The Strongest Beer In The World Has A Higher ABV Than Most Liquors
The strongest beer in the world, the aptly named Snake Venom by Scottish brewery Brewmeister, lives up to its reputation with boozy aplomb. The dark brown bottle resembles a regular beer pint except for the bright yellow warning label on the neck recommending the drinker to only drink an ounce (35 ml) in one sitting. Consuming Snake Venom feels closer to drinking liquor than beer, not just because of how it must be sipped instead of guzzled, but also because of its deep caramel color and the fact that its alcohol content is too high for it to hold any fizz. We'll let you decide if that justifies the beer's steep sticker price which can range from $60 to over $100 depending on where you purchase it. On the bright side, the high alcohol content means Snake Venom has a 10-year shelf life, longer than most beers.
The fortified beer gets its astounding 67.5% ABV (135 proof) through a brewing process focused on concentrating alcohol, plus some added ethanol. For reference, spirits like vodka are about 40% ABV. Even Westvleteren 12, one of the rarest beers in the world, though strong at 12% ABV, doesn't come close. With an ABV this high, Snake Venom is in a category of its own. However, it is not alone. There are other contenders which, at one point, held the mantle of the world's strongest beer, and have equally apt names like Armageddon and The End of History.
Brewmeister Snake Venom has an astounding 67.5% ABV
To achieve Snake Venom's astounding alcohol content, the team at Brewmeister uses local (Scottish) water, barley, wheat, hops, and peat malt, as well as a combination of two yeast strains. Ale yeast is expected, but the additional champagne yeast, which is gaining some popularity among microbrewers, helps create a stronger alcohol profile. The beer undergoes fractional freezing multiple times during fermentation. Since water freezes at a lower temperature than alcohol, the ice can be skimmed off, leaving behind a higher percentage of alcohol. While the process above is enough to make a potent beer, Snake Venom is also "fortified" with additional ethanol. This is why some may question its eligibility as the world's strongest beer.
Before Snake Venom there was Armageddon — another beer by Brewmeister that the brewery claimed was the world's strongest beer. Supposedly 65% ABV, multiple batches of Armageddon beer were found to have much lower alcohol content and the brewery replaced it with Snake Venom in 2013, saying they had improved their processes and equipment to deliver stronger and more consistent results.
Perhaps the most eclectic "strongest beer of the world" was The End of History, which, with its 55% ABV, was dethroned by Armageddon. Made by BrewDog, once again a Scottish brewery, this rare limited-edition blonde Belgian ale costs over $500 a bottle. And if you think that's too much to pay for a pint, perhaps the taxidermy squirrel the bottle comes encased in can help justify the cost.
What Brewmeister Snake Venom tastes like and how to drink it
The alcohol fumes hitting your nose are a helpful warning preceding the first sip of the potent beverage, which, unsurprisingly, is very alcohol-forward. Once you make it past the initial boozy overtones, there are familiar sweet, nutty, and hoppy notes that remind you that you're drinking beer. However, it is also a lot reminiscent of whiskey — from the peaty flavor profile and amber color to the intense warmth you feel as it goes down.
Ultra-strong spirits like Everclear go up all the way to 95% ABV but are considered "unfinished ingredients," meaning they are not meant to be drunk neat. Strong beers, on the other hand, can be drunk neat, making them more potent than almost any other alcoholic beverage you can consume.
One way to enjoy Snake Venom beer is ice cold in a small whiskey snifter. Drinking it this way helps to bring out the beverage's pleasant characteristics while suppressing the stronger alcoholic notes. However, since it's recommended to limit your consumption to just one ounce, you can stretch that thimbleful of Snake Venom with some mixers. While you cannot make a typical summer beer spritz with it, adding a bit of carbonated water and ice to an ounce of Snake Venom beer yields a tasty, boozy summer sipper that lets you enjoy the beer's flavor without making your eyes water.