About 10 years ago, the breweries started a war raged over which one is able to create the world’s strongest beer. This war or race, whatever we will call it, is, in my opinion, pointless, but I will get to that later maybe. If you think that a beer with ABV around 7-8% is strong, and one with ABV around 12% is extreme, then you may find the list that I’m going to present a little bit shocking. The list contains few beers that are the strongest in the world and that I’m aware of.
Ok, but how to get the beer which is so strong without a distillation process? You need to brew a “normal” beer and then freeze it. Next, remove the frozen liquids - that will leave more alcohol behind. Use this alcohol by adding it to the next batch. Repeat until you will reach the ABV level of your choice. Well, this is, in fact, the theory compatible with the craft spirit. But, are all breweries using this method? Or maybe it is all about simply adding a pure alcohol to the beer? Let’s see if the list can help us to answer those questions.
BrewDog Tactical Nuclear Penguin - 32%
This beer was released in 2009 and was the world’s strongest beer at this point. It’s Imperial Stout frozen few times, which leaves more alcohol each time. It should be rather enjoyed in small servings, like a fine whiskey.
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Struise Black Damnation VI - Messy - 39%
As far as I know, this beer has never been released commercially. And it's a pity because the people who were able to taste it are saying nearly unambiguous - this still tastes like a beer. It is a pitch black Imperial Stout that carrie all the characteristics of this beer kind, mostly roasted malts and dark chocolate. Besides that, you can taste the alcohol definitely, but it is not overwhelming.
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Schorschbräu Schorschbock 40 - 40%
This beer is an “answer” made by the German brewery called Schorschbräu for the Nuclear Penguin mentioned above. At the and of 2009 they released this 40% beer, beating BrewDog’s beer.
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BrewDog Sink the Bismarck! - 41%
BrewDog wasn’t going to wait long and in 2010 they released beer which was a clear reference to its competitor from Germany even by beer name. It was described by the Scottish brewery as a “quadruple IPA that contains four times the hops, four times the bitterness and frozen four times.” Too bad it was also around 40 times more expensive than a “regular” beer. Its price was around $110 for a bottle.
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BrewDog The End of History - 55%
If you think that it was over of BrewDog’s show, then you are wrong. They decided to aim to end this silly battle for the world’s strongest beer by making a blond Belgian ale with 55% ABV. They called it The End of History and added very controversial visual touch. There were only 12 bottles made and each was encased in preserved roadkill… At $780 a bottle, it was also probably the most expensive beer as well.
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Schorschbräu Schorschbock 57 - 57%
The mentioned above Schorschbock 40 was upgraded to a 43% version, to finally became Schorschbock 57 with 57% ABV in 2011. The German brewers claim that it is not possible to reach a higher ABV level without violating of German Beer Purity Law, which they were applying of course when making this beer. There were only 36 bottles of this beer made, and their cost was around $200-300 each.
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‘t Koelschip Start the Future - 60%
This beer was brewed one month after The End of History premiere and its name was a clear reference to the Scottish beer. But it was much much cheaper, with 35 Euro per bottle cost. At this point, everybody thought that this was the end of a rally between the breweries. And then Brewmeister brewery came out from the shadow…
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Brewmeister Armageddon - 65%
This beer released in 2012 also tried to claim the world’s strongest beer title. But, the lab tests revealed that the pure alcohol was added to the product and it was completely removed from the Brewmeister lineup.
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Brewmeister Snake Venom - 67,5%
In 2013 the Brewmeister released another record-breaker - Snake Venom has ABV equal to 67.5%. Drinking one bottle is an equivalent of drinking 15 shots of hard liquor. The label on the bottle is warning us about drinking more than 35 milliliters at once. Unfortunately, the brewery admitted to correcting the beer’s ABV by adding a pure alcohol to it...
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So, what do you think, is it still a beer? Or maybe I should ask the more important question - is this battle about creating the strongest beer has any sense in the beer world? The world that is rather about creating a perfect taste, something characteristic, with specified aromas? The high ABV doesn’t usually mean an amazing sensory experience. I have the impression that it is all about publicity. And what is your opinion? Is it even worth to get excited about beer only because it is very strong?
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