Yup, that's right, Sam Adams Utopias. And I tasted not one, but two different bottles of this rare and exquisite beer. Last Thursday, RFD in DC hosted a last minute Sam Adams tasting led by Mike Sheehan, the DC, MD, and WV District Manager for Boston Beer Company. It was a small group (maybe 20 people), which was really a perfect size for this type of tasting.
Mike served 6 different beers before opening the Utopias. First up were the three Sam Adams Imperial Series brews, which are pretty widely available: Imperial White, Double Bock, and Imperial Stout. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm personally not a huge fan of the Imperial Series, with the exception of the Stout. I find the hot alcohols in the White to be a little harsh, and I don't think it's particularly well-balanced. The Double Bock is better, but the malty sweetness can be a bit cloying at times. I do enjoy the Stout though, which is rich and complex with some smoky notes (my friend I was with blurted out, "Bacon!" as soon as she tasted it) that I believe are actually yeast derived as opposed to coming from the addition of smoked malt (though I could be wrong).
Next up after the Imperial Series were three beers from the Sam Adams Barrel Room Collection that are only available in Boston and Denver: American Kriek, Stony Brook Red, and New World Tripel. Despite not being a fan of the Lindemans version(way too sweet), I really enjoyed the American Kriek; the flavor was more reminiscent of fresh, tart cherries rather than an artificial fruit sweetness (the bottle reads, "AGED ON SWEET YET TART BALATON CHERRIES"). It wasn't cloying, but rather crisp and refreshing. The Stony Brook Red is supposed to be a Flanders Red Ale style, but I found it to have a significant barnyard character as compared to Rodenback Grand Cru for example. It's a definitely a tasty beer though--dry with the impression of sweetness from the yeast and a background oak note. The bottle reads, "BELGIAN STYLE WITH A HINT OF TART FRUIT AND TOASTED OAK CHARACTER." Lastly, the New World Tripel is described as, "GOLDEN IN COLOR WITH NOTES OF SPICE AND TROPICAL FRUIT." There was nothing particularly outstanding about the Tripel in my opinion (don't get me wrong, it was a very good beer; there's just nothing I can recall that stands out); it was your typical Abbey-style ale, but it was definitely well-balanced and extremely drinkable.
Finally, we come to the Utopias (and yes, it's actually "Utopias," not "Utopia"), the strongest real beer on earth clocking in at about 27% ABV. While other breweries produce stronger beers (Schorschbräu makes a 40% Eisbock, and BrewDog has their 32% Tactical Nuclear Penguin as well as their 41% Sink the Bismarck!), they are all basically distilled--the beers are brewed and then frozen to remove water, concentrating the alcohol content. Utopias are actually naturally fermented to 27% ABV without any freeze-distillation occurring. Served at room temperature, the beer is uncarbonated and is reminiscent of a fine liquor. Rich and warming, the beer has an inredibly complex flavor profile with notes of toffee, caramel, vanilla, oak, plum, smoke, and maple. It's very full bodied and almost slick on the tongue. The beer is far from harsh, and it's actually very quaffable, though it's certainly a sipper. I can think of nothing better than sitting by the fireplace on a cold winter day with a snifter of Utopias. And as if one bottle wasn't enough, Mike graciously opened a second bottle for a few of us after the tasting ended (and he even let me take the empty bottle home, which makes an excellent addition to my living room!). A bottle of Utopias is definitely pricey at about at least $150, but it is without a doubt a wonderful and unique brew. I can definitely see myself buying a bottle one day when I can bring myself to spend that much.
Before I sign-off for today, I want to take a moment and climb up on to my soapbox. Sam Adams sometimes gets badmouthed among the beer geek community for not being a craft brewery any longer or being no different than the big breweries. I can't tell you how many threads I've seen on various beer forums putting down Boston Beer Company, their products, and their values. To be honest, I really don't understand where this animosity comes from, and, pardon the French, but it's a steaming pile of bullshit. Yes, it's a public company, and yes, Boston Lager is available in just about every bar, supermarket, grocery store, and airport across the country, but in my opinion, that mainstream, widely-distributed beer has more flavor and complexity than some of the extreme beers being produced by smaller craft breweries. This tasting only confirmed my belief that Sam Adams was, is, and always will be a craft brewery at heart. Their Barrel Room Collection and Utopias speak for themselves in this regard, and they still support their roots via homebrewing events like the Patriot Homebrew Contest and the Longshot Competition. I think people forget sometimes that operating a brewery is still a business at its core. There's only so far you can get with a great, hand-crafted product; you still need to make smart business decisions and run a tight shift. Jim Koch has proven that good business and good beer can coincide, so cheers to Sam Adams for 25 years of excellence! Stepping off of soapbox now...
