Summer or winter a refrigerated beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages that you can find on this earth. Everyone loves to chill with a beer bottle because of its taste and simply because most of us can easily afford it. According to hard drinkers, there is nothing in this world more soothing and refreshing than a high-quality beer at the end of a long and tiring day.
Beer is one of the alcoholic beverages that have been around us for thousands of years. Yes, it has transitioned over time in how it is processed so as to maintain its popularity amongst the masses. You will be able to find a beer bottle at reasonable and even exorbitant prices. Collectors are ready to shed a ridiculous amount of money for this luxurious treat.
Are you aware that there are several beer bottles that have been sold at a price tag that you cannot even think of? How do they stand out in a crowd and why does one bottle fetch such a price whereas the others do not? The reason is simple as these are specially created for high-end customers and hence sold at unique selling points to garner maximum response and price.
The bottles that occupy a position in the expensive beer list have been aged in barrels for a long period of time to make it an exclusive item. These are in a limited number and promise a lifetime experience to its owner.
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Expensive Beers
#1 Allsopp’s Arctic Ale
Allsopp’s Arctic Ale is considered one of the most expensive beers in this world as a one hundred and forty-year-old bottles were sold with an estimated price tag of 504,200 dollars. It was brewed most probably in the year 1857 in Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire for an expedition to the Arctic that was led by Sir George Nares in the year 1875.
Allsopp’s Arctic Ale is enriched with 10.02% alcohol and reflects hard taste, brown color, and strong nutty flavors. The most expensive beer has undergone vigorous fermentation so as to acquire the necessary flavor and achieve a perfect blend of beer. The ale was enriched with antiscorbutic properties that were vital for surviving in freezing climate.
#2 Nail Brewing’s Antarctic Nail Ale
Nail Brewing’s Antarctic Nail Ale has been tagged at a price of 3.61 dollars per ml to make it one of the most expensive beers. It was brewed in the year 2010 and until now the producers have managed to release thirty bottles. It was first sold in the year 2011 and with time is considered one of the most expensive beers in the world.
A bottle of its limited edition was sold for 800 Australian dollars and later another bottle for 1,850 Australian dollars at an auction that benefitted Sea Shepherd Conservation Society creating a record as one of the most expensive beer bottles sold in the world.
The exclusive beer is available in 500ml volume and was brewed in Nail Brewing in the city of Perth in Australia. The water that is used for brewing the ale has been initially been acquired as ice that was dug out from Antarctica and later liquefied.
#3 Cantillon Loerik 1998
Cantillon Loerik 1998 is considered one of the most expensive beers as it occupies a position in the top five at a price tag of 3.45 dollars per ml. Loerik 1998 is a gueuze bottle of 75cl that was bottled in the year 1998 and released in the year 2003. This phenomenal beer bottle holds the position as one of the costliest bottles ever being auctioned.
The rare beer bottle is enriched with 5% alcohol by volume and before the process of re-fermentation; the beverage was aged for a long time in the bottle. It has a moderate aroma, medium-orange color, good lacing, and light to medium body, watery texture, and dry finish. Only one batch of Cantillon Loerik 1998 has been released till date and the next one is expected by the year 2020.
#4 Storm Brewing Glacial Mammoth Extinction
Storm Brewing Glacial Mammoth Extinction is a Canadian export and has managed to occupy a distinct place in the most expensive beer list as it comes with a price tag of 1000 dollars for each of the ten existing hand-blown glass gift bottles adorned with prehistoric ivory pendants. Released in the year 2015 it comes with an ABV of 25%.
Storm Brewing Glacial Mammoth Extinction has been made by freezing sour and strong beer to -30C over a period of one month in two stages. It is aged in French oak barrels for a period of two years. The malt beverage is deep brown in color with a sweet aroma. The alcoholic beverage has found favor with beer enthusiasts and hence its hefty price range.
#5 Brew-Dog The End Of History
Brew-Dog The End Of History has a price tag of 2.20 dollars per ml and only twelve bottles have been made to date. As the name suggests The End Of the History has been crafted by Brew-Dog Brewery at Fraserburgh in Scotland. With 55% alcohol by volume, it has a bright gold color, aromatic nose, smooth dry palate, and floral sweetness. A unique feature of this beer is that it is packaged in a taxidermied squirrel pushing the conventions to its limit.
Brew-Dog The End Of History is considered a controversial range by many as the level of alcohol present are attained by distilling and later freezing the beer several times. The beverage is fermented by using a mixture of nettles and juniper berries. It ranks at the second position in terms of hardness.
#6 De Cam/Drie Fonteinen Millennium Gueuze 1998
The association of two brewers De cam and Drie Fonteinen resulted in this masterpiece that goes by the name of De Cam/Drie Fonteinen Millennium Gueuze 1998. This magnificent beer is a unique Belgium invention that was created in the year 1998. It was first released in Copenhagen at Sour and Bitter Festival. With a piece tag of 1.25 dollars per ml, this authentic beer has managed to occupy a firm position in the list of most expensive beers in the world.
De Cam/Drie Fonteinen Millennium Gueuze 1998 is available in 750ml bottles with 7% alcohol by volume content that has a silk-screen label. Only eight thousand bottles were made with both the partners keeping half of the lot. The bottles have not lost any of their wonderful qualities even after so many years instead the taste has become more enhanced and refined making them one of the most coveted and expensive beer bottles in the world.
#7 The Lost Abbey Cable Car Kriek
The Lost Abbey Cable Car Kriek has set up for sale at a price range of 1.24 dollars per ml. it is considered one of the most expensive beer bottles in the world of American origin that have been auctioned at Skinner as a buyer bought one bottle for 923 dollars.
The Lost Abbey Cable Car Kriek is rich in powerful aromas of cranberries, the skin of cherries and sour cherries. This creative blend delivers a tannic and dry taste at the end as it is an amalgamation of both sour and sweet elements. Cable Car Kriek as the name suggests is brewed by The Lost Abbey in the United States.
This American wild ale has 7% alcohol by volume and has been declared as highly balanced and mind-blowing by beer enthusiasts. Only sixty of these bottles were released in 750ml sizes.
#8 Carlsberg Jacobsen Vintage
Carlsberg Jacobsen Vintage is a 2008 vintage beer that bears a tag of 1.08 dollars per ml or 400 dollars for a 375ml bottle and is considered as one of the most expensive beers of our times. It is available in Denmark and comes with an expiry date of the year 2059. Only six hundred bottles were released with ABV 10.5%. Each bottle without the beer is estimated to fetch a price of nearly a hundred dollars.
Carlsberg Jacobsen Vintage is prepared from caramel and whip, is brown in color, and has a peculiar taste that is quite similar to vanilla and caramel. The bottles of barley wine are fermented by Jacobsen Brew House and were aged in Swedish and French oak barrels that were kept in old vaults of wine for a period of nearly six months. It undergoes meticulous and intensive brewing to acquire its distinct flavor.
#9 Schorschbrau Schorschbock
Schorschbrau Schorschbock is one of the most expensive beers in the world. It was released in the year 2011 and comes with a price tag of 0.84 dollars per ml or a 330ml bottle with a cost price of 275 dollars per bottle. This limited edition production had only thirty-six bottles in its portfolio.
The taste of Schorschbrau Schorschbock is distinct as it gives a smoky and nutty feeling along with a hint of raisins inside the essence of alcohol. This incredible beer is deep-dark brown in color and has a sweet aroma, smokey notes, and a high palate. With an ABV of 57.5%, it is definitely one of the strongest beers available in markets.
#10 Brew-Dog Sink The Bismarck
Brew-Dog Sink The Bismarck has been included in the list as one of the most expensive beer because it comes with a price value of 0.24 dollars per ml. It was brewed and released by Brew-Dog in the year 2010 and is also known by the name Quadruple IPA.
Brew-Dog Sink The Bismarck has a smooth texture and includes an ABV of 41%. This incredible beer mixes hop bitterness, hop oils and sweet honey to create a unique blend. The overpoweringly strong beer is black in color and has a sweet aroma, full body, hoppy finish, and creamy texture.
#11 Samuel Adams Utopias
Samuel Adams Utopias has been named after the American war hero of the same name and was first produced in the year 2002. A 700ml bottle comes with a price tag of 150 dollars – 600 dollars per bottle and is considered one of the most expensive beers in the world. In the United States, it occupies the first position in terms of its monetary value. It had an ABV of 24% initially but was later increased to 27%.
The coveted beer is blended, brewed and aged with help of special technique. No doubt it is a time-consuming process but the end product is simply worth it. The beer is filled in ceramic bottles and is made with four variants of noble hops and smoked malts. It has a subtle sweetness, malty smoothness, fruity flavor, and light palate. Limited edition bottles are released every alternate year and they are aged in Port, Cognac and Scotch barrels.
#12 Space Barley
Have you ever heard of barley growing in microgravity; well that is what Space Barley does. It is a famous and one of a kind product from Sapporo, the Japanese brand and was brewed in the year 2010. The Space Beer as it is popularly known as is the offspring of the fourth-generation barley seeds that were kept for five months abroad the International Space Station. Yes, it is true and this is what makes it a unique product.
Space Barley has a light-dark color with a mellow flavor to remind people of the space. It is priced at 110 dollars for every six-pack making it one of the most expensive beers in the world. This is a limited edition as only two hundred and fifty people were given the opportunity to purchase it.
#13 Tutankhamun Ale
Tutankhamun Ale is said to follow the recipe of an ancient beer that was earlier brewed in Royal Brewery, Egypt of Queen Nefertiti. It was later acquired by Jim Merrington, a Scottish brewer and then brewed in Scottish Newcastle Brewery, UK.
This is a limited edition beer and only one thousand bottles of Tutankhamun Ale were brewed. It is an entrant of the most expensive beer list as its first bottle was sold for 7,686 dollars although at one time the prices dropped down to 75 dollars per 500ml bottle.
#14 Brew-Dog Tactical Nuclear Penguin Beer
Brew-Dog Tactical Nuclear Penguin Beer as the name suggests is brewed by the well-known Brew-Dog Brewery. It is considered one of the strongest beers with an ABV of 32%. With an average selling price tag of 106 pounds per bottle, it occupies a good position in the most expensive beer of the world list.
Brew-Dog Tactical Nuclear Penguin Beer is produced via a chill and skin process and is then aged for eight months in Arran whiskey cask and later once again in another cask for the same time. This unique and bold product is dark in color with reddish glints and has an amazing intensity and smoked flavors.
#15 Vieille Bon Secours Ale
Vieille Bon Secours Ale is a 12-liter beer bottle that has been brewed in a town of Peruwelz in Belgium and presented by La Brasserie Caulier. Each bottle is priced at 1,200 dollars and is considered one of the most expensive beers in the world.
The artisanal beer is aged for ten years and has 8% alcohol by volume content with complex taste and toffee and caramel flavor with an undertone of aniseed and licorice.
#16 Crown Ambassador Reserve
Crown Ambassador Reserve is one of the well-liked and most expensive beers from Australia. It has crystal malt that is distinct and is aged in French oak barrels for a period of three months. Only seven thousand individually numbered limited edition bottles of 750ml were released with a price tag of 94.99 dollars.
The credit for crafting Crown Ambassador Reserve goes to Tully Hadley the head brewer. It is mouth-filling and luscious with a distinctive taste. The in-bottle fermentation makes it a true beer that needs to be savored.
#17 Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844
Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844 is sold in the market by Pabst Brewing Company It is an extraordinary beer that has entered the list of most expensive beer in the world via its price tag of 44 dollars.
Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844 is made from caramel malt acquired from Germany and is aged in American whiskey barrels. Its flowing sweetness, pale-gold body, and sharp texture have made it a very popular drink in China.
The irony is that in the United States it is considered an average drink whereas in China it is considered a very luxurious beer that everyone cannot afford. This is a fizzy and light beer with an alcohol by volume of 4.74%. Alan Kornhauser, the master brewer designed this ale for competing with high-end products.
Beer occupies the third position in terms of most popular drinks in the world after water and tea and in terms of alcoholic beverages; it is placed at the top. It is difficult to establish breweries anywhere you want but this has not stopped beer lovers from acquiring a pint or bottle it as per their desires.
The consumption has been on a steady rise because of its unique flavor and taste that finds favor with alcoholic lovers. Most of the breweries release special editions nowadays so that they can be associated with expensive brand tag.
