Snake Venom Beer: What to Know About the “World’s Strongest” Brew

If you love beer, you’re likely not intimidated by high alcohol percentages. It might be the perfect time to introduce yourself to a brew that recently took over the craft beer community. Add a bottle of Snake Venom to your bucket list. This unique Scottish brew is tricky to get in the United States and is something to drink with caution, but it could redefine your understanding of what beer can taste like.

What is Snake Venom Beer?

Snake Venom comes from Keith Brewery LTD (Brewmeister) and remains the strongest beer sold in the world.  Since 2013, buyers have been able to purchase one bottle at a time to enjoy in stages or share with friends. Each bottle has a warning label advising consumers that it is not a chuggable beverage.

What Does Snake Venom Taste Like?

The Snake Venom formula is a free-distilled beer that has a deceptively sweet and nutty aroma. The fruity flavor has an aftertaste with an edge. Though the beer contains no actual snake venom, it certainly has a “bite.” 

Brewmeister suggests enjoying it 35 milliliters (mL) at a time, which might not sound like a lot initially. However, the standard U.S. shot glass contains around 44 mL per serving, so the Brewmeister’s Snake Venom pour size equates to sipping on a single shot.

The beer lacks carbonation and smooth taste thanks to its high alcohol volume, which makes it easy to gulp down — so measure it first. Snake Venom can be more than worth the experience when you drink it responsibly.

How High is Its ABV?

The Snake Venom beer alcohol content is 67.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), which makes it the world’s strongest commercial brew. To make a comparison, a Corona only has a 4.8% ABV. Regular beer ranges between 4%-10% per bottle, depending on how each brand brews its products.

The stronger the ABV, the faster someone will feel the effects of it. That’s why this formula only gets sold one 330 mL bottle at a time. 

As a beer ferments, the yeast consumes sugars and converts them to carbon dioxide and alcohol. Generally, the longer it ferments, the more powerful the drink becomes. Manufacturers determine ABV by measuring the amount of sugar present at the start and end of the fermentation process. 

The Snake Venom formula gets frozen with brewers removing solid ice, which concentrates the alcohol and minimizes the amount of non-alcoholic liquid.

Why Would Someone Drink Beer So Strong?

There are a few reasons a beer drinker might want a stronger brew. One of the most common is taste fatigue. The more you drink, the more likely you are to get sick of the same flavors. A strong beer provides a different taste experience, breaking up the monotony of grocery-store cases.

You shouldn’t purchase Snake Venom or any other brew with the intention of getting drunk or because you feel pressured to do so. A single bottle isn’t something you can cure the next morning with an electrolyte drink or anti-inflammatory medication. Drinking more than the suggested 35 mL serving of Snake Venom could result in alcohol poisoning, which causes delayed breathing, seizures and death in the most severe cases.

Where Can I Buy Snake Venom Beer?

Though it is available in limited stores and restaurants, Snake Venom isn’t a staple in the United States. Some states limit the purchase of beer to ABV percentages far below 67%. Due to the likelihood of accidental alcohol poisoning, it’s understandable that busy bars and restaurants don’t want to risk the liability — especially in a country so used to weaker formulations. 

You can easily find and purchase Snake Venom from online vendors, such as Amazon, Uncrate and Hard to Find Whisky. You can also get it directly from Brewmeister.

The Road to the Strongest Brew 

The strongest beer has a rich origin. Brewmeister began with a student loan on a farm in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire. Its first creation was Armageddon, the previous strongest beer with a 65% ABV.

Beer production began in Scotland more than 5000 years ago. There is evidence of beer brewing from the Neolithic period found in Skara Brae on Orkney.

In 1128, David I created Holyrood Abbey, where it appears the monks used natural spring water to produce ale. They made the first documented brewery in Edinburgh. Monks across Scotland monopolized beer production through the 1600s. Eventually, other domestic brewers began supplying their ales to locals.

A surprising aspect of Scottish breweries is the alewives These women had the job of producing the brews since many saw it as a domestic task. It wasn’t until the Edinburgh Society of Brewers came to be that men found brewing profitable and took the reins. The industry thrived in Edinburgh thanks to high-quality water sources and locally grown barley. At its peak, Edinburgh had over 38 breweries that exported beer across the British Empire, including far locations like Australia.

Other Strongest Beers

While Snake Venom is currently the strongest beer available, it isn’t the first to make waves in the industry. Others have held the trophy and chances are it will be overtaken again — potentially by Brewmeister. 

Brewmeister’s Former Golden Formula

The previous title holder for the highest ABV (65%) was Brewmeister’s Armageddon which also uses post-fermentation freezing. Another beer that is also too thick for carbonation, it has an amber color with a strong aroma, encapsulating both hops and caramel. If you can’t get ahold of Snake Venom or want something different, Armageddon is sweet with spicy and earthy undertones.

Koelschip’s Top Two Contenders

At a 60% ABV, Koelschip’s Start the Future brew from the Netherlands used the same freezing process as Snake Venom and Armageddon. While no longer in production, many described it like tequila with a burning sensation overpowering any sweetness.

Another strong Koelschip brew was the limited-edition Obilix, which used the same Eisbock method. Like its brother, its appearance defied its taste which was closer to that of hard liquor, with some describing it like whiskey or bourbon. 

Schorschbräu’s Limited-Edition Brew

A rare strong beer is from one of Germany’s breweries known as Schorschbräu. It only created 36 bottles of Schorschbräu 57, so it was a rare find even while it was available. Each bottle had an appropriate 57% ABV. It has a dark amber color that apparently looked better than it tasted. 

BrewDog’s Contribution to High ABV Beers

BrewDog also has its own strong brew. Its End Of History has an ABV of 55% and was named that way based on the work of Francis Fukuyama. It’s a blond Belgium brew infused with herbs. The End of History formula was supposed to be the strongest beer the brand ever produced. It held that title until BrewDog’s later partnership created Strength in Numbers. 

A Partnership That Rattled the Beer Industry

UK-based BrewDog and Schorschbräu joined forces to create the Strength in Numbers beer. It debuted in 2020 with a 57.8% ABV. It combines the freezing Eisbock technique with an aging process commonly used for BrewDog’s whiskey. Strength in Numbers is a unique experience for any beer lover and has a rich flavor palate featuring chocolate, raisins and molasses. A kick of alcohol hits at the end, creating a warming sensation. 

Brew Your Own Beer to Satisfy Your Taste Buds

Accessing high-percentage beers might be challenging where you live. Although you’d likely need commercial-grade equipment to make equivalent drink formulas, you can always brew beer at home to replicate flavor profiles or create your own.

1. Gather and Clean Your Equipment

If you’d like to get a tank or professional brewing tools online, that’s an excellent way to start making your own beer. You can also do it at home with a fermentation keg, a pot and a strainer. Whichever you choose, clean them well with unscented soap to prevent microscopic particles from interfering with your formula.

2. Soak Your Grains and Malt

Choose the kind of beer you’d like to make, like an ale or IPA. Gather the malt and grains necessary for the recipe you select and crush them in a bowl. They should soak for an hour in hot water. It makes them soft enough to create alcohol as their starches turn into sugars.

3. Drain the Liquid and Boil It

After an hour, pour your concoction through a fine-mesh strainer and save the resulting liquid. That’s your wort. If you need more, rinse hot water over your mashed malt and grains to extract more wort. The liquid should boil again by itself for an hour or two.

Remember, you can get creative during or after the brewing process. People like to add peanuts, raspberries and strawberries to their glasses, so the steeping fruits create a peanut butter and jelly flavor. Once you get familiar with the foundational steps, you can make beer as creative as Snake Venom by adding flavorful ingredients during this step or later.

4. Add Hops and Cool

If your beer includes hops, you should add them after an hour or two of boiling. Give them another five to 60 minutes on a low boil, according to your recipe. Afterward, cool the liquid quickly off your burner. This step will change depending on which recipe you’re following and if you’re experimenting with extra hops.

5. Transfer to a Fermentation Container

Add your boiled, hoppy wort to your fermentation container once it reaches 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which it needs to maintain for two weeks. Add your liquid or dry yeast before shaking vigorously. The mixture should remain in a dark, cool place until the two weeks are up. Afterward, add priming sugar to make it bubbly and leave it for another 14 days. When at least 28 days have passed since you boiled your wort, it’s likely ready to taste. You could serve it on a flight tray so your loved ones have individual tasting glasses. This might also be the perfect moment to steep those flavor-boosting ingredients like fruit or herbs.

Embracing Ultra-Alcoholic Beers 

There is something exhilarating about trying Snake Venom or another one of the world’s strongest beers. When enjoyed responsibly, the unique flavors and textures are worth the hunt for them. You can always explore different beer recipes at home if reading about Snake Venom inspires you to try something new.

Original Publish Date 11/14/2023 — Updated 2/6/2025