Curious about what is the strongest beer in the world? These high-powered brews push alcohol content to the limits, rivaling the potency of some spirits. Bold in flavor and strength, they’re crafted for thrill-seeking beer enthusiasts. Get ready to explore beers that redefine what it means to drink something truly intense.
What Is the Strongest Beer in the World?
The strongest beer in the world is Brewmeister Snake Venom, with a whopping alcohol content of 67.5% ABV. Snake Venom beer is a Scottish beer brewed by Keith Brewery LTD in Keith, Moray (formerly Brewmeister). The beer is brewed from smoked peated malt, plus two varieties of yeast, one for beer and the other for champagne, that increases its alcohol content.
The beer is then frozen severally after the fermentation process. This helps to concentrate the flavor, alcohol, and body since water is removed each time. It is then supplemented with more alcohol to increase its strength. This results in a strong, viscous, and intensely flavored beer that should be consumed moderately.
The good thing about this beer is that the manufacturer has taken a bold step to caution the consumers. It has a warning label: “The beer is not for the faint-hearted.” The label further instructs users not to consume more than 35ml in one sitting due to its spirit-like nature (high alcohol content).
Other Strong Beers in the World
There are various beer brands that also have high alcohol content. Here are some of them:
Brewmeister Armageddon
Brewmeister Armageddon was the reigning champion before the introduction of Brewmeister Snake Venom. The beer is also brewed by the Scottish brewing company Brewmeister and has an alcohol content of 65% ABV. It is the second strongest beer in the world and should be consumed in moderation.
The brewer uses special ingredients, such as crystal malt, flaked oats, and 100% Scottish spring water, to enhance a perfect taste. The brewing process of this beer is quite different from the normal beer. It is brewed at freezing temperatures to bring up the alcohol content. The brewers also use selected yeast strains that increase the ABV and enhance quality.
Brewmeister Armageddon has a lot of flavors that will definitely meet your taste. The beer is malty and hoppy, plus a slightly sweet finish that will linger on your palate with each sip.
The beer is also an excellent companion to various foods. It pairs well with handy and flavorful dishes such as grilled meat, blue cheese, fish, or chocolate desserts. You can purchase Brewmeister Armageddon at liquor stores, bars, or online stores.
- Origin: Armageddon, Scotland
- Brewing Company: Keith Brewery LTD (Brewmeister)
- ABV: 65%
- Style: Eisbock
- Food Pairing: Chocolate desserts, blue cheese and grilled Steak
Koelschip Start the Future
Koelschip Start the Future is another strong beer that can knock you down in a minute if you don’t consume it in moderation. It is the third strongest beer globally, with a whopping alcohol content of 60% ABV. Koelschip Start the Future is a pale yellow beer with pepper and a soapy flavor.
Like others on the list, the beer is crafted from special ingredients to ensure the alcohol content remains high. For instance, it’s brewed using malted barley, wheat, aged hops, and freshwater to make it retain its ABV and taste.
Regarding food pairing, Koelschip Start the Future also pairs well with grilled meat, chocolate desserts, fish, burgers, and pizza. The beer is available in bars, local liquor stores, supermarkets, and online stores.
- Origin: Netherlands
- Brewing Company: Koelschip Brewing Company
- ABV: 60%
- Style: Eisbock
- Food Pairing: Grilled meat, fish, burger, chocolate desserts, and pizza
Brewdog and Schorschbräu Strength in Numbers
Brewdog and Schorschbräu Strength in Numbers is another strong beer brewed by two companies: Brewdog in Scotland and Schorschbräu in Germany. The companies decided to collaborate when brewing the beer to set aside their rivalry. With a whopping 57.8% ABV, Brewdog and Schorschbräu Strength in Numbers is the fourth strongest beer globally.
The beer follows a brewing process similar to Snake Venom beer, which involves freezing the beer to remove the chunks of ice. Removing the chunks of ice leaves behind a highly concentrated ABV liquid. Regarding taste, the beer has a complex and tasty flavor accompanied by notes of dark chocolate and molasses.
If you are a beer enthusiast who prefers pairing beer with other foods, you will get it right with Brewdog and Schorschbräu Strength in Numbers. It perfectly pairs with flavorful dishes such as grilled steak, burgers, seafood, and chocolate desserts. You can also find it at liquor stores, supermarkets, bars, and online stores.
- Origin: German and Scottland
- Brewing Company: Schorschbräu and Brewdog
- ABV: 57.8%
- Style: Eisbock
- Food Pairing: Chocolate desserts, grilled steak, burgers, and seafood.
Schorschbrau Schorschbock 57
Schorschbrau Schorschbock 57 is another strong beer brewed by Schorschbrau and has an alcohol content of 57% ABV. Like other strong beers, Schorschbrau is crafted from special ingredients and unique techniques to ensure a strong ABV. Some of the ingredients the company uses include special strains of yeast, malted barley, hops, and wheat.
When it comes to taste, this beer has more than enough to offer. The beer has a lacy tan head, bearing a rich bouquet full of fine cognac, accompanied by the taste of black cherry, raisin, and walnut. You can also chase it with soft drinks like soda or orange juice to create the desired flavor.
Like other strong beers on the list, this one also pairs well with various foods. This helps complement its taste and curb its strength if you don’t want to get drunk too much. Examples of food you can pair with Schorschbrau include grilled meat, seafood, burgers, and desserts. The beer is available in supermarkets, online stores, bars and restaurants.
- Origin: German
- Brewing Company: Schorschbrau
- ABV: 57%
- Style: Eisbock
- Food pairing: Grilled meat, seafood, burgers, and chocolate desserts.
How Do You Increase the Alcohol Content of Beer?
There are techniques brewers use to increase beer potency. Here are some of the techniques:
- Adjust the temperatures: Make sure the temperature in your fermentation chamber is favorable for the yeast to eat the sugars. Maintain a low temperature during mashing. A too hot temperature may make your yeast sluggish, hindering it from working appropriately. A suitable temperature is 152°F.
- Add malt extract: This is another way of increasing the ABV, as malt extract contains sugar that yeast can work on to produce the alcohol. There are three types of malt extract: hopped, dry, and liquid. All work well.
- Add Yeast: Yeast is what eats sugar during the fermentation to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. So, to increase the alcohol in your beer, you can add a small amount of yeast to consume all the sugars.
- Add yeast nutrients: Yeast nutrients include minerals and vitamins the yeast needs to work, survive, and proliferate. Consider adding yeast nutrients to help increase the beer’s alcohol content.
- Add brewers’ crystals: Brewers’ crystals are made from corn syrup and work almost the same as malt extracts. They speed up yeast consumption to produce a potent beer.
- Adjust the time: Adjusting the time means you should leave your beer to ferment for longer. This gives yeast more time to consume all sugars in the wort and increase the ABV of beer beer.
Related Questions
What Alcohol Is Stronger Than Beer?
Hard liquor or distilled spirits are stronger than beer in terms of ABV. A standard spirit has an alcohol of 35% to 40%, whereas a pint of beer is often around 5% ABV and a glass of wine is 11%.
Which Beer Is Good for the Liver?
A pale ale is the best beer to protect your liver. Generally, most beers are good for the liver since they are infused with hops. Studies show that hops can mitigate the negative effects of alcohol on the liver as it contains anti-inflammatory properties.
Is There a 3% Alcohol Beer?
Yes, there is a beer that has 3%ABV, and it is known as Goose Island’s So-Lo. Its low potency is ideal for those who want to drink a lighter beer with less ABV. So, if you want to enter the beer world, consider consuming Goose Island’s So-Lo.
Conclusion
Exploring the strongest beer in the world means diving into an unforgettable flavor adventure. These high-powered brews deliver bold malts, intense hops, and surprising depths. Each sip pushes boundaries and invites you to savor something extraordinary. Always drink these beers moderately to avoid negative effects on your body.