DENMARK. Carlsberg has launched Vintage No. 2, the second brew in its Vintage trilogy. Sold at the price of DKK 2009 (€270) per bottle, it claims to be one of the world’s most expensive beers.
“With the Vintage trilogy we want to push the boundaries for what a beer can do, and to challenge the luxury wine segment in the gourmet restaurant market by utilising our innovation and brewing capabilities,” said Morten Ibsen, Brewmaster at Carlsberg’s Jacobsen Brew House in Copenhagen Denmark.
In cooperation with four other brewmasters, Ibsen developed the Vintage No. 2, which is available in a limited batch of 600 bottles. Vintage No. 1 was launched a year ago.
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Vintage No. 2, the second brew in Carlsberg’s Vintage trilogy, is sold at the price of DKK 2009 (€270) per bottle, making it one of the world’s most expensive beers |
Vintage No. 2 was created in partnership with the controversial Chilean born artist Marco Evaristti. Each Vintage bottle is labelled with a hand stencilled lithographic print made by Evaristti. Five different prints were designed for each of the beers, with the elephant as the recurring motif. Only 125 items of each has been made, making the bottles a real collector’s item.
“We chose Marco to make the prints as his art is centred on being uncompromising, innovative and pushing boundaries just like the Vintage trilogy,” added Ibsen.
Vintage No. 2 was matured in J.C. Jacobsen’s original crypt-like cellar from 1847 where it has been stored in French oak casks for 100 days. The beer has a jet-black colour and espresso-like foam, revealing flavours of vanilla and cocoa/mocha. The aroma contains hints of tar and ropes, which come from the peatsmoked Scottish malt, transported from Scotland solely for this brew.
Best served at a temperature of 15-20°C, Vintage No. 2 is can be paired with oysters, shellfish, Parma ham and cheese. Consumers with a sweet tooth can even enjoy it with chocolate and crème brûlée.
The expiration date for the Vintage No. 2 is 2059, which is also the year that the Carlsberg Elephant beer celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Vintage No. 2 will be sold exclusively from the Carlsberg Visitors Centre in Valby, Copenhagen and in five upscale Copenhagen restaurants: Noma, NIMB, Premisse, Kong Hans and The Paul.
It is also available online at www.carlsberg.dk via the e-shop.
ABOUT CARLSBERG
The Carlsberg Group is one of the world’s leading brewery groups, with a large portfolio of beer and soft drinks brands. Its flagship brand – Carlsberg – is one of the fastest growing beer brands in the world. More than 45,000 people work for the Carlsberg Group, and its products are sold in more than 150 markets. In 2008 the Carlsberg Group sold more than 120 million hectolitres of beer, which is about 100 million bottles of beer a day.
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