While January is a tough month in many ways, the Norwegian Vinmonopolet makes the days a little brighter for beer lovers.
25 new beers are in the list of beverages on sale this Saturday. Some of them are being relaunched, some are pale lagers, but the overall quality of this is very impressive.
Belgian Geuze, Italian micros, new beers from Haandbryggeriet and Nøgne ø, Rip Tide and Punk IPA from BrewDog at reasonable prices (for Norway, that is!) as well as decent stuff from England and the US.
90 kroner for a bottle of Cantillon!
Actually, it could well cost something similar if it were sold here. Which it isn’t.
Is this the result of lobbying…? Or is there someone in charge there who has a real interest in beer?
There is someone in charge with a real beer interest. The current product manager at the wine monopoly is sufficiently interested in beer that he travels to Brussels for beer tasting once a year. His problem is that beer sales at the wine monopoly make up just 0.5% of the volume but 1% of the selection. And the best-selling beers are all either crap lagers or Christmas beers.
Went to the Vinmonopolet today to see the new selection. Picked up 2 bottles of Rogue Shakespeare Stout. While I really like this particular beer, I was a bit shocked that I paid nearly 200 NOK for them. Also picked up a couple of the Samuel Smith Porters (much more reasonable), and a few selections from nøgne-Ø. Glad to see the new variety!