J-Dag in Aarhus

Every year on the first Friday of November in Denmark, the Christmas beer (julebryg) is served. This day is called J-Dag (for julebryg day). The first pint is allowed to be poured at 20.59, and this year it was on 2 November. Our Icelandic friends Ásdís and Berglind called over to our apartment for some of Esben's wonderful cooking and to 'hygge' together, before heading into town to taste some Christmas beer. I love the fact that the Danes take their beer seriously, and produce Christmas and Easter brews - and they taste really good, usually a little darker than the regular brew and somewhat sweeter. After Esben's yummy food, we ate some traditional Icelandic skyr dessert - skyr is a type of natural yoghurt, but thicker, and has lots of protein in it. And the dessert had a biscuit base, skyr on top with fresh strawberries mixed in. So good! And then it was off into town - we tried the Christmas brew at two basement bars: Thorups Kælder and Cheers. Both were really good, and we had planned to go on to our favourite bar in town, HeadQuarters, but it now closes at 3am on Fridays and not 5am. Oh well....it was probably time to go home anyhow!