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Sam Adams Utopias


birdman1099
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Is there anyone here that has had it and liked it?:skep:

I read a couple threads, and it appears no one liked it... but if you google tasting notes, it rates very well. RateBeer.com gave it a 100.

So, whats the deal with this stuff?

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It was.....different, at the time I was just a beer drinker, and it was very hot to me at only 50 proof. I was not a huge fan but most people I know raved about it, probably because they paid over 100 for a bottle of beer. My advice is spend that on a bottle of Whisk(e)y and you will be getting a better sip.

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It's a very special product, that demands an appreciation for diverse types of beverages. Most people just won't get it. You have to be able to enjoy it for what it is, and not what you expect it to be. If you're ever the type to say you don't like a particular style, be it lagers, Belgians, sours, barleywines, Scotch, Irish, Rye, Gin, etc. go ahead and add this to the list.

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well, I went back and asked for the price, and it was at $229 plus tax.

I think I'll let it sit there for a few more years !!!!

Thanks guys for the replys

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I love that stuff. When I bought it we did split it between 10 guys. I will try to arrange it the same way if it shows up again at our government store.

Leif

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  • 10 months later...

Sipping some now.

It is a dark reddish brown in color. No carbonation at all.

The nose reminds me of Liquid Smoke, with alcohol added. Occasional whiffs of cold bacon.

It has a very light sweetness, with a sort of sour milk taste to it.

Overall, not bad, but I think it's something that you have to get used to. Certainly outside my usual preferences.

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Whatever anyone else says I will NEVER look at freeze distilled spirits as a beer, the same way as I NEVER would call a whiskey a beer..

That said the Utopia isn't too bad. It's not a beer, nor as good as whisky which make it somewhat a pointless product (beside its marketing value). Price considered off course

Steffen

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Ha!

Funny you should mention this -- I got a bottle of this 2011 release for Christmas!

It's certainly is nothing like beer. It is nothing like whiskey. Some have compared it to cognac, due to its sweetness. I would compare it to a Port. And I would drink it in a situation where you would drink a Port as well.

I certainly wouldn't call it "hot", especially for any of us who drink distilled spirits on a regular basis -- it's bottled at 27% alcohol, after all.

The mouthfeel is *dense* -- almost to the level where you could call it syrupy, but it doesn't quite reach that point. You get a dark cherry on the front, followed by a body of maple syrup, molasses, molasses, and toasted marshmallow. There's some spice and complexity to it, but it's subtle and I only had one glass (and I have a bit of a cold) so I can't give you a really good set of notes just yet. Maybe in a couple of weeks.

My feelings? Definitely something to try for the port or heavier dessert wine lover who wants something different. Good for an after-dinner drink, or as something to try for the beer enthusiast to see "what would happen if...?" I applaud their effort and will enjoy it on occasion in the future. And I hate to say this. I really hate to say this. But the decanter really is cool.

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Whatever anyone else says I will NEVER look at freeze distilled spirits as a beer, the same way as I NEVER would call a whiskey a beer..

That said the Utopia isn't too bad. It's not a beer, nor as good as whisky which make it somewhat a pointless product (beside its marketing value). Price considered off course

Steffen

Utopias is naturally fermented and not freeze distilled.

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No need to apologize. I feel pretty much the same way. The freeze distilled beers such as the stuff that Brewdog puts out (Tactical Nuclear Penguin, Tokyo, etc.) are all terrible. Somehow or another it became a contest to see who could create the highest ABV liquid without putting it through a still. Flavor and drinkability were set aside. On the other hand, I feel Sam Adams deserves a little bit of credit for creating the Utopias using "traditional" brewing methods. A lot of time, effort, and ingredients go into Utopias creating a unique experience for the consumer. It is created and sold by a brewery, but I don't really feel it fits into either the beer or distilled spirits category. I somewhat liken it to Buffalo Trace's experimental program in that they are just trying something new. I guess it's no longer new at this point but its general popularity keeps the production going.

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I've seen it recently anywhere from $160-$250. They only bottle it once every two years. I think it is somewhere around 9,000 decanters each time. So yes, it is pretty tough to come by and expensive.

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Passed on a bottle of this recently for $230. A guy I talk to on another forum is a HUGE beer guy, he typically hates everything SA does but absolutely loves the Utopias. However he said he had to leave it open for about four months to really let it mellow out and be enjoyable.

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Ive been drinking tons of microbrews and imports over the last 4-5 years. 100s of different beers of every style I can get my hands on. Found some really great stuff this way! My favorites tend to be Belgian Trappist, some of the stuff from Dogfish Head, various beers from Ommegang, Rodenbach Grand Cru (LOVE IT), some of the "champagne" beers like Infinium by Sam Adams and Malhaur Brut Reserve, stouts of all sorts like chocolate stouts, and the newest Innis and Hunn release Highland Casks. Omg is that good brew and has a scotch whisky flavor profile that its amazing. One of my top 10 beers.

Anyway, I did buy and try Utopias. Is it good? Yes. Is the flavor profile similar to something else that is cheaper? Yes. Is it beer? Yes, technically, but unlike any other beer I have ever had, no carbonation and syrupy. The alcohol is very much in check though so kudos to SA for that. The flavors are reminiscent of raisins and prunes. VERY close to a 20 or 30 year tawny port IMO. As an after dinner drink there are much cheaper options with more alcohol and port with slightly less alcohol. Is Utopias worth the money? Not to me, but glad I tried it and still have half a bottle left.

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I've procured bottles for Koji's bar in Japan; I do recall an interesting exchange there with Greg Koch of Stone about his distaste for Utopias and "extreme beers" in general. (Also.)

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