Top penguin at BrewDog faces scrutiny with release of 32% "beer." Photo courtesy
Brewdog.com
Beware random acts of penguins! This just in a couple of weeks ago. The brew puppies at Scotland’s BrewDog Brewers have claid laim to having brewed the strongest beer in the world. At alcohol levels approaching 32% they have waid laste the beer landscape whilst chilling out in Penguin costumes in sub zero temperatures.
Tactically the governments of Europe have retaliated with scorn and torch, scalding the BrewDog penguins and their caretakers reprehensible behavior not becoming of naked loonies in an ice cream factory.
While European authorities are screaming ban the bomb and down with BrewDog, the world continues to turn and the 500 bottle special release of “Tactical Nuclear Penguin” is blamed and associated with Scotland’s “epidemic of alcoholism.” Stretch marks are appearing along the borders, especially along the coast where penguins cohabitat.
The bottles are being sold at nearly $50 each, while $400 a bottle will also get you a share in the company. All’s well that shares well, I suppose.
Will Tactical Nuclear Penguin make it to the USA? Not as beer. Technically since the Penguins at BrewDog freeze “distilled” the beer it cannot be classified as beer in the United States. It would have to assault America’s shores as spirits and labeled as such.
Freeze distilling is the same process that Germans use to make Eisbock and backyard cider makers use to make applejack. Fully fermented brew or cider is then taken below freezing temperatures. Water will freeze before alcohol (which freezes at lower temperatures than water). The frozen non alcoholic water (the original slushy with a gentle kick) is separated. What is left behind is a stronger more alcoholic beverage. Quite tactical to say the least.
Watch the whole show, process, random acts by penguins and zaniness in this video released by BrewDog Brewers. Warning: for mature and over 21 year old audiences only, please.
Tactical Nuclear Penguin from BrewDog on Vimeo.
Comments
Word is that some of the bottles have been exploding. Ironic.
Distilling a malt product makes a kind of whiskey if you ask me, even if a unique one. No longer beer at all.
The process is known as fractional freezing and there is no distillation involved because the alchohol would have to be removed from the liquid to be considered distialtion according to the TTB .
Fractional freezing is a concentration process and the TTB has a ruling defining what is allowed and what is not allowed for taxation purposes as per the TTB ruling 94-3.
This is a beer concentrate and cant be classed as a spirt at all .
Homebrewers can make much Ice beer as they like becuse they are not subject to excise tax and Im sure many homebrewer can attest to having a frozen corny keg of beer and getting stonkered including yourself Chralie .
The process is known as fractional freezing and there is no distillation involved because the alchohol would have to be removed from the liquid to be considered distialtion according to the TTB .
Fractional freezing is a concentration process and the TTB has a ruling defining what is allowed and what is not allowed for taxation purposes as per the TTB ruling 94-3.
This is a beer concentrate and cant be classed as a spirt at all .
Homebrewers can make much Ice beer as they like becuse they are not subject to excise tax and Im sure many homebrewer can attest to having a frozen corny keg of beer and getting stonkered including yourself Chralie .
Matt, from what I understand, in the U.S. by U.S. regulations you can freeze beer and call it beer if you do not increase alc./vol. by more than 0.5%. It seems that Tactical Nuclear Penguin would be a spirit.
Charlie the TTB doesn't have any real regulations regarding the freeze concentration of beer as a spirit but in the Vermont State regulations any alcholic beverage over 16% inluding freeze concentration is defined as a spirit .This probably included in the state law becuse of AppleJack and the fact that the Vermont Brewers Asociation has influence on the State lawmakers ,
So I wonder if its up to the state law how a spirit is defined and also in Ruling 94-3 it does have a provision where manufactures and importers can get an exemption if they can prove that the beer is made using traditional methods .Brewdog may be able to apply for this exemption becuse they make thier beer similar to EisBocks .
I haven't read up on the regulations, but is Eisbock not simply defined, like most other high-ABV brews imported into the States, as being a malt liquor? And seeing as how the process is the same, wouldn't that put TNP into the same category?
The processes of distillation and "freeze distillation" are two completely different processes, and freeze distillation is essentially the opposite of traditional distillation, so I can't understand how a beer such as this one, or Eisbocks for that matter, could be regulated in the same fashion. It doesn't make sense.
But neither do many government regulations, I suppose.
We know the stateside rep for the wild-n-crazy guys at BrewDog. Here's what we know about Tactical Nuke Penguin:
- The first batch sold out and the second batch (available December 17th) has been completely pre-sold.
- There will be a third batch available late December and online pre-orders will be possible mid-December (15th).
- It will be available in the US starting March 2010.
- US consumers can order BrewDog via www.brewdog.com
That's exciting news. March 2010? I'd love to be able to get my hands on some. 23rd birthday on March 23 with a 32% birthday cake in a bottle. That would be fantastic.
I haven't read up on the regulations, but is Eisbock not simply defined, like most other high-ABV brews imported into the States, as being a malt liquor? And seeing as how the process is the same, wouldn't that put TNP into the same category?
The processes of distillation and "freeze distillation" are two completely different processes, and freeze distillation is essentially the opposite of traditional distillation, so I can't understand how a beer such as this one, or Eisbocks for that matter, could be regulated in the same fashion. It doesn't make sense.
But neither do many government regulations, I suppose.
Wow, so much for the high ABV reputation of the Utopias!
Yes, but Utopias still holds its own as it is fermented to such high levels and not freeze distilled.
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