9th February 2009

Iceland Beer Festival

Travellers who have a weakness for a good pint of beer will be in their element in Iceland this year as the country celebrates the 20th anniversary of the beverage being legalised. Beer only became legal in Iceland in 1989, following 75 years of prohibition. Most flights are with Icelandair who are based at Heathrow Airport.

Celebrations in the country this year will include Beer Day on 1 March, which will give visitors many opportunities to try a pint of the local Viking, Thule or Egils beer varieties.
Over the past 20 years, microbreweries have opened up in Iceland using the country's pure natural spring water to brew beer.

The Mjodur brewery in Stykkisholmur, west Iceland opened to the public in October 2008, enabling visitors to try its first commercial beer Jokull Bjor, which means Glacier Beer.
Tours of the brewery, including tastings, cost 1,000 krona (£6) and should be booked in advance.
Iceland is currently hosting Thorrablot, an annual mid-winter Viking feast that challenges visitors to try unusual foods including boiled sheep's head.