# Sam Adams Utopias has an ABV of 28 percent. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2019, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928 "2019-10-18T00:01:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/1 "2019-10-18T00:01:50Z")
Utopias will be hard to find because of the small batch. The high ABV makes it illegal in 15 states. Seems counter intuitive to me. I drink beer because it’s low in alcohol, compared to hard liquor. Many of my friends drink light beer because it’s not very intoxicating. > [@](#): > > According to Forbes, Sam Adams’ only brewed 77 wooden casks of Utopias, which the outlet describes as having “distinct vanilla notes and subtle nutty and elegant dark fruit aromas.” The beer also claims to have an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 28 percent, significantly higher than the average beer (which is usually lower than 10 percent). > [@](#): > > 15 states. This includes Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/2 "2019-10-18T00:02:52Z")
Yeah, it’s really good, too. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/3 "2019-10-18T00:10:50Z")
Utopias won’t be available in Arkansas. I could easily drive to Texarkana and buy it in Texas. That’s a lot of trouble for a high ABV beer. One bottle at a Halloween party and I’d ask my wife to drive us home. It’s not worth taking the chance of a DUI. I am curious how it tastes. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/4 "2019-10-18T00:33:37Z")
I can’t even drink these 10% Belgian beers, for me the strong alcohol flavor pretty much masks all the flavors and textures I like in a beer. If it’s gonna be that strong, it’ll be whiskey or wine or a strong girly drink for me, thanks. I’ll probably try it anyway though. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/5 "2019-10-18T00:55:03Z")
Seems like this can’t possibly be just beer, it must be fortified or distilled in some way. There’s a ceiling on how alcoholic beer can be; after a certain point the alcohol kills all the yeast and fermentation ceases. Even the hardiest yeast strains can only get you into the low teens. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/6 "2019-10-18T01:07:35Z")
Yeah but like bacteria versus penicillin, I betcha there are strains of yeast that evolved to tolerate being pickled. I don’t know why they don’t just call it “heavy” beer. I think there was once a brand (marketed to bikers) with that handle. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/7 "2019-10-18T01:09:03Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Even the hardiest yeast strains can only get you into the low teens. Indeed, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a beer higher than around around 11%-12% ABV barleywine style beers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/8 "2019-10-18T01:14:06Z")
Oops, I forgot the link. This article mentions the price. :eek: $210 a bottle. It’s not like any beer I’ve seen. It’s too expensive for my budget. > **[Samuel Adams Utopias—One of Beer's Holy Grails—Hits Shelves Tuesday](https://fortune.com/2019/10/15/sam-adams-utopias-2019-release/)** > > But it might be illegal to sell in your state. > [@](#): > > That’s a shame because Utopias is unlike pretty much any other beer on the market. It’s not carbonated as the alcohol levels devour any CO2. Its taste is akin to a fine liquor, with a sweetness like a port or cognac and a smooth, almost buttery, malt-filled finish. And the recommended serving size is one ounce. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/9 "2019-10-18T01:37:49Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I am curious how it tastes. It tastes wonderful, but not like any other beer you’ve had. If you attend the Sam Adams shareholders meeting they serve it in tiny little cups, but you can have as many as you want. They also serve it late into the tasting session, so most folks don’t have many, especially since the meeting is in the middle of the day. You can’t drink it like beer. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/10 "2019-10-18T01:43:29Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Seems like this can’t possibly be just beer, it must be fortified or distilled in some way. There’s a ceiling on how alcoholic beer can be; after a certain point the alcohol kills all the yeast and fermentation ceases. Even the hardiest yeast strains can only get you into the low teens. They claim they have specifically bred a yeast strain that will survive, and that it is simply brewed. Back in the day I used to look forward to the GABF (Great American Beer Festival) in Denver every year because they would break out the Utopias, which they didn’t do very often. It’s good, but the strongest resemblance to anything else is a shot of soy sauce. And I don’t think they had reached 28% back then, it was still low 20’s IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/11 "2019-10-18T02:10:07Z")
Pictures show decanters when I google it. Does it come in a decanter, or is that just the recommended way of serving it? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/12 "2019-10-18T02:34:08Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > Pictures show decanters when I google it. Does it come in a decanter, or is that just the recommended way of serving it? It comes in an “I Dream of Jeannie” style bottle, which changes slightly each year. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/13 "2019-10-18T02:44:24Z")
Trying to talk two friends into going in on a bottle. Only $70 each! A bargain! Probably couldn’t drink a whole bottle anyway. A couple chugs! If it is nasty, maybe that would be too much. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/14 "2019-10-18T03:30:59Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Indeed, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a beer higher than around around 11%-12% ABV barleywine style beers. [url-“[Beer | Avery Brewing Co.](https://www.averybrewing.com/beers)”]Avery Brewing in Boulder has a few big beers in the 14-16% range. I once drank a bottle of their Nutty Professor without noticing that it was 15% until I was done. That made it the equivalent of about half a bottle of wine. Good thing I was in my living room, since moving around after was contraindicated. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/15 "2019-10-18T03:43:29Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Seems like this can’t possibly be just beer, it must be fortified or distilled in some way. There’s a ceiling on how alcoholic beer can be; after a certain point the alcohol kills all the yeast and fermentation ceases. Even the hardiest yeast strains can only get you into the low teens. No, it’s always been fermented. No distillation or fortification, or at least that’s what they’e [always claimed](https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/personalfinance/2017/11/12/beer-man-sam-adams-utopias/107598918/). > [@](#): > > Several yeast strains are used, with the main one a secret strain that can withstand the high alcohol content (28% ABV) without dying off. This isn’t a new beer, and I haven’t heard anyone seriously challenge their claim that it’s fermented like beer and not distilled or fortified. You can get [yeast from White Labs](https://www.whitelabs.com/yeast-bank/wlp099-super-high-gravity-ale-yeast) (one of the main sources of homebrewers yeast) that are claimed to ferment up to 25%. > [@](#): > > From England, this yeast can ferment up to 25% alcohol when used correctly. It produces ester characters that increase with increasing gravity. Malt character dominates at lower gravities. To achieve \>25% ABV, sugar needs to be fed over the course of the fermentation. At any rate–I’ve had it. My cousin bought me a bottle for my birthday about eight or ten years ago. It was solid. Not something I would pay $100 for (which is what I think it was going for at the time), but definitely an interesting drink and conversation piece. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/16 "2019-10-18T03:47:28Z")
[Here’s another beer at 28% ABV by fermentation alone](https://www.brewdog.com/blog/ghost-deer/) whose description very clearly states the “normal fermentation” process was used and no freeze distilling or anything like that going on. > [@](#): > > In the last couple of years we have brought beer aficionados Sink the Bismarck! At 41% and the epic End of History at 55%. These alcohol contents were achieved by the extreme freezing of an already very strong beer. Ghost Deer achieves 28% ABV simply from the normal fermentation process. We used a variety of yeast strains during the elephantine process and drip fed the fermented masterpiece exotic sugars to ensure the yeast lived long enough to continue the fermentation. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/17 "2019-10-18T10:41:28Z")
To me, it tastes like Madeira. I don’t remember how dry or sweet it tasted. Very toffee like, with a madeirized aroma. Decent finish. Not hot at all, unlike the Avery ‘devils’ line listed upthread. Not as complex as an aged Thomas Hardy’s Ale or some of Boon’s dry lambics. I was glad someone else was paying for the bottle. Very good, completely unlike anything I’d ever had in beer before, but in no way worth to me, 200 or so a bottle. Worth a try if they actually are pouring it in the Sam Adams tasting room. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/18 "2019-10-18T12:36:24Z")
I’ve had Brewdog’s Tactical Nuclear Penguin which was their first ice distilled beer at 32%. I described it as being like brandy. It was nearly 10 years ago and it was £6 for a 25ml measure. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/19 "2019-10-18T12:42:27Z")
Well at that price I doubt I’ll be seeking out. And I tend not to like the taste of most higher-ABV beers. But I do like some aged fortified wines. Another poster mentioned Madeira, which piques my interest. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928/20 "2019-10-18T13:46:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Oops, I forgot the link. This article mentions the price. :eek: $210 a bottle. There goes my idea of running out and getting a case. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-adams-utopias-has-an-abv-of-28-percent/841928.md?page=2)