JULEBRYG

One of the things I like about living in Denmark is that the breweries make special brews at Christmas (julebryg) and Easter (påskebryg). This practice dates from olden times, when everyday beer was very weak and watery (small beer in English), and they only made the real stuff at certain times of the year. The special brews are much stronger and more hoppy, which is why I like them.

Julebryg makes its annual appearance on J-day, the first Friday in November (i.e. today), and it is often given out free by the breweries. Which means that there are a lot of young people running around Denmark at this very moment, getting thoroughly drunk. Including my daughter, whom I drove to a party a couple of hours ago.

Walter Blotscher