Samuel Adams Utopias has been described as one of the most sought-after beers on earth. World-class. On the “lunatic fringe” of craft beer. Radical. Extreme. Challenges the idea of what beer can be.
Released in very limited quantity and only typically every other year, this rare beer is not just extreme in strength (with one vintage exceeding as much as 29% alcohol by volume), it’s also relatively extreme on the cost side of things with a single 24 ounce bottle retailing upwards of $200.
First produced in 2002 with an ABV of 24%, at the time Utopias achieved the Guinness Book of World Records title for ‘World’s Strongest Beer’, although there have since been stronger beers on the market, with at least one beer from the Scottish brewery “Brewmeister” reaching an ABV of 67.5%. But the intention with Samuel Adams Utopias is not to create a high strength beer for the sake of showing who can win an ABV contest, rather to produce a masterfully blended unique tasting experience.
But at more than $200 a pop, the question naturally arises: Is it worth it?
It depends. From an intrinsic value point of view, the answer is yes in the sense that about $200 fairly reflects the amount of time, craftsmanship, and effort that went in to making the beer. But if the question is: ‘Will every person find the experience of consuming Utopias personally worth about $8-$10 per ounce?’, then the answer is probably going to be no for a variety of reasons. For example, someone might argue that it’s more “worth it” to buy ten 30 packs of Bud Light for the same price of one bottle of Utopias, not to mention Bud Light is frightfully easier to come by.
Then again, you get what you pay for.
So let’s talk about what you get with a bottle of Utopias, assuming you can get your hands on one.
Utopias attains its high ABV through natural fermentation with the use of highly alcohol-tolerant Champagne yeast, not by distillation, fractional freezing, or any other such method.
The beer is flat and bottled in unique ceramic decanters modeled after the copper brew kettles used by brewmasters for centuries. Per the brewery, Utopias has an infinite shelf-life, getting better with age, even after opened and exposed to oxygen where subsequent oxidation is viewed as adding desirable complexity to the brew. Specially designed drinking glasses were also created for serving Utopias by world-renowned glassmaker Georg Riedel, and one can be redeemed complimentary from the brewery with the purchase of each bottle (upon request).
So how does the Utopias 2013 vintage stack up against this year’s release?
Quite well. In fact, our tasting panel preferred the 2013 over the 2015 in a side-by-side tasting, but it was close. To be fair, the 2013 was originally opened in December of 2014, and therefore has aged a bit more, which may have smoothed out some of the edges. And of course the 2013 and 2015 are two differently blended beers, so this isn’t exactly an apples to apples comparison which is why we refrain from calling this a “vertical tasting” like when two vintages of the same wine type from the same winery are tasted.
Nevertheless, here’s the rundown of a truly rare and unique experience…
Utopias 2013 & 2015 Attributes and Tasting Notes
[Two ounces of each vintage were served side-by-side in brandy snifters at about 67°F(19.44°C)]
Utopias 2013
[Bottom of Utopias 2013 Bottle]
ABV: Just over 27%.
Malts: Two-row Caramel and Munich.
Hops: Spalt Spalter, Hallertau Mittelfureh, and Tettnang Tettnanger.
Barrels: Buffalo Trace Distillery single-use bourbon and Portuguese port casks.
Oldest barrel-aged beer used in the blend: 20 years. Special addition in the blend: Kosmic Mother Funk® wild ale aged in Hungarian oak tuns for over one year.
Appearance: Pours a hazy cola brown color with a consistency closer to a liqueur or light syrup. Although there is no head and no sign of carbonation, swirling the glass coats the interior with a veritable cancan-line of thick legs.
Aroma: The aroma is a delightfully intriguing experience unto itself. Sticky dates, bourbon, cognac, prune paste, raisins, brown sugar, figs, redwood, cedar, dark rustic bread, graham cracker, Madeira, maple, mild peat, caramel, pecan pie, stewed walnuts, freshly opened box of cigarettes, chocolate dusting, a touch of fruit cake, sea salt, and port.
Flavor: A complex balanced layering of rich flavors including prunes, hot liquor, stewed dark fruits in rum, sweet bourbon, dates, dried Bing cherry, figs, almonds, Madeira, caramel, walnut shell, brown sugar, black walnut, and raisins soaked in fine Scotch. Aftertaste: Fully two minutes after tasting, sugars and alcohol continue to linger on the palate with hints of brown sugar, bread soaked in freshly tapped maple doused with cognac, and raisin sugar (think licking the inside of a box of raisins).
Mouthfeel: Inky, warming, thick, almost syrupy, uncarbonated with some tannic character (perhaps from the barrel).
Overall Impression: Immensely complex, well balanced with distinct notes of prunes, dates, Madeira, bourbon, wood, and maple syrup.
Utopias 2015
[Back of Utopias 2015 Bottle]
Malt: Two-row pale combined with cherrywood and peat smoked, Briess Extra Special, Munich and Caramel 60.
Hops: Spalt Spalter, Hallertau Mittelfureh, Tettnang Tettnanger , and English Goldings.
Barrels: Buffalo Trace Distillery single-use bourbon, ruby port, Madeira, Carcavelos wine, cognac, and Armagnac.
Oldest barrel-aged beer used in the blend: 22 years.
Appearance: With a color of maple syrup, dark copper and good clarity, the beer pours flat, though reveals thick legs that cling to the inside of the glass after swirling.
Aroma: Light raisins, dark rum, wood barrel, cherry bourbon, maple syrup, figs, a hint of caramelized sweet potatoes, dried apricots, brownie crust, a hint of peat, chocolate chip cookie dough including vanilla extract, salty dark broth vaguely reminiscent of Miso soup, and (not to get too esoteric) reminded a few tasters of the scent of dried grass in a winter field.
Flavor: Semi-sweet bourbon (a bit harsh), woody, cherry, chocolate truffle with chocolate dusting, toasted bread with fig spread, dark wheat bran raisin muffin, a hint of walnut, waffles with maple syrup, mild roast, assertive brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Aftertaste: Madeira, wood, figs, cherry liquor and cane sugar.
Mouthfeel: Flat (no carbonation) and slightly syrupy with a hot liquor sensation.
Overall Impression: A suburb beer with notes of rum, wood, cherry, figs, cocoa, vanilla, and bourbon.
Why was the Utopias 2013 preferred over the 2015?
While both vintages are truly exceptional beers, it came down to balance and smoothness. The 2015 offered brighter distinct flavors and a very appealing aroma (perhaps more so than the 2015), but the taste was still a bit rough around the edges with a certain amount of alcohol-forward harshness which will very likely smooth out with a bit of aging. In comparison, the 2013 is more mellow, balanced with well integrated complexities, likely enhanced through aging, which made it easier to savor. However, it is quite possible that the 2015 will surpass the 2013 in character in one to two years.
Madeira and dates stand out prominently in the aroma of the 2013, whereas rum and cherry were more central to the 2015 aroma. If pressed for the most apparent flavor descriptor for the 2013, it would be prunes (or something similar like raisins or dates). If we could only choose one key flavor for the 2015, it would probably be bourbon including the woody character from the barrel.
General recommendation: If you ever have the unique opportunity to sample ANY of the Utopias vintages, by all means, indulge yourself. And although we do our best to relate the experience, it is simply beyond words. Buy a bottle to share, sampling a small amount each year, noting the development of the beer’s character over time.
If you’re looking for a bottle, Utopias is typically released in November in odd numbered years, and some stores report carrying bottles until January.
As a reference, we’ve listed all the release years and corresponding ABVs of Utopias on page three below. There you can also find the mini informational booklets that accompany the 2013 and 2015 vintages and a transcript of each booklet for specific details about these beers.
Just for fun, here’s a simple poll about whether you’d pay for Utopias given the opportunity. You can also see how other people voted.
Take Our PollCheers!
* Note: BeerSyndicate purchased these beers out-of-pocket and was not compensated for this review. Although if the good folks at Sam Adams felt so inclined, we certainly wouldn’t refuse any vintage of Utopias!
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Utopias Release Years and Corresponding ABVs
2002 (Original release): 24% ABV
2003: 27% ABV
2005: 25% ABV
2007: 27% ABV
2009: 27% ABV
2011: 27% ABV
2012 (10th Anniversary): 29%+
2013: 27% ABV
2015: 28% ABV
Utopias 2013 Booklet
2013 Booklet Text: “When I first brewed Samuel Adams Boston Lager® twenty-nine years ago, my hope was to offer beer lovers distinct, full-flavored beer brewed right here in America. Many people had never had a beer drinking experience like that – there were few microbrews or craft beers available then. The taste of Boston Lager expanded the very definition of beer for many of those drinkers. Over the years, we have continued to push the boundaries of beer, with “extreme” beers such as Samuel Adams Millennium® and Infinium™. I’m proud to continue that tradition by introducing the 2013 edition of Samuel Adams Utopias®, a brew that continues to challenge the notion of what a beer can be. Served at room temperature, this uncarbonated brew has an alcohol content over 27%, and rivals the complexity and flavor of the world’s finest Ports, Sherries, and Cognacs. Pour an ounce or two into a glass and note the aroma. Take a sip and enjoy.
To brew this beer we began with the world’s finest, all-natural ingredients, including a combination of our two-row pale malt blend, Caramel and Munich malts that impart a rich, ruby-black color. A subtle yet distinct hop character from three varieties of Nobel hops – Spalt Spalter, Hallertau Mittelfureh, and Tettnang Tettnanger, adds to the complexity and balances of the sweetness of the malt and alcohol. During fermentation, we also use yeast normally reserved for Champagne.
This extraordinary brew is the result of complex and carefully timed brewing processes. With each batch of Utopias, we release a completely new brew. This year’s release is a blend of batches, some having beer aged up to 20 years in a variety of barrels. We aged a portion of the beer in hand-selected, single-use bourbon casks from the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery. This additional aging process enhances the beer’s distinct vanilla and maple notes. This release also spent time in Port casks from Portugal, which contribute elegant, dark fruit aromas. For the 2013 edition of Utopias we included an additional element of complexity and flavor by blending in a portion of our barrel aged Kosmic Mother Funk® (KMF). KMF is a wild ale that’s been aged in Hungarian oak tuns for over a year, creating bright fruit notes like cherries and plums and just a hint of sourness and earthiness.
The resulting release of Utopias has notes of dark fruit, a subtle sweetness, and a deep rich malty smoothness reminiscent of a rich vintage Port, old Cognac, or fine Sherry. We packaged your bottle of Utopias in a unique ceramic decanter modeled after the copper brew kettles used by brewmasters for centuries. We bottled only 100 wooden barrels of Utopias in 2013, to be enjoyed by a select group of beer drinkers.
How should you enjoy this one-of-a-kind beer? For many years, fine wines and Cognacs have been served in glasses designed to enhance their aroma and flavor: I thought that a brew as unique and complex as Utopias should be enjoyed in such a glass, so I turned to world-renowned glassmaker Georg Riedel for his help in designing the perfect glass. Georg and I sipped this unique beer from many different glass shapes and sizes to determine the design for the ideal glass, for a truly unique beer. We couldn’t package it with the bottle for fear of breakage, but I would like you to have one of these special Riedel glasses to help you enjoy the intense and nuanced flavors and aromas of this extraordinary beer you’ve purchased.
Just go to our e-store at www.samueladams.com . You can use the code below to receive a special edition glass with our compliments.*
I hope you enjoy sipping Samuel Adams Utopias from this glass as much as I enjoyed crafting this beer!
Cheers,
Jim Koch
Founder and Brewer”
Utopias 2015 Booklet
2015 Booklet Text: “When I first brewed Samuel Adams Boston Lager® thirty years ago, my hope was to offer beer lovers distinct, full-flavored beer brewed right here in America. Many people had never had a beer drinking experience like Samuel Adams. There were few microbrews or craft beers available then. The taste of Boston Lager expanded the very definition of beer for people. Over the years, we have continued to push the boundaries of beer, with “extreme” beers such as Samuel Adams Millennium® and Infinium™. I’m proud to continue that tradition by introducing the 2015 edition of Samuel Adams Utopias®, a brew that continues to challenge the notion of what a beer can be. Served at room temperature, this uncarbonated 28% ABV brew rivals the complexity and flavor of the world’s finest Ports, Sherries, and Cognacs. Pour an ounce or two into a glass and note the aroma. Take a sip and enjoy as your taste buds revel in layers of flavors.
To brew this beer we began with the world’s finest, all-natural ingredients, including a blend of two-row pale malt combined with cherrywood and peat smoked, Briess Extra Special, Munich and Caramel 60 malts that impart a rich, ruby-black color. Three varieties of Nobel hops – Spalt Spalter, Hallertau Mittelfureh, and Tettnang Tettnanger – plus English Goldings hops add to the complexity and balance the sweetness of the malt and alcohol. During fermentation, several strains of yeast are used, including one normally reserved for champagne.
This extraordinary brew is the result of complex and carefully timed brewing processes. With each batch of Utopias, we release a completely new brew. This year’s release is a blend of batches, some having beer aged up to 22 years in a variety of barrels. We aged a portion of the beer in hand-selected, single-use bourbon casks from the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery. We then take a portion of this beer and age it in finishing barrels. This additional aging process enhances the beer’s distinct vanilla and maple notes and adds subtle aromas of ginger and cinnamon. This year’s release also spent time aging in Madeira, Carcavelos, Cognac, and Armagnac barrels, which contribute elegant, dark fruit aromas. The finishing barrels add flavors of wood, molasses, spice, and tobacco. The resulting release of Utopias has notes of dark fruit, rich vintage Port, old Cognac, or fine Sherry.
Your bottle of Utopias is in a unique ceramic decanter modeled after the copper brew kettle used in our Boston Brewery. We bottled only 60 wooden casks of Utopias in 2015 to be enjoyed by a select group of beer drinkers.
How should you enjoy this one-of-a-kind beer? For many years, fine wines and cognacs have been served in glasses designed to enhance their aroma and flavor: I thought that a brew as unique and complex as Utopias should be enjoyed in such a glass, so I turned to world-renowned glassmaker Georg Riedel for his help in designing the perfect glass. Georg and I sipped this unique beer from many different glass shapes and sizes to determine the design for the ideal glass, for what some would call the ultimate beer. We couldn’t package it with the bottle for fear of breakage, but I would like you to have one of these special Riedel glasses to help you enjoy the intense and nuanced flavors and aromas of this extraordinary beer you’ve purchased.
Just go to our e-store at www.samueladams.com . You can use the code below to receive a special edition glass with our compliments.*
I hope you enjoy sipping Samuel Adams Utopias from this glass as much as I enjoyed crafting this beer!
Cheers,
Jim Koch
Founder and Brewer”