Record Holders and History Makers

Sometimes beer is very serious business, but most of the time, its more about having fun than anything else. In the spirit of having fun, and competition, some particularly gifted individuals have set out to go down in history and set records… records that I bet you’ve never heard of. Here are some of those heroes, and their accomplishments:



John Evans - the man with the iron neck

John Evans – Most Beer Pints Balanced on his Head

In June 2010, John Evans set a new world record for most beer pints balanced on his head: 237. Evans, the world’s pre-eminent head-balancer has also balanced a Mini Cooper on his head.

Steven Petrosino, who looks like the guy from Dazed and Confused

Steven Petrosino – Fastest Beer Drinker

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Steven Petrosino is the Beer Chugging World Champion. On June 22, 1977, he drank 1 liter of beer in 1.3 seconds at the Gingerbreadman in Carlisle, PA, a 56% improvement over the previous world record set several years earlier by Peter Dowdeswell of England (2.3 seconds for 1 liter).

Reinhard Wurtz, look at that concentration

Reinhard Wurtz – Most Beer Glasses Carried

An Australian beat the Germans at their own boozy game, smashing the world record for carrying stein glasses full of beer. Bavarian-born restaurant manager Reinhard Wurtz, an Australian citizen, broke the record for carrying one-liter steins of beer, when he carried 20 for 40 metres last. With each beer-filled stein weighing at least 2.5 kilograms, Mr. Wurtz carried 50 kilograms of beer and glass in the record-breaking effort. The previous record of 16 steins was held by German barmaid Anita Schwartz.

Peter Fowler, artisan, master craftsman, renaissance man

Peter Fowler – Creator of the Bitterest Beer

Peter Fowler, 58, who has been brewing since 1975 and runs Pitstop Brewery created the eight per cent beer The Hop, rated for its bitterness at 323 International Bittering Units – setting the new world record for the Bitterest beer. The previous Guinness world record for the bitterest beer was about 200, for an American beer Devil Dance Triple IPA. Two independent laboratories in Sunderland and Kalamazoo, Michigan, have confirmed The Hop is bitterer than any other beer on sale that has been tested. To claim the world record, Mr Fowler used powerful hop varieties of Simcoe, Centennial and Chinook, and added hop extract Isolone to preserve the extreme bitterness. American laboratory Kalsec, Inc. rated its bitterness at 323 International Bittering Units (IBUs); the highest previously recorded is around 200, for an American beer Devil Dance Triple IPA.

These are only a few rock stars that claimed a spot in beer history. I hope their accomplishments serve to inspire you as they have me. Personally, I take comfort knowing they’re out there, taking her easy for all of us sinners.

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness… Cheers!