Nice one on I/O mebbe july will see a dissection of RT
Anyone heard of this one?
100 bucks for beer?
Sam Adams' pricey new brew goes to extremes
By Matt McGuire
Sam Adams Utopias, a new "extreme beer," doesn't taste anything like the Bud you drank last night. It's not carbonated, it's 25 percent alcohol, it's served at room temperature and a 25-ounce bottle will cost you a whopping $100.
So what's the allure? We asked Sam Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch.
Q: What makes this a $100 bottle of beer?
A: It is unique in both all the world and in the 6,000 years of brewing history. No one has ever created a beer with 25-percent alcohol in it. In doing that we've created flavors that no one has ever tasted before. And that's pretty cool.
Q: What sort of flavors will people notice?
A: There's a cluster of flavors that's in the space between a vintage port, an old sherry and a fine cognac. You get these warming notes--there's vanilla, cinnamon and honey--then you get this smooth, sweet fire as the beer goes down. There's a ton of flavor and an enormous set of aromatics.
Q: This doesn't sound like something you'd drink from a pint glass.
A: Oh, no. If you had a pint of this you'd be well-past legally drunk. You'd drink maybe an ounce or two--sip by sip--out of a brandy snifter.
Q: What are some of the smells?
A: They're similar to cognac. To me, cognac has a harsh taste that doesn't live up to its wonderful smell. Sam Adams Utopias tastes as good as cognac smells. The burn, or the alcohol, in Utopias is much smoother than what you'd find in a cognac.
Q: So who's the audience for this?
A: It's for connoisseurs of unique and wonderful alcoholic beverages. One of my intentions here was to raise people's respect for what beer can be. The average person thinks of beer as your average ballpark brewski, and this is as far from a ballpark brewski as Lafite Rothschild is from Mad Dog.
Where to find it: Sam's Wine and Spirits has sold out its supply, but you can still pick up a bottle for $119.99 at Binny's. Or, head to the "Summer of Sam" party from 8-11 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Jack Sullivan's. The winner of an arm-wrestling competition will win a bottle. There's a $20 cover for the party, which includes unlimited Sam Adams drafts, well drinks, wine and a buffet.
Matt McGuire is the nightlife and music producer for metromix.
Originally published May 28, 2003
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SAM ADAMS UTOPIAS MMII FACT SHEET
from Boston Beer Company 01-30-2002
THE BEER:
Sam Adams Utopias MMII, with a record breaking alcohol content of 48 proof or 24% alcohol by volume, is now the strongest beer in the world. By using a precise aging process and the finest ingredients from around the world, the brewers at The Boston Beer Company have created a brew with a unique and complex flavor.
THE VISION:
In 1999, Samuel Adams Triple Bock set the record for the strongest beer ever to be sold with 17.5% alcohol by volume. Then, Samuel Adams Millennium, a brew which commemorated the year 2000, was introduced with an even higher alcohol content of 21%, setting a new record for the world's strongest beer ever sold. With Utopias MMII, Jim Koch sought to create an even more astonishing brew by upping the alcohol content again to make the strongest beer in the world.
THE BOTTLE:
Utopias MMII is packaged in a special collectible brew kettle-shaped bottle reminiscent of larger copper kettles used by brew masters for hundreds of years.
THE INGREDIENTS:
Sam Adams Utopias MMII is the only beer (domestic or import) brewed with a fine selection of Noble hops and then aged in port, scotch and cognac barrels. The brew uses: 2 Row Harrington, Caramel and Vienna Malts; Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Tettnang Tettnanger, Spalt Spalter and Czech Saaz Noble hops; and a hint of Maple Syrup.
THE BREWER:
Sam Adams Utopias MMII is brewed by The Boston Beer Company, The Brewery, 30 Germania Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02130. (617) 368-5000. Jim Koch is the brewer and founder of The Boston Beer Company and is part of America's oldest brewing family. He is the sixth firstborn son in his family to become a brewmaster.
THE COMPANY'S BACKGROUND:
The Boston Beer Company is America's leading brewer of world-class beer. Founded in 1984 by sixth-generation brewer Jim Koch, the Company has won more than 200 international awards for its better-tasting beers. Samuel Adams Boston Lager(r) is the Company's flagship brand, celebrated worldwide for its high-quality ingredients and traditional brewing techniques. The result is a beer renowned by drinkers for its full flavor, balance, complexity, and consistent quality. For more information, visit the web-site at
www.samadams.com.
THE OTHER SPECS:
Alcohol by Volume: 24 percent
Availability: February 2002
Available packages: Brew Kettles - 24 oz or 1pt 8 oz
Brewing Sites: Sam Adams Brewery in Boston
Color: Amber
Number of bottles produced: 3,000
Recommended serving temperature: Room (70° Fahrenheit
