Unique and Unconventional Beers to Explore
There’s the German purity law, and then there’s the complete anarchy of modern beer making—no ingredient is safe, no palate will be spared. If, like your travel, you enjoy going off the beaten beer track, here are eight out-there options.
1. Kriek – Brouwerij Lindemans, Belgium
Take your Lambic beers up a notch with the addition of fruit. This classic cherry version boasts a rich history rather than contemporary styling. It’s an acquired taste for some—tart and sour—but try it on a hot summer day; you’ll come around.
2. 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 is on tap year-round (and also in a can). Bottoms up!
3. Marrickville Pork Roll – Batch Brewing Co, Australia
In a suburb of Sydney known for a vibrant 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 chili, has lent its ingredients to this beer—it does exactly what it claims to do!
4. Hvalur 2 – Brugghús Steðji, Iceland
There might be a theme developing, but let’s cut to the chase. This beer is brewed with sheep-dung smoked whale’s testicles. There’s no other way to say it. It is apparently smoky and undeniably peculiar.
5. Snake Venom – Brewmeister, Scotland
Most beers come in at around 5% alcohol, while a big Belgian might hover around 9% to 10%. However, the weirdness here isn’t derived from a bodily fluid or seafood; it comes from an astounding 67% alcohol content. This single-shot brew should be enough for anyone.
6. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen – Schlenkerla, Germany
Despite the call-out to the German Purity Laws (i.e., beer must contain water, malt, yeast, and hops), don’t think it’s just modern ales that can lead you to the weird side. Try this German smoked wheat beer for size. You’ll swear a smoked pig was liquefied—big, chewy, and kind of challenging.
7. Shaved 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. It may be difficult to justify, but if you’ve got it, flaunt it.
8. Chicha – South America
This traditional alcoholic beverage hails from South America and is made from maize that’s chewed, spat, and collected to form a fermentable mash. Dogfish Head brewery ventured into this territory, having staff contribute to the masticated corn base. Dogfish has released the brew for a limited time since 2009.
This article was originally published in May 2020 and updated in January 2021.
This article was first published May 5, 2020 and updated Jan 15, 2021.
