaction was fantastic. It exceeded all expectations,” Sigurdardóttir says.
A young Czech, who comes from a family of brew masters and is highly educated in the field, created the recipe. “The Czech are famous for good quality beer,” says Steinarsson of ÁTVR. “It’s only right that we learn from the masters.”
The inhabitants of Árskógssandur have been very positive towards the brewery, which has created new jobs in the area. Sigurdardóttir and her husband will also be running a pub in the center of town so travelers can have a taste of Kaldi.
Icelanders have changed their attitude towards beer in recent years. “People used to drink beer to get drunk,” Sigurdardóttir explains. “Now they will settle for a glass of beer a night just to enjoy the taste.” Beer was banned in Iceland until 1989.
