There must be something in the genetic makeup of beer brewers that requires them to constantly test the limits and push the boundaries of their craft. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the unofficial competition between some brewers to brew the biggest, baddest, most alcoholic extreme beer ever, the most recent winner clocking in at 65% ABV. I'm all for innovation, but do you think these brewers getting a little too extreme?
A recent article on Weekly Pint points out that this whole contest actually started back in 1994 with Sam Adam's Triple Bock. That beer was a mere 18% ABV, which seems almost tame by today's standards. Sam Adam's Utopia series (27% ABV), BrewDog's End of the World (famously sold in a taxidermied squirrel, 55% ABV), and Schorschbrau's Armageddon (65% ABV), have just continued to push the upper limits of both alcohol and beer itself.
These beers are the extreme end of extreme beers, however. They are sold in such limited quantities that very few of us will ever get a chance to try any of them, myself included. But the alcohol level of even the average craft brew has definitely been creeping upward in the last decade. Barleywines, double IPAs, and imperial stouts with ABVs of 10-12% crowd out their more more mundane counterparts on shelves as brewers redefine and reimagine the definition of beer.
Good? Bad? How do you react to extreme beers?
• Read the Article: Mind-Bending Brews on Weekly Pint
Related: Game Day Brews: 5 Sessionable Craft Brews to Bring
(Images: BrewDog and Samuel Adams)
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65% is extreme, but most of my favorite beers are 9-11% abv (and I do enjoy Dogfish Head's 120 min IPA). Typically a higher abv means bigger flavor and better value!
Extreme beers are a niche. Fun to talk about but as was stated in the article, they are sold in such limited quantities that they don't reach the majority of us. I would compare it more to a burger joint going for the biggest burger. Fun to do but how practical or tasty could it actually be?
High ABV beers are a double-edged sword. One the one hand, I'm happy we are slowly moving away from the boring pee flavored beers. On the other, they can sometimes be overwhelming. Take Harpoon's Leviathan series for example, which hovers around 12% ABV. Some of them are delish... while others are so syrupy it's like drinking cough medicine.
As a home brewer, I appreciate the creativity and take inspiration from these high ABV beers... though I'm not sure my waistline feels the same.
I don't like the higher ABV beers simply because then I feel like I have to limit myself a lot more to how much I can drink/try. I also tend to prefer beers that have lower alcohol content by their nature.
Are these "real" beers or have they been fortified with alcohol? I was under the impression that the yeast couldn't live at these high alcohol levels. Some of those are stronger than your typical 80 proof vodka!
My husband has actually tried the Sam Adams Utopia. He said it was disgusting while everyone else exclaimed how amazing it was. I think they were trying to justify the price. I didn't want to try it because it smelled like soy sauce.
*sigh* It's "End of History" - http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/341 Part of the process involves freezing the water out (like some other alcoholic beverages have been traditionally made) and not all of the beer was packaged in dead animals. Regarding BrewDog they market mostly through their beer (they also make one called "Nanny State" that is 0-1%). It stirs some people up and in turn markets them..
Just like people have different tastes in food, so too with drink, and with an appropriate approach (try telling that to those that insist they drink beer only in pint glasses). I find that going above 20% ABV I use smaller glassware; ones I have encountered are pretty intense so it's best to take your time to appreciate the flavours slowly like a good whiskey.
I like strong brews in moderation; I don't want to drink such strong (flavoured/ABV) beers all the time but sometimes I would like to 'end the evening on a high note'.
I agree with @caralovesyou, I like the 9 - 10% beers, but feel like I need to limit myself to one small glass (and thankfully they are usually served much smaller).
I'm looking forward to the tread of craft brewers making 4 - 5% ABV beers.