One of the biggest highlights of the Christmas season in Denmark occurs at the beginning of November, almost 2 months before Christmas. On November 5, Tuborg released its official Christmas beer. On this night, all the Danes flock to 170 selected bars in Copenhagen to await the arrival of the Tuborg elves that bring around the FREE Christmas beer. Of course, this was an event that Ben and I had to experience!
Our little group arrived at the bar at about 8pm, a little late to get a table inside. We were relegated to the cold patio. We decided, however, that this would be an ideal spot to see the arrival of the Tuborg truck and the Tuborg elves. The first round of beer was expected to arrive at the bars at 9pm. The truck did not make it to our bar until 10pm.
The Tuborg truck backed down the street to where the bar was located. Once stopped, the back door sprung open while snow fell from the roof of the truck, Christmas music played, and the Tuborg elves danced and sang. Each of the Tuborg elves was carrying a case of Tuborg beer and some coveted blue hats with lights. As soon as the elves made it off the truck, they were swarmed by bar patrons, each person trying to get a bottle of beer and a blue hat. The elves did their best to make it inside the bar before they passed anything out though; this of course was a huge disadvantage to us because our table was outside. Below are pictures of two of the Tuborg elves and the crowded bar (notice the blue hats everyone is wearing).
I tried my very best to get a blue hat and a christmas beer. I rushed into the bar as soon as the elves went in, but it proved to be quite difficult to even get close to one of them. Luckily, I managed to snatch one of the last Christmas beers from one elf. I returned to our table to see if the rest of our group had been successful. A couple people managed to obtain both Christmas beer and hats, however most of us obtained one or the other. While I had gotten a beer, Ben was only able to get a Christmas hat. All in all, it was a highly entertaining evening and we will know for next year to arrive even earlier to get the prime spots inside the bar.
In Vancouver, I always looked forward to the release of the Granville Island Lions Winter Ale. However, I never quite knew which day the beer would released on. I would check the BC Liquor stores daily starting in mid November to see if the beer had been released. When it finally hit the shelves, I would buy several cases before they were sold out. I wish the Granville Island Brewery would make more of a spectacle for the release of their Christmas beer, however I understand that there is a significant difference in the size of the production capacities of Carlsberg/Tuborg vs Granville Island.
Still, the Carlsberg Christmas beer is no substitute to the rich, smooth flavours of the Granville Island Winter Ale...and I can say that right now, I am missing this beer more than sushi.
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