5 of the strangest beers in the world
It’s always amusing to see how surprised people from other countries are by our cultural eating and drinking habits, and to react with equal surprise: huh?! Licorice is absolutely delicious, right?! And herring too! And conversely, we can be astonished by what people in other countries eat without complaint—or, in this case, drink. Here they are: the strangest beers from all over the world.
Those who scour the entire globe, like the editors of The Lonely Planet, encounter the strangest things on their travels. Including these beers, and it has to be said: when reading the description of some of them, my perfectly ordinary lager really starts bubbling up in my stomach. EW!
Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout by Wynkoop Brewing Company, USA
Perhaps the Wijnkoop family, who once emigrated to America, would have been better off focusing on buying wine instead of brewing this beer. There really aren’t any oysters in the Rocky Mountain region; it’s another name for bull testicles. Yep, bull testicles, steeped in the mash in the brewing kettle—in other words, the mixture of crushed malt and water. Why??
Hvalur 2 – Brugghús Steðji, Iceland
Let’s continue with the theme, this time with whale testicles smoked over sheep dung. In your beer. I can’t put it any other way. Apparently it tastes smoky, and meanwhile I’m already looking for a basin.
Snake Venom – Brewmeister, Scotland
No, (fortunately) there’s no snake venom in this beer, but there is something else that could make you collapse on the spot: an alcohol content of 67%. So if you feel like really shaking things up in there (I’d say: don’t), knock back this brew made with, among other things, smoked peated malt and champagne yeast.
Shaved Black Truffle Beer – Moody Tongue, USA
There are truffle haters and lovers, and everyone in the latter category would probably want to try this highly exclusive American beer. So exclusive that there are no prices on the website, but if you’re looking for the perfect drink because you still haven’t had enough truffle after your truffle omelet, this seems like a very good choice!
Chicha – Latin America
Chicha is a traditional South American alcoholic drink that, in its purest form, is made by fermenting and brewing chewed-up, spat-out corn. Interestingly enough, Dogfish Head Brewery decided to try this with the entire staff, all of whom were allowed to chew and spit before brewing this limited edition. It is no longer available (fortunately?)…
And you know what beer The Lonely Planet also found strange, as a final surprise? Kriek! Welllll… that’s actually absolutely delicious!
Read also:
- The most delicious things to eat with your IPA
- Weizen vs. witbier: what’s the difference?
- Talking beer on the new ‘Fuck Wijn’ podcast
Source: The Lonely Planet, image: Wynkoop Brewing Company
