It wouldn’t be controversial to suggest that craft brewers occasionally treat obscurity as a badge of honor. Yet, one Australian brewery may have taken this concept too far, after it recently introduced a new brew made with durian, the world’s stinkiest fruit.
Melbourne-based Foreigner Brewing, debuted Durian Durian Beer during last week’s Great Australasian Beer Spectapular (GABS).
For those who haven’t smelled the pungent aroma of the Southeast Asian delicacy (lucky you!), common descriptors of its nauseating perfume include “used gym socks,” “hot poop garbage,” and “rotting meat.”
Not only is its stench intense, the smell of durian can linger for incredibly long periods, which is why it’s banned in hotels and airports in parts of the world where it is most consumed—and revered as the “King of Fruits.”
Foreigner Brewing says the durian fruit’s “subtly sweet and savory flavor” make a perfect match for the “dry spiciness of a saison-style beer.”
Whether or not that is true is up for debate, but one thing is certain: There is nothing subtle about the durian.
