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The Race To Beer With 50% Alcohol By Volume

Posted by samzenpus on from the good-stiff-12-pack dept.

ElectricSteve writes "Most of the world's beer has between 4% and 6% alcohol by volume (ABV). The strength of beer achieved by traditional fermentation brewing methods has limits, but a well-crafted beer that is repeatedly 'freeze distilled' can achieve exquisite qualities and much higher alcohol concentrations. An escalation in the use of this relatively new methodology over the last 12 months has seen man's favorite beverage suddenly move into the 40+% ABV realm of spirits such as gin, rum, brandy, whiskey, and vodka, creating a new category of extreme beer. The world's strongest beer was 27% ABV, but amidst an informal contest to claim the title of the world's strongest beer, the top beer has jumped in strength dramatically. This week Gizmag spoke to the brewers at the center of the escalating competition. New contestants are gathering, and the race is now on to break 50% alcohol by volume."

8 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. But what about taste? by cavis · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If this tastes like crap, then no one will buy it... well, except for frat boys and the local street people.

  2. Is this really beer by Chrisq · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Is this really beer?
    I find it hard to believe that this could be brewed naturally, i.e. using yeast to ferment the liquor. I find it hard to believe that a yeast can live in 50% alcohol, 27% was really pushing the limits.

    1. Re:Is this really beer by Verdatum · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If you freeze distill it, then it stops being beer in my book. If you freeze distill hard cider, it's not "extreme cider", it's friggin' applejack.

  3. More Alcohol and Less Drinking? by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I like beer. I like drinking beer. I like drinking a variety of beers. I don't like being falling down drunk. This race for higher alcohol content seems pointless and just limits the amount you can enjoy in one sitting.

    1. Re:More Alcohol and Less Drinking? by captainpanic · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This seems strange to me, making beer so strong. What are they trying to achieve with this? A 50% beer means you can only have a few measures of it before you will get sick. Where is the enjoyment? A pint of cold, crisp draught surely beats a shot of this stuff?

      It's the same reason some people wait half a day, then strap themselves into a jet powered bomb on wheels to do a quarter mile really really fast.
      It's not the most practical or the most comfortable way of traveling... but I guess it's just really really cool.

      I can completely understand why they make this beer.

      However, I would not understand why someone would drink more than a shot glass of it though. I fully agree that there are few (perhaps none at all) drinks that are better than a simple cold normal beer. And the best part of a simple cold normal beer is that you can have more than one. Yay.

  4. As a brewer by Purity+Of+Essence · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As a brewer, distillation offends my sensibilities if you keep calling it beer.

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    +0 Meh
  5. Re:Methanol by jbeaupre · · Score: 1, Insightful

    You mean the same methanol that was in the normal beer to begin with?

    --
    The world is made by those who show up for the job.
  6. One question? by Nekomusume · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Have they figured out how to make it taste good?