Utopias 2009

[camiller]

I still hope to get a bottle.

Just so you know Ron I saw one Saturday in Omaha at my favorite Liquor Store/LHBS...

 

[rico567]

In addition to beer -and wine- I'm also a fan of single malt scotch. I just don't see how Utopias can possibly be that good that I'd pay the same as several bottles of Laphroiag. Just ain't gonna happen.

 

[carl spakler]

In addition to beer -and wine- I'm also a fan of single malt scotch. I just don't see how Utopias can possibly be that good that I'd pay the same as several bottles of Laphroiag. Just ain't gonna happen.

The above comments smacks of sour grapes. Did you know Laphroiag was going to be that good until you tried it? I would bet I can find people who think Laphroiag is unimpressive and would rather have several bottles of Johnnie Walker for the cost of a bottle of what you like.

 

[timmystank]

I think this is more of a status thing. You know that it is brewed by the same Sam Adams brewery that Ive seen bashed as being BMC'like by the many beer snobs around here.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

I hate to say it, but those same beer snobs need a reality check. I'm sure at one point, everyone on this board concidered Sam Adam's a high quality beer. I still do, although I don't buy it often.

My buddies call me a beer snob because I spend $20 on a 22oz. beer, but they don't mind because I'll still buy a 30 pack of keystone on the weekends.

Sam Adams has always made good beer...and regardless of what those beer snobs say... nothings going to change that. Either way...as stated, this beer isn't worth the money. It's just not something I want to drink more than once.

 

[rico567]

The above comments smacks of sour grapes. Did you know Laphroiag was going to be that good until you tried it? I would bet I can find people who think Laphroiag is unimpressive and would rather have several bottles of Johnnie Walker for the cost of a bottle of what you like.

No. It smacks of me not thinking Utopias is worth $150 a bottle. There's a difference:

"Sour grapes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sour grapes is an expression originating from the Aesop Fable The Fox and the Grapes. It always refers to an unattainable goal and human reaction to it. It can mean to deny desire for the unattainable item."

It's not unattainable. I've got $150. I've got quite a bit more than that. You would therefore be correct in stating that I'm being judgmental without having tasted Utopias. However, I've been accused of being judgmental before, and I'll try hard to live with it this time.

 

[ibrewit]

Two stores near me want $189 a bottle. Gouging bastages!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

This is one beer I'll probably never taste.

+1

Although, last year a buddy learned about a ritzy museum pub that stocked it. $8.00 two finger pour in a snifter.

I might do that if they have it this year, just to say I tried it.

Oklahoma only gets something like 6 bottle every other year I am told.

 

[BrewRI]

I called a local and large store and they put in an order, should be in...whenever this fall/winter?

 

[JKoravos]

After my experience with Sam Adams Triple Bock, I'd have a hard time shelling out money for this. That Triple Bock is the most disgusting beer I've ever tasted.

It's cool that they're pushing the limits, though.

 

[Berlbrew]

I suppose I'm one of the luckiest HBTers out there!

I work at the Sam Adams Boston Brewery (where all Utopias is made, none is made in the OH and PA breweries) so I've had a chance to sample Utopias from different years on multiple occasions and here is my honest opinion:

Utopias is cool because it really pushes the limits of beer. The fact that it's 27.5% ABV (for the 2009 batch) is pretty much astounding. Of course it doesn't taste much like a beer, at BBC we always let people know that it competes in Port and Cognac categories. Also, it's brewed with maple syrup to gain added sugars needed to push the yeast to that point. Also, I saw someone saying they would rather make a clone- that's impossible, BBC has a proprietary yeast for Utopias that you could never buy at any LHBS. $150 is a crazy price for 1 bottle of anything, but Utopias actually sells at-cost. We make $0 profit from Utopias. If you see a bottle marked for under $150 then BUY IT because that's an amazing price. Lots of stores sell it for $180 or more.

As far as taste, it's a really enjoyable malt beverage. It's only meant to be drunk 1-2 oz. at a time and it has an indefinite shelf life because of the high ABV. In fact, it ages reeeally well- I had a taste of the 2005 batch a couple weeks ago and it was awesome. I had some of the 2009 batch last week and it's excellent, slightly different, but sure to improve with age. And the bottle is really cool, it's modeled after our mash tuns at the Boston Brewery (the same copper vessels you see behind Bob & Dean the brewers in our TV commercials). Lastly, if you do get a bottle, you MUST try this- take a cup of clam chowder and top it off with a tiny bit (literally, just a drop) of Utopias. It's ridiculous, clam chowder is great on its own, but with Utopias it's just out of this world.

Also, as for the last comment before this- Triple Bock is crazy, we know. It tastes weird especially if it's been improperly stored. But you should know, every release of Utopias is a blend of different years' batches as well as some Triple Bock aging in our barrel room from 1994 and 1997. Utopias wouldn't be as tasty as it is without a little Triple Bock in there. If you can get a bottle and you can afford it, then get one. There were only about 12,000 bottles released and it is hard to find in a store. Some of our biggest suppliers here in MA asked for upwards of 40 bottles and were granted 3. It's a fun, rare, tasty beer (it IS a beer) and it's worth trying at least once.

P.S. The 2009 batch has been released already, so this is not jumping the gun.

 

[JKoravos]

No offense intended on the Triple Bock, but it's just really not up my alley. Hopefully, that doesn't affect my chances in the Patriot Homebrew Competition.

I do love that BBC is pushing the limits of brewing, though.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

I suppose I'm one of the luckiest HBTers out there!

I work at the Sam Adams Boston Brewery (where all Utopias is made, none is made in the OH and PA breweries) so I've had a chance to sample Utopias from different years on multiple occasions and here is my honest opinion:

etc, etc.

This feels like I'm reading something straight out of a "Sam Adams Sales Manual". I mean no offense by this, but your opinion is somewhat skewed by the fact that you work for BBC. That being said... I've tasted this years and the 2005. As I've said two or three times... I wouldn't spend my money on either. The three other people I tried it with said the same thing. Yes, it's cool that a beer can actually get that high as far as ABV goes...but at a cost like that, is it worth it? No.

 

[TokyoRoad]

I want to try some!

 

[bkov]

define beer

utopias isnt even carbonated. its malt liquor

 

[Yuri_Rage]

define beer

utopias isnt even carbonated. its malt liquor

Why, exactly, is that germane to the topic at hand?

 

[Berlbrew]

This feels like I'm reading something straight out of a "Sam Adams Sales Manual". I mean no offense by this, but your opinion is somewhat skewed by the fact that you work for BBC. That being said... I've tasted this years and the 2005. As I've said two or three times... I wouldn't spend my money on either. The three other people I tried it with said the same thing. Yes, it's cool that a beer can actually get that high as far as ABV goes...but at a cost like that, is it worth it? No.

Fair enough, of course my opinion is skewed because I work for the company. Every beer lover is entitled to his or her own opinion on Utopias. It's much easier to love when you get it for free.

 

[Berlbrew]

define beer

utopias isnt even carbonated. its malt liquor

Beer- a naturally fermented beverage made of malted barley, hops, water, and yeast.

Malt liquor- another name for beer with a high ABV so it can be sold in all 50 states without interfering with ABV-name state laws.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Fair enough, of course my opinion is skewed because I work for the company. Every beer lover is entitled to his or her own opinion on Utopias. It's much easier to love when you get it for free.

Both times I tried it, it's been free. My buddies boss even offered to give me the rest of the bottle (3/4's full) since he never drinks it. I turned it down. I'm not saying it's not good. I haven't really made my mind up about that. The 2005 was better than this years...but they're both so different from any beer I've ever tried that I don't want to concider it beer. More of a Port.

 

[hcarter]

I just looked on ebay and found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Sam-Adams-Samuel-Adams-Utopias-2009-NIB-Never-Opened_W0QQitemZ170406419028QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27ad039a54

 

[Pez]

Well, my local liquor store has one @ $140....do I pull the trigger?

For $140 I would grab it. I just picked up 2 bottles of the 2009 for 170 each and I'm in the local area of the brewery. With that said, I'm definitely partial to liking BBC since I am a local, having visited the brewery several times. I have seen just the empty bottles going for $50+ on ebay in the past.

I also recommend looking up the Barrel Room Collection, brewed at the Boston brewery, for $10 a 750mL bottle. 3 varieties aged on oak for a year. Only available in a few states unfortunately.

To those who say BBC does not make quality beer, you are foolish!

 

[mikeysab]

I just saw a bottle sitting right on the counter of a distributor. The price, which brought a hearty sailors laugh......okay, maybe more of a chuckle, from the guy at the counter, was 200. When I asked him if he ever tried it, he said he'd rather spend that kind of money on a bottle of Remy Martin. Maybe not a beer drinker, but I guess this isn't "really" a beer anyway. Either way, he wouldn't pour me out 5 bucks worth, so I'll have to wait till I hit lotto to try it. Or just try brewing the clone recipe in one of my brewing books.

 

[BrewRI]

I just got a bottle of this last week, have yet to open it. I'm waiting until I smoke some brisket this sunday.