Gahr wrote:Sure, Bergen is not particularly cold. On average, it's one of the warmer places in Norway. It's a coastal city, and because the Gulf stream it never really gets that bad. But still, the humidity sure makes you feel the cold in the winter, and it rains quite a bit and it never really gets very warm either. You won't find many Norwegian brewers messing about outside. And since most people here have electric setups, brewing inside is an option. Thankfully, my wife is ok with me occupying the kitchen and a spare bedroom for brewing purposes!
Very nice. I've gone half electric since that photo was taken. Currently I'm running an element in my HLT & another one in a RIMS tube, but when I have the cash to upgrade the HLT to the appropriate size for the new system (I'm using the old 58L HLT from my 45L system on the new 100L system - I just have to have an extra pot of boiling water from the stove to top it up halfway through the sparge) I'm going back to HERMS. I still prefer a gas-fired burner though, but since my new house has an enclosed add on I was able to run a natural gas line there & convert the burner. There's also a window directly behind the system for a fan to push out the humid air & there is a large glass sliding door that goes to the house as well as the new front door to pull plenty of fresh air in. The thing you don't see in the photo was the fact that I took the picture from inside. The porch at that apartment wasn't very deep so I could quickly open the slider, take one step, do what I needed to do on the system & get my
back in side quick. That was the only way to deal with super cold days, but I must be part penguin because the cold doesn't bother me too much. Last winter was pretty mild and I think we only saw -26C or so & I didn't even bother pulling out my winter coat. I'll take -30C over +30C any day.I dig the sleeping pad idea; I'm guessing it's very efficient. I also pulled up some photos of Bergen & I see what you mean about the houses. It looks like a very beautiful city. If I ever left Montana (which I never thought I would, but the children in our government are starting to make me rethink that), Norway & Sweden are very, very high on my list. The language is pretty intimidating though.
BN Army // 13th Mountain Division 
There's actually an area of Bergen that is called Montana. (There's actually a place called Florida and a street nicknamed Chicago as well...) The languages aren't that different either. We even have healthcare and still call ourselves free! 
