A Fascinating Look at the World's 11 Most Expensive Beers

Welcome to a captivating expedition through the intriguing history of beer, the world's oldest libation and the third most beloved beverage, trailing only water and tea. As we embark on this journey, we'll uncover the stories behind some of the most expensive beers that have ever graced the world.

Honorable Mention: Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844 Pack - $849.99

In 2022, PBR released a limited-edition pack of 1844 of its famed lager beer to celebrate the year it was founded. While the price tag of nearly $900 seems steep up-front, it actually comes down to only $0.46 per beer! And just think, it'll take you years to run out of PBR with that many cans. Now, the question is where to store all those pibbers...

Tutankhamun Ale - $75

Our odyssey begins with Tutankhamun Ale, priced at $75. This extraordinary brew is a faithful recreation of an ancient Egyptian beer, its recipe unearthed in Queen Nefertiti's concealed kitchen by Cambridge University archeologists. Collaborating with Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, they breathed life back into this historical elixir in 1996, paying tribute to Egypt's rich beer-brewing heritage.

Photo Courtesy of Science Museum Group

BrewDog Sink the Bismarck - $107

BrewDog’s Sink the Bismarck, priced at $107, is an exceptional bottle of beer. Billed as a quadruple IPA, boasts four times the bitterness and hops content of a standard IPA. With an impressive alcohol content of 41%, it offers a bold, hop-forward taste with enticing notes of grapefruit, spice and caramel.

Photo Courtesy Flickr/Ansel W

Sapporo Space Barley - $115 (six-pack)

Discover the extraordinary Sapporo Space Barley, a beer with a celestial origin that's truly out of this world. Crafted through a unique collaboration between Sapporo Breweries, Russian scientists at the the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Okayama University, this brew's key ingredient is barley that journeyed through space on the Zvezda Service Module, a component of the International Space Station -- making it the world's first space beer. 

Sapporo Space Barley offers a distinctive taste of roasted barley, evoking the cosmos. While its exact flavor remains elusive due to limited availability, this beer is a testament to human innovation and the boundless possibilities of space exploration. Explore its astronomical origins and why it's one of the world's most expensive beers, creating a galactic journey and a collector's dream.

Samuel Adams Utopias - $240

Sam Adams Utopias commands a lofty price of $240 per bottle. Renowned for its extremely limited production, this beer emerges only once every two years. Luckily for beer fans in 35 states (it's illegal in the 15 others), 2023 happens to be a year when it is available in extremely limited quantities.

Utopias's journey entails a meticulous maturation process spanning up to 18 years in various casks, including sherry, brandy, cognac, bourbon and scotch. The result is a beer bearing a wide spectrum of flavors and a complex profile reminiscent of a luxurious vintage port, fine cognac or aged sherry.

Schorschbräu Schorschbock 57 - $417

This mighty German brew used to proudly hold the title of the world's most potent beer, boasting an astonishing ABV of 57.5%. While that title now goes to another brew, despite its strength, it manages to maintain a balanced flavor profile, featuring a rich malt-forward character with hints of plum, raisin and anise. Despite falling down the rankings of strongest beers, it still ranks highly among the world's most expensive beers.

Carlsberg Jacobsen Vintage - $533

Carlsberg’s Jacobsen Vintage just misses the top five of the most expensive beers of all time, with a price tag of $533. This barleywine was introduced with the aspiration to rival luxury wines. Its complexity shines through, offering distinct flavors of vanilla and cocoa, achieved through a meticulous maturation process lasting up to six months in Swedish and French oak barrels.

De Cam & 3 Fonteinen Millennium Geuze 1998 - $616

De Cam & 3 Fonteinen Millennium Geuze 1998, priced at $616, begins our march to the five most expensive beers of all time. This exceptional beer was launched in 1998 in Belgium to commemorate the arrival of the new millennium. It presents a unique, tart and complex flavor profile, which has solidified its status as a highly sought-after collector's item.

Photo Courtesy Flickr/Bernt Rostad

BrewDog The End of History - $1,159

The second BrewDog beer on this list, The End of History, is an amazing brew that retailed at an astounding $1,159. This brew garnered recognition for its staggering 55% ABV (making it the world's strongest beer for a time) and its remarkable packaging, with each bottle encased in taxidermied animals, including squirrels and weasels. Its taste is a robust blend of malt, oak, whiskey and fruit.

Cantillon Loerik 1998 - $1,722

Cantillon's beers are known for their uniform brilliance thanks to centuries of brewing prowess. Cantillon Loerik 1998's $1,722 exorbitant price tag is justified by its unique crafting process and scarcity. With an ABV of only 5%, it's not its strength but its rarity and distinctive brewing process that account for this steep cost.

Nail Brewing Antarctic Nail Ale - $1,815

Second on our list is the Antarctic Nail Ale by Nail Brewing, priced at $1,815, placing it very high on the list of most expensive beers of all time. This Australian pale ale is crafted with melted Antarctic iceberg ice, making it one of the world's most exceptional and "purest" beers. A mere 30 bottles of this Antarctica-themed brew were ever produced, rendering it exceptionally rare. The entire proceeds from its sales contribute to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, further enhancing its worth.

Allsopp's Arctic Ale - $503,300

Finally, we reach the apex of our journey with the world's most expensive beer, Arctic Ale by Allsopp's, commanded an astonishing price tag of $503,300. This historical beer, over 140 years old, was part of an Arctic expedition from the 19th century. A limited run of these beers was produced, rendering any surviving bottles highly coveted collector's items.

A little backstory on the beer: An eBay user known as 'collectordan' hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, successfully secured a full bottle of Allsopp's Arctic Ale for $304, with an additional $19.95 for shipping. The seller was based in Massachusetts. What makes this discovery even more remarkable is the inclusion of an aged, laminated, handwritten note. The note, signed by Percy G. Bolster, a Boston attorney, declared that he had received the bottle in 1919. Astonishingly, this ale was specially brewed in 1852 for a polar expedition.

Further investigation led to the conclusion that this artifact was part of the provisions taken to the Arctic in 1852 by Sir Edward Belcher during his arduous quest to find Sir John Franklin and his crew. Franklin and his team had departed from London in 1845, on a mission to uncover the elusive Northwest Passage.

Sir Edward Belcher had enlisted the services of London brewer Samuel Allsopp, renowned for crafting some of the earliest India Pale Ales in England for export to the colonies. Allsopp was tasked with brewing a special batch for the sub-zero expedition. Belcher later praised Allsopp's ale as a "valuable antiscorbutic" that effectively protected against scurvy. The ale's high alcohol content, nearly 10 percent, prevented it from freezing in the harsh Arctic conditions.

The bottle made its way back to eBay for relisting on August 2, now labeled as the 'Museum Quality Allsopp's Arctic Ale 1852 Sealed/Full - The Rarest Historic Beer in the World.' The accompanying description delves into Captain Belcher's fascinating history and the relentless quest to locate Franklin. Collectordan, the eBay user, confidently set a 'Buy It Now' price of $150,000, offering free shipping.

While that sky-high "Buy It Now" price surely seemed unreasonable, the auction came and went with the majority of bids taking place on the final day. The final stats: 157 bidders for a final price of $503,300!

Though there is some controversy surrounding whether or not the beer was actually sold and whether or not some of those bids were "bogus," there is no denying that this is the most expensive beer of all time – even if it is just on eBay.

As we conclude our remarkable voyage through the world of expensive beers, we've discovered the fascinating tales behind these liquid treasures, each a testament to the diversity and rich history of this timeless beverage. These brews are not just drinks but living relics that connect us to the past and beckon us to appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship behind every sip. Cheers to the past, present and future of beer!