Hi friends! It’s been awhile! I haven’t done much since the weather has grown colder and the daylight has grown shorter. I guess you could call it daylight, anyway. For the past month it’s just been when I can see the cloudy skies rather than the complete darkness that falls onto the city around 3:30p.
Anyway, thanks to the Systembolaget (the state run liquor store), I can try all kinds of interesting beverages! Most of them are beer, but I have had a chance to try Swedish Glögg, which is their version of mulled wine. It’s quite tasty and does go so well with some saffron semlar buns. Our holiday party was virtual this year, and they even sent us all packages for a Hot Winter Apple Toddy from Cocktail Gruppen. Quite delicious! I’ve added a pic in the slide show, but it’s a mosaic from others because I forgot to take a pic of my own cocktail. Oops!
I’ve also found that I really enjoy the IPAs from BrewDog, even though they’re made in the UK. They have a shop and restaraunt down the street from me, but I haven’t gone into it to avoid potential Coronavirus exposure. While Sweden has been pretty lax about the situation, I tend to go out wearing a mask when I’m in public and try my best to take in social distancing as much as I can. In a weird way, I’ve found that most Swedes react in one of three ways to me wearing a mask:
1. They don’t care.
2. I get stared at and it’s assumed I’m a plague bringer, which means I am given a wide berth to take care of my business.
3. People get really close to me for some reason and that’s super uncomfortable.
Passive aggressive behaviors aside, wearing a mask is a personal choice for sure. I want to eventually have the chance to visit the states at some point and I don’t want to risk playing with variables I can easily mitigate, but I won’t begrudge anyone here who doesn’t do the same. Sweden’s approach to the virus has often come under heavy criticism, but all I know is that I feel safer when I wear a mask, and really, that’s all that matters.
Anyway, stepping off my soapbox and diverting the derail back on track, here are some images of the drinks I’ve tried so far. When it comes to bevies though, nothing beats a hot toddy at the end of a cold day.
Valerie Kromas 