Thousand Litres Of Icelandic Christmas Beer Lost

A thousand litres of the Christmas beer, Þvörusleikir (named after Icelandic Yule Lad “Spoon Licker”), was poured down the drain at Borg Brugghús in recent days, reports Nútíminn.

Árni Long, Borg Brugghús (Borg Brewery’s) master brewer told Nútíminn that he would not distribute a beer he was even a little unsatisfied with.

“This is obviously a tragedy for beer enthusiasts like us,” said Árni. “But at the same time it’s something you must learn to tolerate as master brewer for an innovative brewery. These 1.000 litres of Christmas beer simply did not measure up to the standards we set for [our product].

This is not the first loss Borg Brewery have been forced to face. Recently the brewery lost 400 litres of their Imperial Stout, Surtur no.8.

“We had been experimenting with barrel matured beers and decided to fill two Scottish whiskey barrels with Surtur no.8,” said Árni. “It didn’t work out, turned out neither barrels were watertight so we had to watch on as litres upon litres spilled out. Some days are worse than others.”

To learn more about the Icelandic Yule Lads which inspired Borg Brewery’s Þvörusleikir Christmas Beer check out this cartoon by Hugleikur Dagsson or read the Grapevine’s comprehensive Christmas Encyclopaedia.