I remember, many years ago, traveling in northern Germany and stopping at some gasthaus for lunch and a bit of liquid, seeing on the menu what they claimed was Die Strengste Bier Die Welt, "The strongest beer in the world." 17 percent!

I have no idea whether it was fortified to that level or whether their process was something special that forced a higher alcohol level, or a special strain of yeast.

I wasn't all that much of a bier aficionado (how do you say that in German?) at that time, so I don't have any recollection about the flavor. Nor do I have any real recollection of the kick from the one serving I drank. After all, that was about fifty-five years ago.

Dave Oesterreich