New world's strongest beer is 40 per cent lager

The title of world's strongest beer has been wrestled away from Brewdog, after it emerged a German craft brewer has produced a 40 per cent ABV brew.

Schorschbock, a lager brewed by Schorschbräu, based in Oberasbach, Germany, is now laying claim to the title.

One reviewer said of the beer: "Starts extremely hot and alcoholic, very, very strong, brings you almost to tears… burning and intense finish, warming aftertaste, I feel it going down through my body."

Scottish microbrewer Brewdog unveiled a 32 per cent ABV beer last November called Tactical Nuclear Penguin. The previous title-holder - Schorschbraer - was also from the same German brewer.

Its new record-breaking beer is made through the brewer's own "proprietary fermentation process".

The beer is being sold in the UK by Glasgow-based small brewer WEST.

Petra Wetzel, WEST's managing director, who is from the same region, Franconia, as where the beer is produced, said she was "delighted" to support "the tremendous work done by my fellow countrymen and brewers".

She added: "The Schorschbock has a totally unique flavour that will appeal to any beer connoisseur and sits well alongside our own range of award-winning premium quality lagers brewed right here in Glasgow.

"Due to its exceptional strength and rarity, we are restricting sales of Schorschbock to one measure per customer."