In general, my rule when it comes to food and libations is I’ll give anything a taste at least once. I’ve eaten the brain of a pig, I’ve munched on scorpions, cockroaches, and tarantulas (there are pics of me doing this on the BroBible Instagram), but I guess there’s a line somewhere that I’m not willing to cross. I think I’ve realized what that line is after learning of the ‘Moby Dick Ambergris Ale’ from Robe Town Brewery in Australia, and that line is ‘I’m not willing to eat or drink something that’s been digested and expelled from another living animal.’
The Moby Dick Ambergris Ale is a limited-run beer, and as you might’ve guessed from the name it involves ingredients from a whale…specifically whale vomit. That’s right, this beer is brewed using the fucking vomit of a whale, because apparently Australia couldn’t come up with anything more disgusting to brew beer with.
Robe Town Brewery
An Australian brewing company has incorporated rare and expensive “whale vomit” into a special new beer.
Robe Town Brewery’s limited run “Moby Dick Ambergris Ale” features hints of ambergris or “whale vomit” which is excreted by sperm whales and most commonly used in perfumes.
“The result is a pungent, animalistic aroma, musky ethereal perfume, full body, caramel malt and fruity flavours, very balanced bitterness,” the brewery’s website states. “Though the aroma may not be for the faint-hearted, and the beer isn’t exactly vegan-friendly, the ambergris perfume adds another dimension to this unique tasting experience.”
Robe Town brewers Maris and Kristi Biezaitis told ABC News that the idea for the beer was inspired by a friend’s discovery of a lump of ambergris.
“When I heard that ambergris was used in the perfume industry, I thought ‘I wonder if that could be used to flavor or spice up a beer,'” Maris Biezaitis said. “It was a relatively fresh piece, quite a smelly piece, so it was airing and curing in the backyard before I got hold of it.”
Kristi Biezaitis said the beer has a “challenging” taste and stays true to its ocean roots.
“It tastes a little bit like the sea, it tastes a little bit like marine animals. It’s really interesting I think,” she said.
Sure, ambergris is a common ingredient in perfumes/colognes but I see ZERO REASON WHATSOEVER that anyone should ever drink whale vomit, right?
Robe Town Brewery
Robe Town Brewery
The beer was brewed for Australia‘s GABS 2016 beer festival, and reports were very mixed on the taste. This isn’t surprising at all because whale vomit is neither tasty nor appealing, and beer is best when brewed with traditional ingredients.
I have to admit though, Robe Town Brewery did display some pretty gigantic balls in brewing this one of a kind beer. If you’re interested in HOW they brewed this beer using whale vomit just follow that link and head on over to Robe Town Brewery’s website where they’ve got a full rundown of the steps taken to turn vomit into beer!
(h/t UPI)