Beer bottle survives the Hindenburg explosion

A bottle of beer found in the wreckage of the Hindenburg sold for $16,680 (USD) at auction, shattering the world record.

The brown bottle of Lowenbrau lager was discovered in the wreckage by Leroy Smith, a fire chief on the scene.  Smith discovered a total of six bottles and a pitcher at the scene of the disaster.  He distributed four of the bottles as souvenirs to colleagues and one to the Lowenbrau brewery in 1977, where it still remains.  The final price was much higher than expected.  Early reports suggested that the beer was expected to fetch $4,000-$8,000.  According to the Gazette & Herald, bidders from all over the world battled over the bottle, the majority of which were from the US.  With the addition of the buyer’s premium, the total cost of the bottle was L10,810.  The label on the bottle remains intact and legible, and though the brew survived the disaster, the auctioneer cautioned against quaffing the beverage, saying that the 62-year-old suds would “taste putrid.”

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