Gizmag reports on world's strongest beers (up to 43%ABV!?)

[jefro]

http://www.gizmag.com/worlds-strongest-beers/15256/

For those who don't want to read - there are breweries now competing to create the "world's strongest beer". The current record holder is over 43% ABV, obtained through freezing aged beer to remove the water. It is a very laborious process, and these guys are doing it with beer that was already expensive and labor-intensive.

In my opinion this is no longer beer. It is something else wild and wonderful, and I am thinking about trying it myself at some point. For now I think I'll stick with brewing and not worrying.

 

[DisturbdChemist]

I think the current record is 57.7% at Schorschbräu Schorschbock. Them and brewdog were battling it out to create the strongest beer Schorschbräu Schorschbock won with 57.7% and brew dog had 55% at the moment

I agree it is no longer beer and just alcoholic syrup.

 

[scutiger]

By the very definition, beer is a beverage that results from fermentation, and these breweries are creating these super high ABV drinks by a form of distillation. Therefore I don't think it should even be thought of as beer, its just a different way to make a sort of "malt liquor" in my opinion.

However just because I don't agree with the definition doesn't mean I wouldn't love to try it.

 

[mscott5205]

Tried brewdogs sink the bismark, tasted like hopped whiskey at 42%.

 

[Curtis2010]

Why?

 

[TimpanogosSlim]

By the very definition, beer is a beverage that results from fermentation, and these breweries are creating these super high ABV drinks by a form of distillation. Therefore I don't think it should even be thought of as beer, its just a different way to make a sort of "malt liquor" in my opinion.

Word. Freeze distillation is still distillation.

However just because I don't agree with the definition doesn't mean I wouldn't love to try it.

:rockin:

Also, I am curious who has the record for non-distilled beer that is of at least 75% cereal origin (or whatever is the limits for a currently recognized style of beer in terms of sugar additions). I vaguely recall hearing that substantial heights have been reached, using tricks like adding beano, and I don't know what yeast -- but there are distillers yeasts that go as high as 23%, maybe higher.

 

[Poobah58]

Sink the Bismark is $120 for a 12 oz bottle at Cask Republic (New Haven). I'll pass.....

 

[Nightshade]

Bleh!

I am not a fan of "beers" that get above 9%, it stops tasting like beer above that and tastes more like liquor IMO

 

[adamjackson]

I think the current record is 57.7% at Schorschbräu Schorschbock. Them and brewdog were battling it out to create the strongest beer Schorschbräu Schorschbock won with 57.7% and brew dog had 55% at the moment

I agree it is no longer beer and just alcoholic syrup.

Correct. I've had all of Brew Dog's high ABV beers. Tasted like crap.

 

[DisturbdChemist]

i do have a bottle of Tactical Nuclear penguin at 32% just to try it. I have a date in mind to open and try it.

 

[outside92129]

Most of the breweries in San Diego have a few or several beers that are 10-12%. All great stuff, and i haven't seen any distilled beers around here. Nothing approaching 50% or even 20% though.

Ballast Point is working on a distillery but that's a separate discussion as they're not pretending it's beer.

 

[adamjackson]

Most of the breweries in San Diego have a few or several beers that are 10-12%. All great stuff, and i haven't seen any distilled beers around here. Nothing approaching 50% or even 20% though.

Ballast Point is working on a distillery but that's a separate discussion as they're not pretending it's beer.

Bruery has a high ABV Black Tuesday that I think is 19-20% for an imperial stout.

Sam Adams Utopias is 27% and Brew Dog Ghost Deer is 28% both naturally fermented (non-ice-distilled) beers.

Ghost deer never was bottled..tap only at brew dog shops. Utopias is $199-$250 released every 2 years.

 

[DisturbdChemist]

Bruery has a high ABV Black Tuesday that I think is 19-20% for an imperial stout.

Sam Adams Utopias is 27% and Brew Dog Ghost Deer is 28% both naturally fermented (non-ice-distilled) beers.

Ghost deer never was bottled..tap only at brew dog shops. Utopias is $199-$250 released every 2 years.

Did they call it Chocolate Rain?

Of course dogfish has some high ABV beers 18%-20%, Avery has some in the 15%-18% range. The uncle Jacob stout is amazing even being at 17.5%, dangerously drinkable (sipper)

 

[adamjackson]

Did they call it Chocolate Rain?

Of course dogfish has some high ABV beers 18%-20%, Avery has some in the 15%-18% range. The uncle Jacob stout is amazing even being at 17.5%, dangerously drinkable (sipper)

Black Tuesday - 18.2% http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/51257/
chocolate Rain - 19.5% http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/53728/

Uncle Jacob I finally had some 2 weeks ago. Shared with a friend and at that ABV, I expected we'd need a 3rd person. No way...wish I had kept it to myself. That was very drinkable and I didn't get sick of it after a few ounces.

You may have to be a member of RateBeer, but here's the list of strongest beers in the world

http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/TopAlcohol.asp

I've only had 5 of the top 25. Somethign to shoot for? HA! Most of these never leave the breweries and are on tap only so expect a few flights to Europe to get these done. Struise is in Belgium, Brew Dog in Scotland and the other in Germany

 

[DisturbdChemist]

I dont get The brurey where I am at so i thought there was a bigger difference in the ABV but now i want to try to get my hands on some of them.

I got two more in my cellar i'm going to drink in the upcoming years. I have one all by myself and loved it so i bought what was left at the store. I wished I've seen the previous 16% pumpkin beer they released.

II'm not a member of rate beer but been on that site a few times. That will be an awesome list to go through and try. 0 of 25 for me but i have one so atleast i got one in the future I can get that bad/worse barelywine from mikkeller i just havent bought it because of the price. I love big beers especially just to sip and enjoy them for coarse of the night.

 

[bluemoose]

Huh, Did Cape's Barley Brandy make the list?

 

[mscott5205]

Why?

It was free at a tasting. Would never in a million years bought it. Got to try sink the bismark and tactical nuclear penguin.

 

[mscott5205]

i do have a bottle of Tactical Nuclear penguin at 32% just to try it. I have a date in mind to open and try it.

Worst beer I've ever had.