Most Expensive Beers

Beer is one of the oldest existing beverages in the world, having been introduced by ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). Beer was so important that it had even been used as a currency then. Nowadays, although beer is not as precious as it was then and is now a common commodity, there are some beers that are still held in high value. Here are some of the most expensive beers in the world:

In 2010, the Western Australian brewery Nail Brewing produced one of the most expensive beers in the world, the Antarctic Nail Ale, an Australian pale ale. What’s so distinctive about this beer is that its water is made from melted ice from an iceberg somewhere in Antarctica! The ice was collected by the crew of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, who flew it to Tasmania where they melted it. They then brought the melted ice to Perth. It is said that the brewery has produced only 30 bottles in the world, costing from US$800 to US$1800 each.

While Pabst Blue Ribbon is one of the cheapest beers you can buy in the USA, in China it might be the Rolex of beers. It is sold there at US$44 per bottle, so it’s 44 times the price you would pay in the US. But it’s not the same beer, however. The Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844 is made from the finest ingredients that include German caramel malts and it is aged in high-quality barrels. It even comes in an elegant bottle. You really have to fly to China if you want to have a taste of it, as this is not sold outside the country. It has 6% Alcohol by Volume (ABV).

The brewers at Samuel Adams used four kinds of Noble hops as well as applied authentic traditional brewing techniques to market this special kind of beer. Because of its unusually high ABV (27%), this beer is banned in 13 states. At $150 per bottle (700 mL), this is the most expensive beer in the US. Only about 3,000 bottles have been coughed up since the Second World War.

This beer was a result of the experiment by the Japanese and Russian scientists who wanted to see if barley could grow in space. It is priced at US$110 per six pack.

The Schorschbock 57 claims to be the strongest beer in the world, having a staggering 57.5% ABV! The brewery has produced only 36 bottles, with each costing $275. The beer throws a hint of peach and vanilla… which might throw you off along with its extreme alcohol taste and aroma.

In 1990 British archaeologists unearthed an ancient beer residue from Queen Nefertiti’s royal brewery. Then they studied it and analyzed to verify its ingredients. The researchers then teamed up with a Scottish brewer and together they were able to reproduce the ancient recipe. The first bottle was sold for $7,686 but it was later trimmed down to $75.

Scottish brewery BrewDog produced Sink the Bismarck, whose name was inspired by the Nazi battleship. It is considered to be one of the strongest beers in the world with 41% ABV. Each 375ml bottle carries a price tag of US$80.

BrewDog again crafted one of the strongest brews with “The End of History,” which was once thought to end all of the beer competition when it comes to strength. It has an ABV of 55% and has a proof of 110, and each 330ml bottle sells for a mind-boggling US$765.

This very fine beer was made from high-quality hops and caramel, and is aged in both French and Swedish oak barrels deep in cellars for half a year. When drunk, its flavor bursts with hints of malt, wood, dried fruits, caramel and a few hints of smoke. It has an ABV of 10.5% and carries a price tag of a staggering US$400 per bottle.

Packaged in a distinctive champagne bottle, this beer costs US$90 to US$800 per bottle, making it one of the most expensive beers to come from Down Under. It has a deep amber color, and when poured in a glass you can see its creamy white head. Only 8,000 bottles of this beer have been produced in the world.