Bergen & Flam, Norway

I had a short stay in Bergen actually, as our aim was a trip to fjord.  So it was rather a stop-over, and we did not even visit a bar there (and reluctant to mention that we were rejected by a supermarket cashier when we intended to buy a bottle of beer after 8pm).

Departing for the fjord at 8am, and we arrived at Flam before noon.  Flam is a beautiful, small port by the tip of a fjord, also at the bottom tip of a steep railway line.  There was a museum depicting the struggle in opening up the railway.  I always cannot imagine the hardship of railway workers a century ago, when we could comfortably sit in a train and enjoy the scenery along the rail.  How could we pay tribute to them?  In a respectable and proper way ...

I have not read much tourist information about this small port town, therefore it was quite a surprise to us when we found a microbrewery there - AEgir Bryggeri.  More correctly when I noticed that this one is only second-best after the Oslo one (much better than the ones in Warsaw and Gdansk).

They sell a set of five tasting samples and we tried that.  There should be enough time for us as the ferry would only leave in one and a half hours.

They are usually presented in a order from light through hoppy/bitter flavour to port or stout, as you could see them from left to right (not necessary fitted with your imagination on the colours).  They are all good, but in general showing a rather pale finish (as you could always describe as crispy).  This is a general observation I could conclude in visiting several microbreweries (except the Oslo one), the beer brewed are mainly light or pale, except any single one of IPA which showed the strong character of hoppyness.  Among the five, the like the first one the most, i.e. Boyla Blonde Ale (4.7% ABV).  The taste is very well-balanced and refreshing - perfect for a Norwegian summer afternoon!

The ferry took us through Aurlandsfjord and Naeroyfjord, and eventually back to Bergen in the late evening.

We have nothing to complain but gratitude to everything we've seen: the fjords, seabirds, a big waterfall, steep railway, a microbrewery and all the beautiful scenery.