J: To me, being a Viking is not just someone from a certain geographical location, or a historical figure,  but more symbolic of a state of mind and way of living. I was born and raised in Minnesota and my family is from Norway;, so the idea of the Viking resonates with us and is some thing that we hold onto because it is part of our heritage. Historically, Vikings were known as this tough group of conquerors and I feel there are certain strengths we can still glean from them today. Being a Viking is about conquering life by being everything you were meant to be and not letting anything hold you back no matter how difficult. This world, while beautiful, can be equally unfair and tough. It’s about navigating through life’s rocky waters in order to see the beauty and remembering that beauty is there and it’s worth all the risk. And that’s what I think a Viking is to me. When life’s difficulties get  to be too overwhelming, I remember that I came from a strong group of people who sacrificed and risked everything for their families and the life they wanted, and because I’m a Viking I’m equally as capable. 

It looks like you do a lot of traveling. Tell us about your adventures. 

J: I’ve been traveling ever since I was younger because it was instilled in us at a young age from my grandmother who has been all over the world. 

I’ve been all over North and Central America from all the way up in the Arctic Circle doing a polar bear expedition in Canada down to snorkeling in the Gulf of Mexico. I’ve been to almost every state in the continental United States,  30+ national parks, hiked the narrows of Zion, and climbed various 14,000 ft + mountains in Colorado, Utah, and California. 

I started traveling overseas in 2018, when I visited Iceland. Absolutely beautiful country and amazing people. Had to come back in 2019 after healing from my broken neck.  

   Just a few things I did when in Iceland:

-Completed the ring road, visited the blue lagoon, Hiking, glacier walks and stopping at the Einstok brewery in Akureyri.

– Climbed multiple mountains including hjorleifshaugur, Hvannadalshnukur, and Vatnajokull glacier

– Traveled to the small villages of Vik, and Hofn, 

-Went whale watching in Husavik, and all the way to the east fjords.

Wow, that’s very impressive! Tell us about your first experience tasting Einstök. What made you a fan? 

J: We were in the small fishing town of Grundarfjorour, Iceland. We stopped by a restaurant and I had ordered their fresh cod. A friend of mine talked to me earlier in the year about a popular beer I had to try (Einstok) and as I was sitting there I noticed they had Einstok on tap. I ordered the White Ale and was immediately hooked. The food was great, but the beer was fantastic. It was crisp, smooth, and easy drinking. Definitely a beer perfect for any occasion (after hikes, fishing excursions, lounging at the beach, or whatever). It instantly became a beer that I wanted to have as a go to. After having my first Einstok beer, I had to have more. So every place we went I would order one. Every flavor from the White Ale to the Pale Ale and all the way to the dark. They were all just so good.

Being in the United States, it can be hard to find, but with some research I have been able to find it. I’m hoping the popularity of Einstok beer continues to grow in the United States so it easier to find. 

Tell us about some challenges you faced in 2020 and what helped you overcome them. 

J: I think the biggest challenge that I faced was one that almost everyone faced; just the uncertainty of what was to come and charting the new territory of life during a pandemic. Everything that we seemingly took for granted like our health, the health of our loved ones, our jobs, and even something like a simple vacation, all suddenly weren’t guaranteed anymore. No one knows what the future holds, but when all of life suddenly is upended at the same time, it can be very difficult not knowing what’s going to happen tomorrow. I think what helped me get through these difficulties is just learning to focus and re-direct that focus onto something I can control no matter how small. I worked when I could (we had rolling layoffs throughout the company I work for) and focused on my health, and physical training so I would be prepared the next time I traveled again when restrictions were lifted. It is important to be aware of what is going on in our current situation, but we can’t lose sight of the future without a pandemic and the hope that comes along with it.

What adventures and treks do you have planned for 2021?

J: I plan on being back in the mountains of Colorado where I hope to reach the summit of MT Albert in summer 2021 and will be trekking my way through Norway with hopefully another stop in Iceland come Fall 2021. 

The best is yet to come in 2021, fellow Vikings! 

Live, travel, and conquer! 

Skal!

Rich in aroma and flavor, the Icelandic Doppelbock contains chocolate tones and malted barley that perfectly complement the holiday season. Similar in bold taste, the Icelandic Winter Ale is full bodied with notes of smokey pine and whiskey undertones that ignite the spirit on a cold winter night. 

“Winter time in Iceland is pure magic. A golden sun, ice fields as far as the eye can see, partially frozen waterfalls, and blue glaciers capped with fresh snow surround Vikings on their adventures” says Einstök’s Managing Director Gudjon Gudmundsson. 

Einstök’s Doppelbock and Icelandic Winter Ale are available in cans at select U.S. retailers including Total Wine, Cost Plus Market and others. To find an Einstök retailer near you, visit the Einstök Ale Locator.  

Einstök continues to gain increasing amounts of industry and consumer attention. In just nine years, Einstök has received top industry recognition, including the Meininger’s International Craft Beer Award in Germany, London’s International Beer Challenge, unanimous double gold medals at the 2018 New York International Beer Competition, the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition, and the San Diego International Beer Festival.

“Our goal has always been to get our refreshing brews in the hands of craft beer lovers around the globe.” said David Altshuler, Einstök Co-Founder, and CEO. “This new distribution deal gives Vikings in Kansas the opportunity to experience Iceland in every Einstök beer they drink.”  

Founded in 1949, Standard Beverage Corporation is the leading distributor of fine wines, spirits and beer, and is the only large distributor that is Kansas owned. With offices in Lawrence, Lenexa and Wichita, they provide the most diverse portfolio of the industry’s best and most well-known beer brands.

The expansion of Einstök’s distribution territory continues to grow at a steady pace. Since its inception in 2011, Einstök’s sales growth has consistently doubled every year. Based on data from Statistics Iceland, Einstök is the largest exporter of alcoholic beverages from Iceland. 

Einstök continues to gain industry and consumer traction year after year. In nine years, Einstök has received top industry recognition, including the Meininger’s International Craft Beer Award in Germany, London’s International Beer Challenge, unanimous double gold medals at the 2018 New York International Beer Competition, the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition, and the San Diego International Beer Festival. 

Q: Congratulations on winning our contest! What made you want to want to participate in the challenge?

A: Thank you! The possibility of contributing to Einstok in some way was exciting and it was the idea of “Imagine-a-Viking-Making-a-Beer-Cocktail” that made me decide to accept that challenge. I thought, “Let’s remix Einstok’s videos…with a VIKING HALL and a VIKING BEERTENDER!” I had access to some set pieces from a previous  project that would put me in the Viking Hall so I just had to add details like the fruit,  horn, beer and an axe.

Q: How long have you been a fan of Einstok?

A: Years. Some time ago, I was looking to fill a housemate vacancy so a friend came to see if he was a good fit. He brought Einstok’s Toasted Porter. It was Love at First Taste and, for a time, became my go-to. I’ve since discovered the Winter Ale – which has usurped the porter as my favorite Einstok brew. That friend did fill the vacancy, by the way.

Q: We noticed you are very passionate about Viking culture, tell us about that.

A: While I had been loosely interested in Vikings, The History Channel’s “Vikings”  brought them to life in a way I couldn’t ignore. The show is edgy and stimulates the senses with sweeping landscapes, crude textiles, and sloshing ale. It got me interested in  learning more about the world’s early inhabitants and their culture. So when my wife and  I backpacked Europe for our honeymoon we began in Scandinavia – Sweden and  Denmark. We spent time in Roskilde, outside of Copenhagen, to fill our hunger for  Viking culture… literally (smoked halibut, cabbage and pickled onion, Nordic cheeses  and hearth-baked bread) and figuratively (Viking ships as examples of timeless craftsmanship and maritime skills). There’s also much respect for the people as explorers, innovators, survivors, stewards of the land and purveyors of both the  masculine AND feminine souls.

Q: What else are you passionate about?

A: Filmmaking and travel. I believe – as artists – we have a responsibility to engage and uphold the dignity of the human person. By exploring lands and cultures our understanding of the human person grows. I see filmmaking as a primary way to guard  that dignity by normalizing authentic stories.

Q: Tell us about your greatest conquest.

A: The Conquest of Self. It’s one of the hardest conquests because it’s a daily battle  of getting to the point where all your actions flow from authority over yourself. Self  possession… being “in possession” of yourself. Then developing the habitual tendency to be your “Best Version”, both for your own good and for serving those around you. 

Be sure to be following @einstok on Instagram to be considered for entry. U.S Candidates only. Winner will be announced Monday, September 14th. Good luck!

“We wanted to offer a new flavor profile to our beloved classic Einstök styles that our fans know and love. Brewed with the purest water in the world as always, the Lime & Juniper Pilsner gives discerning craft consumers the opportunity to enjoy a new refreshing, citrus beer from their favorite Icelandic brewery”, says Einstök’s CEO, David Altshuler. 

In addition to the subtle notes of Icelandic Juniper berries and lime, the Lime & Juniper Pilsner features lager malt as well as Hersbruker and Hallertau hops for a crisp and flavorful taste with a clean finish. Einstök’s Lime & Juniper Pilsner will be available in cans at select retailers including Total Wine and others. To find an Einstök retailer near you, visit the Einstök Ale Locator.

Einstök continues to gain industry and consumer traction year after year. In ten years, Einstök has received top industry recognition, including the Meininger’s International Craft Beer Award in Germany, London’s International Beer Challenge, unanimous double gold medals at the 2018 New York International Beer Competition, the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition, and the San Diego International Beer Festival. 

To learn more about Einstök and to access the “Ale Locator”, visit www.einstokbeer.com.  

When did you first discover Einstök?

I forget exactly, but I think it was 2012 or maybe 2013 I think in Santa Monica.  I was going back/forth between LA, Denver, and NY constantly in those years, and I can’t recall which location.  The White Ale was the first Einstok I had, and I bought it and the Pale Ale for family and friends.  

What is it about Einstök that makes it your absolute favorite beer?

Let me say it this way, when I found it, I quickly told my brothers and double cousin (our father’s brother married our mom’s sister), about the beer I just found from Iceland, and that I thought the brewery was darn close to what we’ve had described to us about our Grandmothers home village in Iceland.  So, I have to admit I bought it on a lark.  The label was fantastic, the blood heritage was fun, but to answer your question, what caused me to keep buying it all these years, was how good it is. Once I tasted the Toasted Porter that was it.  And of course the Wee Heavy.  The rich taste is excellent in both.  So what began as the beer being the secondary reason for buying it, became the primary reason to keep buying it!

Tell us about your Icelandic heritage. 

It turns out Akureyri is I’m told about 5-10 miles from the plot of land that for the 1800’s was my Grandmother’s family farm.  My niece visited Iceland about 3 years ago, but did not find the exact location, so number 1 on the bucket list for my brothers and I is make that trip and find that location somehow.  We do know it was close to Akureyri, and that Great Grandma Rosa Thordarson (that’s how they spelled it when they immigrated), was one of 16 children, 7 lived to adulthood.  A tough land and a tough people no doubt.  I know my brothers and I will not forgive ourselves for not taking our Dad to Iceland.  He passed away in 2010, at 88, a WWII veteran, Bronze Medal recipient.  Great Grandma Rosa lived to 93, dying in Oregon in the mid 1930’s.  Sadly, our Grandmother, Christine Thordarson Town died from pneumonia just after giving birth to our Dad, he was 2 months old, in Oregon in 1922.  We’ve felt such a connection to Iceland, to the heritage, to what Rosa went through, that our Dad never knew his Icelandic Mom, and it’s in our hearts.

A fellow Viking told us you race Porsche’s, tell us more. 

I think the right description is 20 years of driving production Porsches on the street and a few times a year on track, turned into a serious hobby about 8 years ago. While it’s certainly a joy and a privilege to drive a Porsche, any of the models, on the street, the production car come alive on a track, and a Porsche race car, fully built into race only spec is a completely different matter altogether.  The “hobby” can be all consuming, and a significant challenge, and it’s been incredibly fun.  The amateur and former pro Porsche racing world is active on the west coast with two organizations, and I’ll primarily be at races with the Porsche Owners Club Racing group that has been putting races on in CA for decades.

What has been your favorite conquest so far? 

How about climbing Mt Whitney’s East Buttress route in 2017, wearing an Iceland neck gator?  The best recent conquest is the birth of my grandson, born Feb 7. Also, my Iceland race car, my 911 with Iceland flag too.

Einstök Beer Company, L.P. is pleased to announce this year’s launch of our Arctic Berry Ale for a limited time at select retailers across the U.S. 

A unique small-batch witbier flavored with Icelandic bilberries hand-picked just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Einstök’s Arctic Berry Ale is the perfect complement for the warm summer weather. Its crisp flavor pairs perfectly with a wide range of summer fare, including fish and poultry, sushi, spicy food, Asian food, Latin food, Greek food, citrus salads and desserts. 

“In Iceland, Sumardagurinn fyrsti is a phrase we use to signal the arrival of summer and warmer temperatures,” says Einstök’s Managing Director Gudjon Gudmundsson. “And enjoying a refreshing Arctic Berry Ale is one way locals like to relax and enjoy the fleeting warm outdoors with friends and family. We encourage all beer-lovers to try the unique Arctic Berry Ale before, like the warm weather in Iceland, it disappears until next summer.”

In addition to the subtle notes of Icelandic bilberries, the Arctic Berry Ale features wheat malt, pilsner malt, oats and Bavarian hops for a crisp and flavorful taste with a clean finish. Einstök’s Arctic Berry Ale is available in both cans and kegs at select retailers including BevMo, Total Wine and others. To find an Einstök retailer near you, visit the Einstök Ale Locator.

Einstök continues to gain industry and consumer traction year after year. In just nine years, Einstök has received top industry recognition, including the Meininger’s International Craft Beer Award in Germany, London’s International Beer Challenge, unanimous double gold medals at the 2018 New York International Beer Competition, the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition, and the San Diego International Beer Festival. 

When did you first get into graphic design? 

It all started with my grandfather, he was a beyond talented artist and my greatest inspiration. Growing up, I learned how to draw from him and decided to take it further by going to school for graphic design. From there, I began to create posters for local band nights, which eventually turned into doing art for music events across the globe.

Aside from graphic design, what are some of your favorite hobbies? 

I absolutely love cooking, some people would say I’m being modest, but I make a pretty damn good steak. Chopping wood and hanging around a fire with beer is definitely up there, alongside Axe Throwing. Going to metal shows. DIY projects like studding and patching new metal vests. I also used to make Viking Shields. I have been into everything Viking related as far back as I can remember, it’s just always been part of who I am, definitely how I found Einstok.

What was the inspiration behind the logo you created?

A lot of the artwork I do has an 80’s Retro aesthetic, which ties into a lot of my clientele who consist of producers and promoters of a music scene called Synthwave (a genre of electronic music inspired by 80’s soundtracks and video games). So I tied together my two favorite things, Vikings and 80’s aesthetic. It was also partially inspired by the design made for your Arctic Berry Ale, which has always been my favorite beer of all time.

Tell us about some of your favorite conquests. 

My favorite conquests would be winning this contest, creating the art for every monthly Synthwave event in America, creating beer labels for local and non local breweries and loosing 100 pounds of weight.

You can follow Adam on Instagram @graphicmercenary and purchase his t-shirt here.

You are quite the beer enthusiast! When did your passion for beer begin? 

My passion began when I was young, maybe 20 years ago. Born in NYC, I had the privilege of being surrounded by great beer halls and taverns with large selections of imported beers. I never liked the domestic options as they lacked flavor, complexity and character. I was wanting beers that could be enjoyed alone or with a great meal or in great company. I’ve always thought that a good beer should taste good not only ice cold but at room temperature. 

We saw that you have furry friends. Tell us about them. 

My pup’s Marley Ray, an Australian Shepherd that has energy for days. Always sporting a big smile. Would drink my beer if I let my guard down. Kai, our cat, is our little killer. She is a rescued street cat that we found in the gutter and keeps me entertained with his antics. He thinks he’s a great hunter but he is really not.  

When was the first time you tried Einstök? 

I’d say a two or three years ago when I came across a can of the toasted porter at a local beer and wine shop in Florida. Pubs and Taverns are in short supply in central Florida. At the local shop I came across Einstok and loved the White Ale and Toasted Porter. It was a bonus when I found that both are served at Disney’s EPCOT Norway Pavilion. 

Aside from beer, what else are you most passionate about? 

I love going to the gym or playing outdoor sports to keep the mind and body young and the blood flowing. I also enjoy a good bourbon.

Tell us about your most memorable conquest. 

My woman. She keeps me humble and centered. We met in high school 23 years ago and life took us through different paths but 10 years later, our paths crossed again and I didn’t let time or circumstance get in the way of what I knew was meant to be. I will never let her go. 

You can follow Phillip and his adventures on Instagram: @phillip.t.nyc