A Beer Made from…Whale Vomit

Robe Town Brewery in South Australia has released a beer made from ambergris, otherwise known as whale vomit.

The ingredient is formed in the intestines of whales and is often hard to come by, but the brewery landed on a piece on the beaches near Robe, so thought…why not see what it tastes like in one of its beers?

The very limited edition Moby Dick Ambergris Ale 7.4%ABV has been described by Robe Town Brewery as: “pungent, animalistic aroma, musky ethereal perfume, full body, caramel malt and fruity flavours, very balanced bitterness.”

The brewery says, “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.”

Ambergris is actually commonly used by the perfume industry and in the Middle Ages it was used as a flavouring agent for cooking or to lift the flavour of wines and brandy.

The ale is available directly from Robe Town Brewery to bottle shops in Melbourne and Adelaide, and there could be more to come from this unusual ingredient in the next few months, with plans to brew another vintage of Moby Dick in June or July.

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