In honor of the Norse
god Thor, the annual month-long celebration Thorri will
be off to a whale of a start with a new beer from Stedjar Brewery. This year’s
limited-edition beer follows the trend from last year using endangered whale fin
for Hvalur 1, by adding smoked whale testicles to the water,
malted barley, and hops used for this year’s new addition to their line of
beers, Hvalur 2.
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| Hvalur 2 Photo: Stedjar Brewery |
Preparation
for this year’s festival will result in 20,000 bottles being brewed with one
whale testicle in each batch. To achieve the unique smoked flavor,
whale testicles are smoked in the traditional way by burning sheep manure.
Somehow, I’m not feeling the love for this beverage or the need to try it;
however, when in Rome..., or Iceland as the case may be.
After water and tea,
beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the world and possibly
the world’s oldest fermented drink. The release date for
Hvalur 2 is January 23rd. Other delicacies surrounding Thorri will
include sheep’s heads, blood pudding, soured whale fat, ram’s testicles, and
putrefied shark.
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| Sheep's Head Guide to Iceland |
The International
Whaling Commission resumed hunting of the Fin whale in 2013, after a
two-year ban. Controversy remains with Icelandic officials who are not in
agreement with the endangered status of the whale population in the North
Atlantic. Conservationists and activists are clear in their opinion with regard
to the sensationalism being used to dishonor the whale for
marketing gain.
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| Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout Photo: Wynkoop Brewing Company |
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| Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale Photo: Voodoo Doughnut |
The addition of meat to
beer is not a common occurrence in the United States. Julie Crew of
the Brewers Association identified a few examples which include Wynkook Brewing
Company’s Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout and Rogue’s Voodoo
Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale.
Sources:
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