World’s strongest beer is launched at 65% abv
23rd October, 2012 by Andy YoungA Scottish brewery is aiming for a spot in the Guinness World Records book after producing the world’s strongest beer.
Brewmeister’s Armageddon beer has an incredible 65% abv.
The brewery, which began production earlier this year with a local pale ale, is situated about 25 miles outside Aberdeen, on the estate of Kincardine Castle.
John MacKenzie, who runs the brewery with Lewis Shand, said: “The beer has a viscous quality to it, due to the special freeze fermentation method we use to produce such a high alcoholic beer.”
This process involves cooling the beer to zero degrees during the brewing process; as the water freezes the alcohol does not and then the ice that forms is removed, leaving a very strong beer.
Shand said: “The phrase ‘delivers a punch’ doesn’t quite cut it. ‘Delivers a supersonic charged explosion and conveys the taster to drunkville’ is probably more appropriate. It really is a powerful beer.”
The beer will be launched at the Inverness Beer Festival on 3 November where it will sell for £5 a 35ml nip. The brewers recommend drinking it in small quantities, rather like a brandy.
Shand added: “Lots of people drink half pints with a spirit, but now they can have our beer with their normal pint instead.”
Armageddon is the latest beer in a long-running battle to take the title of world’s strongest beer. Three years ago BrewDog kicked off the battle with their Tactical Nuclear Penguin, which was a 32% abv beer.
This started a tit-for-tat exchange with German brewers, Schorschbräu, and these two breweries created a number of beers, each with a stronger abv than the last.
Then in 2010 Dutch brewer Koelschip put out its “Start the Future” beer, which had a 60% abv. That stayed as the strongest beer until the boys from Aberdeen came along with Armageddon.
“Michty me” as Oor Wullie might have said. More seriously, if the recommended measure is 35ml, and it’s a 330ml bottle, will the remaining beer actually keep “rather like a brandy?”
Some of the high ABV beers do actually keep well after opening. Not indefinitely like a brandy, but they should be fine for days or weeks much like a fine port wine.
Another reason why life is good. This is one I can’t wait to try.
While I consider this a worthwhile achievement, I personally don’t consider a beer that has over 20% abv a beer. I like to be able to drink a few pints and not pass out!
How. Do. I. Get. Some!?!????
If it requires freeze-distillation, than it is, by definition, not a beer. Sorry.