Ultimate Beer Gifts: The James Squire $30,000 Bottle Opener

James Squire is a “bigger-than-life beer legend in Australia. He was a British thief back in the early 19^th century, who was sent to a penal colony in South Wales to pay for his crimes where he eventually became that continent’s first hop grower.

And yes we’ll get to the “bigger-than-life” beer bottle opener…but you need a little more background.

In 1988, Chuck Hahn converted a former Australian furniture factory into the Hahn Brewery. Ten years later, the brewery was renamed The Malt Shovel Brewery, which takes its name from James Squire’s original brewing tavern. And to commemorate his colorful history The Malt Shovel Brewery crafts a whole line of James Squire beers…popular brews such as Fifty Lashes Pale Ale, Four Wives Pilsener, Stowaway IPA, Jack of Spades Porter and Hop Thief Pale Ale.

And now to celebrate the launch of the James Squire Pioneers’ Collection – a limited edition range of small batch, barrel-aged beers, reimagining the richly hopped English IPA, the brewery partnered with the renowned founder of design firm Discommon, Neil Ferrier, to produce the most expensive beer bottle opener in Australia and probably the world.

This one-off designer bottle opener, which took over 150 hours to create is made of sterling silver, burl walnut, grade 5 titanium and rare Damascus, which was used to make ancient swords. To realize this functional piece of art, Ferrier brought together artisans from all over the county who were adept at the almost lost skills hand finishing burl wood and casting silver as well asmodern technicians proficient in 3D printing and state-of-the-art technical machinery.

All profits from the auction of the bottle opener will be donated to Rural Aid, providing critical support to farmers in need.

If you don’t have $30,000 lying around but are still open stil to cracking open a few cold ones, the James Squire’s Pioneers’ Collection Release No.1 is available “Down Under” now. And a $49 per hand-crafted bottle it’s a good deal more affordable that the one-of-a-kind bottle opener that definitely ranks as an “Ultimate Beer Gift.”

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(All image credits: James Squire)