Costliest Beer in the World: Top 10 Most Expensive Bottles Ever Sold

Introduction: When Beer Becomes a Luxury

For the majority of us, beer is the most laid-back drink. You can grab a pint at your local watering hole, crack open a chilled can at a party or pick up a six-pack for an evening with friends. Beer is casual, affordable, and accessible. But here's the kicker: Not all beers are cheap and ordinary. Some beers are so rare, and historical that collectors will pay lakhs, if not crores, for a single bottle.

Picture yourself drinking a beer that’s brewed with barley that flew in space, or having a bottle that was created for Arctic explorers in the 19th century! These beers are not just beers; they’re cultural, scientific, and craft artifacts, and their prices will shock you.

Let’s take a look at the 10 costliest beers in the world—their stories, what makes them so expensive, and of course, how they taste.

The Top 10 Costliest Beers Ever Sold

1. Tutankhamen Ale – England

• Price: USD 75 (INR 6,533)
  
  
• Origin: Scotland & England collaboration
  
  
• ABV: ~6%
  

Tutankhamen Ale may seem like it belongs in King Tut’s tomb, but it is an ongoing objective that has basis in antiquity. In 1996, archaeologists at Cambridge University found recipes in Queen Nefertiti's temple brewery. With assistance from Scottish & Newcastle Breweries, they attempted to replicate the drinks of ancient Egyptians who lived thousands of years prior.

Why so expensive? Only 1,000 bottles were ever made, and the first one sold for a whopping USD 7,686 at auction before settling around $75 per bottle. It’s history in liquid form.

Taste Notes: Expect a malty backbone with light honey sweetness, earthy grains, and a crisp, dry finish. It’s simple, yet historic—like sipping a beer from another era.

2. BrewDog Sink the Bismarck – Scotland

• Price: USD 107 (INR 9,321)
  
  
• Origin: Scotland
  
  
• ABV: 41%
  
  

BrewDog has a reputation for breaking the rules, and Sink the Bismarck is not an exception. Dubbed as a "quadruple IPA", this beer is four times the bitterness, four times the hoppiness and  four times the strength of a normal IPA. It reaches an alcohol content of 41% ABV, making it stronger than many whiskies.

Why so expensive? Limited runs, high ABV, and the audacity of pushing beer to spirit-level strength make this one a collector’s favorite.

Taste Notes: Bold grapefruit bitterness upfront, balanced with caramel malt, pine, and warming spice. It’s aggressive but layered, offering more than just raw alcohol power.

3. Sapporo Space Barley – Japan

• Price: USD 115 (INR 10,018)
  
  
• Origin: Japan / International Space Station
  
  
• ABV: 5%
  
  

This is not a normal lager. In 2006, barley seeds were sent to the Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station. After spending five months in orbit, they were returned and put through the growing process to create Sapporo Space Barley. It was very rare, only 250 cases (6 packs each) of 800 ml bottles were released in 2009.

Why so expensive? It’s literally brewed from space-traveled ingredients. Collectors pay for the story as much as the sip.

Taste Notes: Light, crisp, and refreshing with subtle malt sweetness and toasted bread notes. It tastes like a clean lager—but with a cosmic backstory.

4. Sam Adams Utopias – United States

• Price: USD 210 (INR 18,295)
  
  
• Origin: USA
  
  
• ABV: 28%
  

The Boston Beer Company introduces a new batch of Sam Adams Utopias every other year, and, every other year, beer aficionados absolutely lose their minds. Utopias is less a beer and more a liquid work of art that blends multiple beers and is aged up to 24 years in bourbon, cognac, and sherry barrels. The complex aging process results in a flavor profile typically reserved for spirits and almost never found in beer.

Why so expensive? Limited production, elaborate aging, and a reputation for being one of the strongest legal beers in the U.S.

Taste Notes: Rich and syrupy with caramel, molasses, dark fruit, and oak. It drinks more like port or cognac than beer. Definitely a “sipping experience.”

5. Schorschbock 57 – Germany

• Price: USD 300–417 (INR 26,135–36,328)
  
  
• Origin: Germany
  
  
• ABV: 57%
  
  

Schorschbock 57, brewed in 2011, used to be the strongest beer ever produced, with an astonishing 57% alcohol by volume; it seems to exist in the murky area between beer and spirits. There were only a very small number of bottles made, and most sold very quickly to collectors.

Why so expensive? Its sheer strength and rarity make it legendary in beer circles.

Taste Notes: Heavy, warming, and complex. Think dark raisins, plums, licorice, and dark chocolate, with an intense alcohol heat balanced by creamy malt sweetness.

6. Carlsberg Jacobsen Vintage – Denmark

• Price: USD 533 (INR 46,434)
  
  
• Origin: Denmark
  
  
• ABV: 10.5%
  
  

Carlsberg is primarily associated with mainstream lagers, but in 2008, the company's Jacobsen line launched a luxury beer aimed at competing with fine wine. They released only 600 bottles that had been aged in French and Swedish oak barrels for six months.

Why so expensive? Packaging was high-end, bottles were hand-painted, and the beer itself was crafted to age gracefully like wine.

Taste Notes: Smooth and velvety with hints of vanilla, cocoa, and dried fruits. The oak aging gives it a warm, complex finish.

Also Read: Beer and Food Pairing Guide: What to Eat with Every Type of Beer

7. De Cam & 3 Fonteinen Millennium Geuze – Belgium

• Price: USD 616 (INR 53,665)
  
  
• Origin: Belgium
  
  
• ABV: 7%
  
  

Introduced in 1998 to commemorate the new millennium, this beer was a blend of lambics produced by two renowned Belgian breweries, De Cam and 3 Fonteinen. It was bottle-conditioned in a limited production and bottles rarely come available for purchase even today.

Why so expensive? It’s both a historic release and a showcase of Belgium’s lambic tradition. Collectors prize it for rarity and craftsmanship.

Taste Notes: Tart and funky with notes of citrus, apple skin, and oak. Complex layers of sourness and subtle barnyard funk make it unforgettable.

8. BrewDog The End of History – Scotland

• Price: USD 1,159 (INR 1,00,971)
  
  
• Origin: Scotland
  
  
• ABV: 55%
  
  

If you thought Sink the Bismarck was crazy, BrewDog took it a step further with The End of History. Only 12 bottles were made, and each was packaged in either a taxidermy squirrel or taxidermy a weasel. Controversial? Yes. Collectible? Yes.

Why so expensive? It’s part beer, part art piece, part shock factor.

Taste Notes: Herbal and fruity with juniper, honey, and oak. Strong whisky-like warmth lingers long after each sip.

9. Cantillon Loerik 1998 – Belgium

• Price: USD 1,722 (INR 1,50,020)
  
  
• Origin: Belgium
  
  
• ABV: 5%
  
  

Cantillon is legendary among sour beer lovers, but Loerik 1998 is comparatively rare among Cantillon beers. The beers were bottled in much smaller quantities than our historic favorites, and it's one of those few beers you may never experience in your lifetime.

Why so expensive? Pure scarcity. Collectors treat it as a holy grail.

Taste Notes: Light-bodied, effervescent, and slightly funky with citrus peel, earthy undertones, and a refreshing tartness.

10. Allsopp’s Arctic Ale – England

• Price: USD 503,300 (INR 4.3 Crore)
  
  
• Origin: England
  
  
• ABV: ~9%
  
  

The ultimate in expensive beers. Allsopp's Arctic Ale was brewed in 1875 for a British Arctic expedition. More than 140 years later, one of the bottles came up for auction and sold for well over half a million dollars.

Why so expensive? It’s not just a beer—it’s a piece of history, tied to exploration, adventure, and survival.

Taste Notes: Described as rich and syrupy with sherry-like sweetness, molasses, and aged fruit flavors. At this point, it’s more artifact than beverage.

Quick Comparison Table – Costliest Beers

Why Do These Beers Cost So Much?

1. Rarity & Limited Production – Most of these beers were released in small batches, sometimes just a few dozen bottles.
   
   
2. History & Heritage – Ancient recipes, historic expeditions, and millennium celebrations add cultural weight.
   
   
3. Unusual Brewing Methods – From space-grown barley to extreme ABV levels, these beers go beyond standard brewing.
   
   
4. Collector Demand – Just like rare whisky or wine, limited-edition beers can skyrocket in value due to demand.
   
   
5. Packaging & Presentation – Hand-painted bottles, taxidermied animals, and luxury glassware all add to exclusivity.
   
   

Key Takeaways

• The costliest beers in the world aren’t about casual drinking—they’re collectibles, often more admired than consumed.
  
  
• Prices range from a modest USD 75 to an unbelievable USD 503,300.
  
  
• Each beer tells a story—whether it’s an Arctic adventure, an ancient Egyptian recipe, or a trip to space.
  
  
• Flavor profiles vary from tart Belgian sours to whisky-like heavy brews, proving beer can rival wine and spirits in complexity.
  

Final Thoughts

Even though beer is a beverage made for the masses, it is apparent that these incredible bottles can stand alongside fine wines and well-aged spirits in the luxury marketplace. It is not just an intriguing recipe, malt taken from outer space, or an Arctic expedition that gives these beers their greatest value; it is that each of the beers represents much more than the fact that it's beer. 

Will any of us ever get to try them? Odds are, we won't. But just knowing they're out there adds an aspect of wonder to the world of beer. So the next time you have a pint in your hand, just remember that there is a bottle of beer out there that is worth millions.

Also Read: Johnnie Walker Blue Label x Rahul Mishra: Limited Edition Diwali 2025 Bottle Unveiled