The End of HIstory
The Race To Create the World's Strongest Beer
In 2010 we brewed an ultra limited 55% abv beer which was only available in our online store. Buyers came from all over the world and the edition sold out in just 4 hours.
- 12 bespoke bottles were produced, using 7 dead stoats, 4 squirrels & 1 hare
- Each bottle cost £500 – £700 depending on the size of the animal it was stored in
- The End of History was 55% ABV, making it the most alcoholic beer in the world at the time.
- Intended to be served in a shot or whiskey glass to be enjoyed like a fine whiskey
The End of History: The name derives from the famous work of philosopher Francis Fukuyama, this is to beer what democracy is to history. Fukuyama defined history as the evolution of the political system and traced this through the ages until we got the Western Democratic paradigm. For Fukuyama this was the end point of man’s political evolution and consequently the end of history. The beer is the last high abv beer we are going to brew, the end point of our research into how far the can push the boundaries of extreme brewing, the end of beer.
This blond Belgian ale was infused with nettles from the Scottish Highlands and Fresh juniper berries. Only 12 bottles were made and each came with its own certificate and was presented in a stuffed stoat or grey squirrel. The striking packaging was created by a very talented taxidermist and all the animals used were road kill.
In true BrewDog fashion we tore up convention, blurred distinctions and pushed brewing and beer packaging to its absolute limits. This beer was an audacious blend of eccentricity, artistry and rebellion; changing the general perception of beer one stuffed animal at a time.
The impact of The End of History was a perfect conceptual marriage between art, taxidermy and craft brewing. The bottles are at once beautiful and disturbing – they disrupt conventions and break taboos, just like the beer they hold within them.
At BrewDog we want to push the boundaries and challenge people’s perceptions about what beer is and how it can be enjoyed. We ultimately want to show people that there is an alternative to the mainstream, generic beers and make other people as passionate about craft beer as we are. We have pushed the limits of beers in many directions, ultra hoppy low abv beers (such as Nanny State), Islay Barrel Aged Stouts, Ageing IPAs on the Ocean and doing off the wall collaborations.
We brought The End of History back one more time in 2016, an exclusive for US Equity Punks who invested more than $20,000 to help open our brewery in Columbus. It was also to celebrate the repeal of Ohio's Bill 37, which removed the 12% ABV limit on beers made and sold in the state.
Although The End of History sold out many moons ago, check out our current range of high strength brews available in our online store now.
The Strong Stuff
