‘True vikings’ must try Iceland’s ‘whale beer’

Iceland has a new drink that is being marketed for “true vikings” — whale beer.

While much of the international community will disapprove (there is a moratorium on hunting fin and minke whales) the Steðja Brewery has teamed up with the country’s whaling industry to create the product The Atlantic reported.

The product is 5.2 percent alcohol and is made in a process that uses the animals’ meat and oil.

Dagbjartur Ariliusson, the brewery’s owner, defended the product to reporters by saying that its creation is consistent with Iceland’s history. Icelanders have traditionally celebrated an annual mid-winter festival called Thorrablot with cured whale fat. He said that now his people will have a “healthy” whale beer to go with their food.

Beer connoisseurs traveling to Reykjavík don’t have long to taste the viking treat, as the brewery will end production on Feb. 22.