The world's most expensive bottle of beer: rare Löwenbräu sold at auction for €11,000

A relic of the Hindenburg disaster
The extraordinary value of this beer bottle lies not in its contents, but in its dramatic history. The bottle comes from the Hindenburg airship, which crashed and burst into flames on May 6, 1937, in Lakehurst, New York, in one of the most famous aviation disasters in history.
Firefighter Leroy Smith discovered a total of six intact bottles of Löwenbräu Lager during the rescue operation and brought them to safety. These beer bottles were part of the onboard supply for the airship's passengers and miraculously survived the devastating explosion.

What happened to the other bottles?
Of the six bottles recovered, only one is known to exist today—the very one that was auctioned off for a record price. The whereabouts of the other five bottles remain a mystery. They may be in private collections or may have been lost over the decades.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldrige from the Henry Aldrige and Sons auction house confirmed: “It is the most expensive bottle of beer ever sold.” The auction house is known for selling historical artifacts, especially from disasters such as the Titanic.

Can the beer still be drunk?
Although the bottle is in good condition on the outside, the contents are definitely no longer drinkable after more than 85 years. The new owner purchased the bottle solely as a historical collector's item. Its value lies in the historical significance and rarity of the object, not in its original purpose as a beverage.
The auction of this beer bottle impressively demonstrates how everyday objects can become valuable collector's items through their connection to historical events. For collectors of historical memorabilia, this Löwenbräu bottle represents a fascinating piece of aviation history that preserves the memory of the Hindenburg disaster.