Brewmeister Brewery bullish over 65% ABV Armageddon beer

Lewis Shand, set up the Brewmeister Brewery in Aberdeenshire with two friends earlier this year and the first beers were launched in June.

This month, its four-strong range was joined by Armageddon, the world’s strongest beer, which can be bought for £40 from the brewer but which retails for around £80.

“We aren’t targeting the after-work crowd who are necking beers at the bar,” Shand said. “Look at the prices we charge. We aim for beer connoisseurs and recommend sharing the bottle, drinking it as a 35cl measure, more like a brandy.”

The beer is made by a process called ‘freeze distillation’, where the beer is brewed at 10% ABV, then frozen, and the ice removed to leave a stronger beer.

The battle for the title of the world’s strongest beer was started three years ago when BrewDog launched its 32% ABV Tactical Nuclear Penguin. It was followed by the 40% ABV Schorschbock from Germany’s Schorschbräu brewery and finally the 60% ABV Start the Future from Dutch brewer Koelschip, which was launched in 2010.

“We are different to BrewDog, which makes hoppy beer inspired by American craft ales,” Shand said. “Our beers are much more European, using German yeast and British and European hops.”

The brewery is now looking for an ‘angel investor’ to help it expand.