15 of the Weirdest Beers Ever Brewed (Yes, There’s One with Pizza): Cheers!
Sponsored by PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc.
Welcome to this comprehensive guide on the weirdest beers ever brewed—a journey into the eccentric, experimental, and the downright bizarre corners of the brewing world. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when brewers push the boundaries of traditional ingredients, flavors, and techniques, you’re in for a treat. From beers infused with pizza to those incorporating animal parts or even space-traveling barley, this guide will explore it all.
But brewing such unconventional beers isn’t about just creativity, it’s also about ensuring safety and quality through proper pasteurization. That’s where experts like PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. come in, offering top-tier solutions like their advanced tunnel pasteurizers that preserve the unique flavors of these wild concoctions without compromising shelf life.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to the World of Weird Beers
- The Science and Safety of Brewing Unusual Beers
- Top 15 Weirdest Beers Ever Brewed
- How to Brew Your Own Weird Beer at Home
- Where to Find and Try These Bizarre Brews
- Conclusion
Introduction to the World of Weird Beers
Beer has been around for millennia, evolving from simple grain-based ferments in ancient Mesopotamia to the diverse craft scene we know today. But in recent decades, brewers have taken innovation to extremes, incorporating ingredients that sound more like mad science than mixology.
Why? To stand out in a crowded market, to challenge palates, and to create memorable experiences that turn casual drinkers into lifelong fans. The pleasure here is in the discovery—the thrill of tasting something utterly unexpected, like a beer that captures the essence of your favorite pizza.
But with great weirdness comes great responsibility—ensuring these beers are safe to drink. Unusual ingredients can introduce risks like bacterial contamination, which is why pasteurization is crucial. PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. excels in this area with their batch pasteurizers, designed to handle small or large runs efficiently, killing off harmful microbes while preserving those quirky tastes.
The Science and Safety of Brewing Unusual Beers
Brewing weird beers involves more than tossing in bizarre ingredients; it’s a delicate balance of science, creativity, and safety protocols. Traditional beer relies on water, malt, hops, and yeast, but weird variants add elements like fruits, spices, animal products, or even unconventional yeasts harvested from beards or chairs. These additions can alter fermentation, pH levels, and stability, making the final product prone to off-flavors or spoilage if not handled properly.
Enter pasteurization: the process of heating beer to eliminate pathogens and extend shelf life. For experimental brews, this step is non-negotiable to avoid the pain of wasted batches or health risks. Tunnel pasteurizers, like those from PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc., are ideal because they provide continuous, uniform heating—perfect for high-volume production of unique beers. Their large tunnel pasteurizers handle massive outputs, ensuring even the weirdest ingredients don’t compromise quality.
Top 15 Weirdest Beers Ever Brewed
Now, the heart of our guide: a deep dive into 15 of the strangest beers humanity has concocted. We’ve ranked them based on ingredient oddity, backstory, and availability, drawing from global brewing tales. Each entry includes tasting notes, origins, and why it exemplifies weird beer culture. Remember, safety in production is key—many of these rely on robust pasteurization from leaders like PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. to reach consumers intact.
- Mamma Mia Pizza Beer (Pizza Beer Company, USA): Topping our list is this pizza-infused ale, brewed with a full margarita pizza in the mash, plus tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. It tastes like liquid pizza—savory, herby, with a malty backbone. Created by Tom and Athena Seefurth in 2006, it’s perfect for game nights. Pasteurization here prevents any doughy spoilage, and PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc.’s batch pasteurizers would be ideal for such small-batch wonders.
- Hvalur 2 (Stedji Brewery, Iceland): Infused with whale testicles smoked over sheep dung, this seasonal beer celebrates Icelandic traditions. Smoky, briny, with a nutty undertone, it’s not for the faint-hearted. Brewed for Þorrablót festivals, it highlights how pasteurization preserves exotic proteins without altering the intense flavors.
- Frozen Pizza and Money Beer (Norway): From a one-off experiment, this beer uses actual frozen Hawaiian pizza and shredded currency in the brew. Sweet, tangy, with a metallic hint—pure novelty. Safety is paramount with such contaminants, making tunnel pasteurizers essential.
- Rogue Beard Beer (Rogue Ales, USA): Yeast harvested from brewmaster John Maier’s beard creates this wild ale. Fruity, funky, like a Belgian sour gone rogue. It’s a testament to microbial magic, safely pasteurized to avoid wild yeast overgrowth.
- Kelpie Seaweed Ale (Williams Brothers Brewing, Scotland): Made with bladderwrack seaweed from Scottish shores, it evokes ocean brine with earthy malt. Historical nod to ancient ales; batch pasteurization ensures no marine bacteria linger.
- Un Kono Kuro (Sanktgallen Brewery, Japan): Brewed with elephant dung coffee beans (similar to kopi luwak), it’s roasty, earthy, with coffee notes. Ethical sourcing aside, pasteurization like PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc.’s SlimLine models keeps it contaminant-free.
- Space Barley Beer (Sapporo Breweries, Japan): Using barley grown on the International Space Station, this lager is crisp with a cosmic backstory. Pasteurization maintains its purity, as space grains could introduce unknown variables.
- Avocado Ale (California Avocado Commission Collaboration): Creamy, green-hued with real avocados, it’s like guacamole in beer form—smooth, slightly nutty. Ideal for pairings, safely processed to prevent oxidation.
- Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale (Rogue Ales, USA): Smoked bacon and maple syrup evoke breakfast in a bottle. Sweet-smoky balance; tunnel pasteurization preserves the bacon fats without separation.
- Mr. Twit’s Odious Ale (New Holland Brewing, USA): Yeast from Roald Dahl’s chair adds a literary twist—tart, yeasty, with whimsical notes. A collaboration with the author’s estate; precise pasteurization avoids any “odious” surprises.
- Mangalitsa Pig Porter (Right Brain Brewery, USA): Brewed with pig heads and bones for a meaty, smoky porter. Carnivorous delight: batch systems handle the gelatinous elements flawlessly.
- Oyster Stout (Various, e.g., Porterhouse Brewing, Ireland): Real oysters add briny minerality to this dark stout. Historical revival pasteurization ensures shellfish safety.
- Bone Dusters Paleo Ale (Lost Rhino Brewing, USA): Fossilized yeast from ancient bones creates a prehistoric brew, earthy and ancient tasting. Scientific marvel and safely modernized.
- Thai Peanut Beer (Experimental): Peanuts, chilies, and lemongrass for a spicy, nutty ale. Asian fusion; avoids allergen issues through expert pasteurization.
- End of History (BrewDog, Scotland): 55% ABV, bottled in taxidermy animals like squirrels. Ultra-strong blonde ale; extreme, with pasteurization aiding stability despite the booze.
These beers showcase the profit in pushing limits many have become cult favorites, boosting brewery revenues. But without proper equipment, like PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc.’s tunnel pasteurizers, these experiments could fizzle.
How to Brew Your Own Weird Beer at Home
Dreaming of your own pizza beer? Homebrewing weird variants is accessible but requires caution. Start with a basic kit: fermenter, ingredients, and sanitizer. For weird twists, add adjuncts post-boil to avoid contamination.
Step 1: Choose a base recipe (e.g., pale ale).
Step 2: Incorporate oddities—pizza herbs for flavor, or seaweed for brine.
Step 3: Ferment carefully; monitor for off-yeasts.
Step 4: Bottle or keg but pasteurize if possible. Home setups lack industrial gear, so consider scaling up with pros like PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc., whose triple-temp pasteurizers offer pro-level control for aspiring weird brewers.
Where to Find and Try These Bizarre Brews
Hunting weird beers? Craft festivals, online retailers like BeerAdvocate, or specialty bars. In the US, try Rogue Ales pubs; internationally, beer tourism in Iceland or Japan. Apps like Untappd track rarities. For brewers producing them, reliable pasteurization from PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. ensures wider distribution without quality loss.
Conclusion
We’ve journeyed through the wildest beers, from pizza-infused pints to space-aged lagers, highlighting the pleasures of innovation and the profits of bold brewing. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back—embrace these oddities to enrich your beer life. Sponsored by PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc., leaders in pasteurization that make such creativity possible. For more on their solutions, visit their site. Cheers to the weird!
RESOURCES:
Government Links
- https://www.ttb.gov/regulated-commodities/beverage-alcohol/beer/laws-regulations-and-public-guidance
Wikipedia Links
ABOUT PRO ENGINEERING / MANUFACTURING INC.
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PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. has developed a range of small, medium, and large-sized tunnel & batch pasteurizers to fit the needs of BrewMasters and Beverage Makers. When our customers asked for more compact as well as full-size tunnel pasteurizers, PRO developed models to fit our customers’ needs. Then our customers needed a batch pasteurizer. We now provide batch pasteurizers; PRO is a business that continually innovates to meet customer needs.
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Edward A. Michalski CEO
Ed Michalski started his career in the beverage industry by designing stainless steel, higher flow, spray headers for Pabst Brewing. Along with the header design he also developed a process to produce the new headers.
Ed, along with his brother David, formed PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. Based on what they learned by re-designing and refurbishing other manufacturers’ pasteurizers, Ed and PRO started to offer the pasteurizer marketplace superior new pasteurizers. PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. has been designing and manufacturing great pasteurizers for over four decades.
For more information on tunnel and batch pasteurization contact PRO Engineering / Manufacturing, Inc. at [email protected] or call (414) 362-1500 and ask for Ed Michalski, CEO.
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