Fruits Of The Harvest

– Norwegian Tax Legislations –

With the application of extensive tax regulations applied to alcoholic substances by the Norwegian government, typical student activities can be found to be far different to those found in Europe. So, to continue delving into the non-sensical world and transgressions that alcohol may bring one must adapt.

To do so, home brewed alcohol is an aggressively developing activity developing throughout Scandinavia. The reasoning behind this is simple, it is economically efficient, self rewarding and most of all highly sociable amongst the Norwegians.

– Economically Efficient –

And so the unreasonable prices for alcohol are consistently felt by many throughout Norway, with your standard beer priced between 60 – 70 Kr… roughly equating to around £7.00 each. A bottle of home brew on the other hand may cost as little as 20p each for a bottle, out of a batch of 70.

Total cost of 70 home brewed bottles: £14.00

– Self Rewarding –

There is something quite distinctively satisfying of quite literally drinking the fruits of your harvest. Quite recently I produced a large batch of pale ale and although it is still in it’s carbonating processes I could not resist but grab my flagon and scoop up decent helping to compliment my Norwegian lunch (Pølser). And when ice cold, a glistening golden glass of pale ale is too hard to resist when you have a great supply… so invite your friends over!

– Sociable –

Yes, so it is all so easy to drink one bottle with a meal but even more exciting to invite over some Norwegian friends as that is when things become a little more sociable. Often a stereotype is filtered around that Norwegian’s are deeply antisocial and that the only way to make conversation with a Norwegian is when they’re highly intoxicated. Personally I must object to this statement as I am yet to meet a Norwegian that fits this description, but I guess alcohol may loosen up a few socially awkward beings.

I shall post images shortly of my home brew that I produced whilst in Oslo on the year abroad.

Joseph.