Master Index of Archived Threads


43% ABV Beer

Ceetar May 19 2010 12:21 PM

If you haven't been paying attention (then you're missing out) Brewdog, a scottish brewery, introduced a beer called Tactical Nuclear Penguin ("Ÿber-imperial stout") at 32% which was created in an ice cream factory by penguins (or people in penguin suits anyway. for real. there's a video [url]http://vimeo.com/7812379). This is the same brewery that in response to criticism of making strong beers, introduced a beer called "Nanny State" at 1%, but I digress. Schorschbräu, a German brewery, fought back with a beer at 40% alcohol. Brewdog (whose beers always have better names) fought back with 41% Sink the Bismarck! (quadruple IPA) Now, apparently, Schorschbräu has a new beer at 43%. “In our graciousness, We had decided, not to begrudge the Others, the little joy of holding the title for a few weeks. Let’s not overdo this – from now on, the World’s Strongest Beer lives again where it belongs: in Franconia! Schorschbock 43% Vol., ’cause Frankonian Men don’t dress like girls.” [url]http://beernews.org/2010/05/schorschbrau-regains-lead-with-43-abv-beer-tv-report-stirs-up-controversy/

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 19 2010 12:42 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

What an exciting and frightening race. Anyone ever have an over-20% ABV beer?

Ceetar May 19 2010 12:45 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

I've had a rare few somewhere in the 10-15 range, as beers in the 10% range are increasingly common. But above that..nope. Supposedly Penguin is coming to NYC, and there is a beer store near me in Jersey that has 3-4 other Brewdog beers, so I'm holding out hope, although I can't really afford to spend $50 on a beer.

Methead May 19 2010 01:09 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

I've had the Dogfish 120 Minute IPA (18%) and the Samuel Adams Triple Bock (17.5%). I had trouble finishing them... they're overpowering. Not so much because of the alcohol, but they're very heavy and sweet. Drinking a beer like that is like smoking a cigar... you need to stretch it out over the course of an hour or so.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 19 2010 01:23 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

I've had a few Triple/Quad Bocks in the low teens. Hell, a growler of Ommegang Adoration Ale consumed on an empty stomach knocked me on my ass last year-- stumbling and loopy-- and that's only 10% ABV.

Frayed Knot May 19 2010 02:15 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

Folks gotta remember that when they're having 80 proof (40%) liquor (Liquor? I hardly know her!) that they're not generally having 12 - 16 oz of it at a sitting. So even one pint of these "lower" 10-15% beers is like lining up several strong drinks.

Ceetar May 19 2010 02:23 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

[quote="Frayed Knot":19h5w85x]Folks gotta remember that when they're having 80 proof (40%) liquor (Liquor? I hardly know her!) that they're not generally having 12 - 16 oz of it at a sitting. So even one pint of these "lower" 10-15% beers is like lining up several strong drinks.[/quote:19h5w85x] Definitely, and sometimes these beers come in bigger bottles too. Tactical Nuclear Penguin's label actually reads "This is an extremely strong beer; it should be enjoyed in small servings and with an air of aristocratic nonchalance. It is exactly the same manner you would enjoy a fine whisky, a Frank Zappa album or a visit from a friendly yet anxious ghost."

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 19 2010 03:06 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

See, that's the problem: I'm a ghost-guzzler. I think the problem-- at its root-- may be that I ain't afraid of no ghosts.

Nymr83 May 19 2010 04:38 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

after watching that video, i need some Tactical Nuclear Penguin!

Willets Point May 20 2010 07:40 AM Re: 43% ABV Beer

For some reason I don't think 43% ABV Beer would actually taste good. Generally alcohol needs to be balanced with other elements to make flavor.

Ceetar May 20 2010 07:59 AM Re: 43% ABV Beer

[quote="Willets Point":39xlalmv]For some reason I don't think 43% ABV Beer would actually taste good. Generally alcohol needs to be balanced with other elements to make flavor.[/quote:39xlalmv] I imagine it can still have plenty of flavor, you have to add malt to get sugar anyway, and then there are hops. (One of those is a quadruple IPA after all.) It seems like in a lot of cases it's actually the water that they remove.

Rockin' Doc May 20 2010 10:54 AM Re: 43% ABV Beer

I would love to at least try a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin, but there is no way I'm spending 35 British pounds ($50) for 330 ml. (12 oz) of any beer known to man. I wouldn't expect that they are selling much of the stuff.

Ceetar May 20 2010 11:37 AM Re: 43% ABV Beer

I bet it sells, hell, there was such a demand that they've made a second batch to ship to America. I saw a bottle of $50 Italian barleywine at the store earlier (bought Brewdog Chaos Theory for poker night, no, i'm not sharing it). The brewvolution is upon us. Plenty of people have no problem spending $50+ on a bottle of fermented grape juice, and the amount of people that can afford that and realize that there are some amazing beers out there is growing. I'd love a taste of Sam Adams Utopias, but that one's like $160 a bottle or something.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 20 2010 11:44 AM Re: 43% ABV Beer

Not 43% ABV, but rather enjoyable anyway, we downed a growler of 'Crazy Ivan' (natch) a mix of a belgian ale with USA style hoppy flavor from Bear Republic in California. Good shit! Lots of coolio choices at ye olde beere shoppe which opened nearby.

Frayed Knot May 20 2010 02:08 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

[quote="Rockin' Doc"]I would love to at least try a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin ...

I think anything named 'Tactical Nuclear Penguin' is worth trying.
I want to name my first born Tactical Nuclear Penguin.

Ashie62 May 20 2010 09:56 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

I'll stick to Tullamore Dew straight up.

Ceetar Jul 22 2010 12:47 PM 55% ABV Beer : The End of History

This 55% beer should be drank in small servings whilst exuding an endearing pseudo vigilance and reverence for Mr Stoat. This is to be enjoyed with a weather eye on the horizon for inflatable alcohol industry Nazis, judgemental washed up neo-prohibitionists or any grandiloquent, ostentatious foxes. http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article.php?id=341 Only 12 bottles have been made and each comes with its own certificate and is presented in a stuffed stoat or grey squirrel. The striking packaging was created by a very talented taxidermist and all the animals used were road kill. This release is a limited run of 11 bottles, 7 stoats and 4 grey squirrels. Each ones comes with its own certificate of authenticity.

Rockin' Doc Jul 22 2010 08:23 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

Just how drunk must one be to want to drink something that comes from a bottle stuffed inside a road kill animal?

The Second Spitter Jul 22 2010 09:16 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket":14m5qz43]We downed a growler of 'Crazy Ivan' (natch) [/quote:14m5qz43] Named after Lunchpail?

The Second Spitter Jul 22 2010 09:18 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

[quote="Ceetar":3sxczasd]If you haven't been paying attention (then you're missing out) Schorschbräu, a German brewery, fought back with a beer at 40% alcohol. [/quote:3sxczasd] Had a chance to try this once, and now I'm spewing I didn't. (I was off the wagon at the time).

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 23 2010 08:30 AM Re: 43% ABV Beer

"Off the wagon" means you're drinking again, though, doesn't it? (Or do I have that backwards?)

Ceetar Jul 23 2010 08:40 AM Re: 43% ABV Beer

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]"Off the wagon" means you're drinking again, though, doesn't it? (Or do I have that backwards?)

Generally.

But it's all a matter of perspective. In my mind the wagon is a slow tedious ride to a boring death, and you get off to enjoy the wonderful stuff that you're slowing lumbering by and missing.

Zvon Jul 23 2010 01:40 PM Re: 43% ABV Beer

I don't necessarily drink beer for the taste, but for the buzz. So this is a win/win kinda thing as far as I'm concerned. $50 a bottle?! Well, a win/win/can't afford to enjoy.