There’s the German purity law (i.e. beer must only contain water, malt, yeast and hops), and then there’s the complete anarchy of modern beer making – no ingredient is safe, no palate will be spared. During Lonely Planet’s quest to find the coolest breweries around the world for our newly-released Global Beer Tour, we came upon some truly bizarre drinks. If you think adding some citrus and spice to a brew is radical, the beers below may be a bit too much to swallow. Here are the top ten beers that spit in the face of convention, and occasionally into their own drinks...
ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTER STOUT
(Wynkoop Brewing Company, USA)
The oysters in question here are actually bull’s testicles. Let that sink in for a minute… just as the testicles did into the mash for this beer. This heavy-duty stout deserves a mention, if only for the cojones required to tell your marketing department that you’re brewing with genitals.
CHICHA
(South America, or Dogfish Head, USA)
This traditional alcoholic beverage hails from South America, made from maize that’s chewed, spat and collected to form a fermentable mash. Dogfish Head brewery tried its hand at this, with the staff contributing to the masticated corn base. The resulting drink was a limited release, but you just know someone, somewhere, will try again…
AECHT SCHLENKERLA RAUCHBIER MÄRZEN
(Schlenkerla, Germany)
Despite the call-out to the German Purity Laws, don’t think it’s just modern ales that can take you to the weird side. Try this German smoked wheat beer on for size. You’ll swear a smoked pig was liquefied – big, chewy and kind of challenging (not unlike the beer’s name).
MARRICKVILLE PORK ROLL
(Batch Brewing Co, Australia)
From a suburb of Sydney known for its strong Vietnamese community comes a beer that wears its local heart on its weird sleeve. A Vietnamese Pork Roll complete with processed pork meats, coriander, carrot and chilli has donated its ingredients to this beer — and tastes exactly like you’d expect it to!
CHOCOLATE LOBSTER
(Dogfish Head, USA)
Chocolate, lobster and beer fans suffer no longer. Finally, you can gulp down all three flavors in one place. Sadly this beer, which comes with a shellfish allergy warning, is not a traveller. You’ll have to head to the Dogfish Head headquarters to experience this rich, velvety, oceanic pour.
SNAKE VENOM
(Brewmeister, Scotland)
One of the less literal beers on our list, this brew gets its bite from its unusually high alcohol content. While most beer comes in at around 5% alcohol, Snake Venom hisses in the face of convention by being 67% alcohol. No session ale, a single shot of the spirit-like concoction should be enough.
SRIRACHA STOUT
(Rouge USA)
Some beer makers seem intent on inventing a concoction that no one has ever asked for. Stout plus garlic-chilli sauce? Um … sure, love to. Said no-one. But you’re not anyone and you’re going to put this on the bucket list. Dark, rich and genuinely spicy, it has a good chance to take your breath away.
HVALUR 2
( Brugghús Steðja, Iceland)
There might be a theme developing, but let’s cut to the chase. This is a beer brewed with sheep-dung smoked whale’s testicles. There’s no other way to say it. It is apparently smoky and it’s unquestionably weird – but we recommend you #SaveTheWhales and give this one a pass.
KRIEK
(Brouwerij Lindemans, Belgium)
Take your Lambic beers (that is, fermented with wild yeasts, usually Belgian) up a notch with the addition of fruit. This classic cherry version is another entrant that has history rather than contemporary styling on its side. It’s an acquired taste for some, tart and sour, but try it on a hot summer day — you’ll come around.
BLACK TRUFFLE BEER
(Moody Tongue, USA)
For the beer drinker with deep pockets comes this funky, truffle-infused Pilsner that was designed to accompany, you guessed it, truffle dishes. Difficult to justify maybe, but if you’ve got it, flaunt it.
Thirsty for more beer tips? Check out Lonely Planet’s Global Beer Tour for details on the best breweries around the world (most of which make beers that are a little less challenging than the ones above)!