Traditional Icelandic Food and Beer

Traditional Icelandic Food and Beer

Traditional Icelandic food was born out of necessity dictated by weather and circumstances. The preservation of food was a matter of survival over the winter months when meat and fish were scarce. Housewives used various methods to preserve as much food as possible. Meat was smoked, salted, pickled or put in whey for 3 – 4 months, giving it a very specific sour taste. Fish was dried, hanged, salted, smoked or allowed to cure for some time. Almost everything from the animal was used. A few examples of the “delicacies” made from Icelandic sheep are blood and liver pudding, singed sheep heads, smoked lamb and ram testicles! If you would like to taste some of these special treats, try Café Loki near the Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral. It is also possible to buy some delicacies in a nearby grocery store. Try rye pancakes (flatkaka), sliced smoked lamb (hangikjöt) and some butter to make a tasty snack.

Smoked salmon (lax) on rye bread (rúgbrauð) is also popular. Other bread toppings include marinated herring, rolled sausage and lamb pâtés.

When going on a camping trip or just driving in the countryside, take some dried fish (harðfiskur) with you from the nearest service station. It is the perfect lightweight snack, which most Icelanders pack when going on a picnic or hike. Don‘t let the smell put you off. Most of the above foods can be found in grocery stores and at the airport duty free stores.

Beer and Brennivín from Iceland

Even though beer was banned in Iceland until 1989, the country has several local breweries that brew native beer brands. The main brands are Egils (Gull), from the Egill Skallagrímsson brewery, and Viking (Gylltur, Lager and Lite), brewed by Vífilfell, who also offer the Thule beer. Brewed from the purest water in the world, Icelandic beer is a good choice in today’s varied beer culture. Visitors to the guestroom at the oldest brewery in Iceland have the opportunity to experience a new and innovative way to get to know the Icelanders and their history. The tour, “Taste the Saga” offered by Iceland Excursions (AH150), takes the guests through Icelandic drinking culture and age old beer traditions come to life.

The tour, which is operated on Fri.- Sat. at 6pm, is fairly inexpensive and includes transportation, beverages and snacks.

Sharp Heights. Photo by Olga

Brennivín, the Icelandic signature alcoholic beverage (around 40% abv), translates literally into English as “burning spiritus” but is also known as “Black Death”. When eating Icelandic ”hákarl”, putrified shark meat, Brennivín is often used to mask the meat’s taste.

Bríó was the first beer developed by Borg, the microbrewery of the Ölgerðin Egill Skallagrímsson.

Became so popular that the microbrewery could no longer handle the demand; is now made by the larger Ölgerðin’s brewery. Was originally developed with the landlords of one specific pub. Has a light, fresh but distinctly hoppy flavour. Very aromatic. The flavour is largely due to the exclusive use of Mittelfrüh hops, originating from Hallertau in Bavaria. Mittelfrüh hops are prized for their aromatic qualities and notoriously difficult to grow. Very few beers are exclusively flavoured with Mittelfrüh hops, which has gathered some international attention for Bríó. Bríó has, in its short lifespan, already won several awards. Most impressive is a gold medal for best German style Pilsner at the World Beer Cup 2012. Simply put, that means that Bríó can proclaim itself the best pilsner in the world.

Taste the Saga at Egils Brewery Brewed from the purest water in the world, Icelandic beer is a great choice in today‘s varied beer culture. Visitors to the guestroom at Iceland’s oldest brewery have the opportunity to experience Icelanders and their history in a new and innovative way. The tour offered by Iceland Excursion (AH150) takes the guests through Icelandic drinking culture and age old beer traditions come to life. The tour, which is operated Thursday through Sunday at 6pm (pickup time varies, check with IE) is a great value and includes transportation, beverage and snacks.