Advice on a 10% /vol Beer?

Question

Hello,

I have just got some beer. The brand is Petra Beer, made in Jordan.

Now I am not sure if I should trust this, but the bottle say that it is 10% /vol ALC .. is this possible? do you think they have added chemical alcohole? I am asking this because I've never seen any beer that high, please advise.

Thanks in advanced.

Answer 1

I'd seen beer higher, quit being a p***y and drink it

Answer 2

Yeah what they said.

Answer 3

Beer yeast, for the most part, isn't too much different than wine yeast.  And, as you're likely aware, most wines are between 13% and 17% alcohol.  What changes the ABV (Alcohol By Volume) is the amount of sugar used.  The more sugar, the more alcohol.  Most brewers use recipes that create sugar contents of 1.050 specific gravity or less (this is a measurement of the unfermented beer's density as compared to just straight water.)  However, it isn't difficult to raise this amount by adding more malt or adjunct sugars (beet sugar, cane sugar, corn sugar, rice sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc.)  As you raise specific gravities, you increase alcohol levels.

Assuming a high-quantity addition, most beer yeast ferments to about 11% without much trouble.  By using specialized yeasts and fermentation methods (normally by adding LOTS of oxygen to the unfermented beer) a beer brewer can make some very high alcohol beers.

If you want to try one of the biggest, I recommend Dogfish Head's World Wide Stout.  They have created about 18%-23% versions of this beer.  Sam Adams Utopia is supposed to be about 25%.

Give this beer a shot!  And let us know what you think!

Answer 4

It is perfectly fine. No chemicals added.

There are naturally made beers with ABVs of over 25% (Utopia and Dave)... many Belgian quads are in the 8% to 12% range and your average Russian Imperial Stout is 15% to 17%.