Bottle of Beer from the Hindenburg Goes to Auction

The world’s most expensive bottle of beer is heading to the auction block this weekend. And is expected to fetch a winning bid of anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000. A price which makes the cost of the Sam Adams Utopias look like chump change.

The bottle is a 62-years-old bottle of Lowenbrau which had been discovered (and signed) by a New Jersey firefighter in 1937 at the site of the historic Hindenburg disaster. The gentleman who was the Fire Chief in Matawan, N.J, at the time of the disaster recovered six bottles of Lowenbrau and a silver pitcher while cleaning up in the wake of the crash. He buried them in a nearby field when the area was sealed off and later dug them up,. giving five of the bottles to the members of his squad and keeping one and the pitcher for himself. According to ABC News,

The bottle, along with a silver-plated pitcher also discovered by fire Chief Leroy Smith at the scene of the disaster and estimated to fetch $17,000 to $22,000, is part of an auction of Hindenburg memorabilia going under the hammer on Saturday.

Scorch marks on both the bottle and the pitcher bear silent witness to the historic inferno.

“About 20 percent of the beer evaporated from the bottle. Some of the label is still intact and you can make out ‘Lowenbrau’ and ‘Munich.’ The label is heavily browned,” said Aldridge.

The heat from the fire caused the seams of the pitcher’s handle to pop, Aldridge said. The pitcher bears the logo of the Deutsche Zeppelin Reedrei airline that operated the famous Hindenburg.

Unfortunately, even if you shell out for the bottle of brew, you won’t be able to drink it. About 20% of the beer has already evaporated from the bottle and the liquid that remains is putrid and undrinkable. That being said, it’s still a great gift for the wealthy history buff who has everything…

[image via ABC News]