In keeping with the theme of alcohol appreciation month, we've decided to compile a list of the world's most expensive beers. You might have to dip into your savings to buy these, but hopefully they would be worth the dough.
Harpoon ales (I.P.A., Brown Session...etc.) - $27-30/case of 24: Harpoon Brewery is in Boston, and as you'll see, must share the affinity for making really overpriced local beers. I've never heard of any of it before, but the stuff must go over well in New England if they can get away with charging this much.
http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/
Smuttynose I.P.A. or Old Brown Ale - $30/case of 24: The beers hailing from far-flung smaller breweries (these are made at Smuttynose Brewery in Portsmouth, NH) are obviously more expensive than the national powerhouses like Budweiser and Coors, but I'm not sure I'd shell out this much for a beer with this name. What does it mean anyway? The I.P.A., which stands for India Pale Ale by the way, did get a good rating on beeradvocate.com, so maybe it is worth the price.
http://www.smuttynose.com
Ipswich ales (several varieties available different times throughout the year) - $33/6 64oz. cans: Again, these beers are made by Mercury Brewing Co. in Ipswich, MA. Many of these beers seem like they would only have regional availability aside from costing an arm and a leg. Don't college kids in New England drink 'Stones like everyone else?
http://mercurybrewing.com/ipswich.html
Landshark Lager - $34/case of 24: This bad boy is another random, hard to find beer. It's made by Margaritaville Brewing Company in Jacksonville, FL, and from how it's marketed on its website, looks like it's along the lines of Corona in it's island feel at least. I think the price must stem from how hard it is to get your hands on, because it got a rating of D+ on beeradvocate.com. Maybe we're fortunate it's not found everywhere.
http://www.landsharklager.com/
Nantucket Whale's Tale Pale Ale - $45/case of 24: Eeesh. This one has tourist trap written all over it. See, we have whale watches in Nantucket! Come buy some overpriced beer with a kitschy name to celebrate it! The stuff got a B+ rating on beeradvocate.com, so it can't be too bad, but still likely not worth the money for the cute little whale tale on the bottle.
http://www.ciscobrewers.com/
Tutankhamen Brew-$52/bottle: Supposedly this beer is brewed in by the method that University of Cambridge achaeologists found in Queen Nefertiti's Temple of the Sun in Egypt. Considering that this recipe took about 3000 years to find, I guess you can rationalize spending a little more. The production of this stuff is limited, so you better get moving if you want to secure one.
http://www.socyberty.com/Lifestyle-Choices/Top-3-Worlds-Most-Expensive-Beer.40307
Samuel Adams/Boston Beer Company’s Utopias-$100/bottle: If you like strong, overpriced beer, then jump in line for one of these babies. Utopias is “packaged in a unique, collectible copper-finished brew kettle decanter reminiscent of the brew kettles used by brewmasters for hundreds of years.” Well, when you put it that way, it's totally worth 100 bucks. Apparently, it's best served at room temperature. Mmm. Again, there are only 8,000 of these brewed masterpieces out there, so you'd better jump in your car. No, seriously. Go.
http://www.internetwines.com/rws28347.html
Carlsberg Vintage No. 1-$400/bottle: Actually, that's a lie. This beer costs 2,008 Danish kroner (see what they were doing there with the year...pretty cute) or $396.47. I wouldn't really worry about having the exact change though, because only 600 bottles were made, and it will only be sold in three restaurants in Copenhagen. Damn it!
http://www.bornrich.org/entry/vintage-no1-say-cheers-to-the-world-s-most-expensive-beer/
Vielle Bon Secours - £500 or $1000/bottle: I don't care who you are, spending a grand on a bottle of beer is outrageous. However, it is sold for $78 per pint, so maybe if you'd just like a taste, that would be more ideal. I have to admit that since it's only going to be sold in a bar called the Bierdrome in London, I don't think we'll really have to worry about it.
http://www.socyberty.com/Lifestyle-Choices/Top-3-Worlds-Most-Expensive-Beer.40307