How is utopias made

They realized that if they took a fresh oak barrel and charred it on the inside, that the charcoal would soften the ferocity of the ethanol.

And so we got those barrels and like a month later it was already different and had started to mellow. Triple Bock was originally aged in all Jack Daniels barrels, since bourbon barrels can, by law, only be used once, they were practically free, which Koch realized when he noticed them being cut in half and sold at places like Home Depot to be used as planters. Aging beer in used spirits barrels was something that everyone assumed was illegal because for Federal law, it would be mingling two tax classes — beer and spirits.

We got them to approve it on the spot, signing something to that effect. Until that moment, nobody had ever aged beer in used spirits barrels, so it was groundbreaking. A writer at the time asked Koch, since this is not an existing category of beer, what do you call it? When Utopias were first being created, the X Games were similarly just emerging.

Some people were not even sure they were true sports. They were just kids having fun. But Koch was just getting started, and as the year approached, he got to work on the next part of the journey, a beer called Millennium Ale. It was a clearer beer and more resembled in both appearance and taste what Utopias would become. Two years after that, the first beer to be called Samuel Adams Utopias was released in Actually, that first Utopias was officially called Utopias MMII, a nod to its lineage with Millennium Ale, but subsequent editions abandoned that practice.

The name Utopias also has its own history. The word is Greek in its origin, a made-up word created by Sir Thomas More for the title of his work of political satire, Utopia , which was published in They then are blended to achieve the final version of Utopias. At the end, they are getting simple sugars. In the oldest bottle, an 8-year-old Utopias, had aged well with a port-like finish and a light sweetness that changed to dryness in the aftertaste. In and , Boston Beer released bottles of both the base beer and later the final blended version.

In each case the final version was much more complex, less sweet and with a better blended alcohol. Kudos to the blenders.

Given the amount of work, time in barrels, warehouse space, sugar and yeast management and continuous brewer attention, I sometimes wonder if Boston Beer makes a profit on Utopias—or cares to. Steve Frank is a longtime beer journalist who lives in the D. Try one of our 4 oz Utopias glassware here. We say forever! Like all good things, it gets better with time.

A deep rich malty smoothness reminiscent of a vintage Port, Cognac, or fine Sherry. Because of the high alcohol content, Utopias requires unique distribution. Samuel Adams Utopias can be found at select specialty beer, wine and liquor stores. We suggest you call up your favorite to see if they have a bottle.

Price varies by market and, where the law allows it to be sold, availability is limited. Enjoy the hunt. Utopias is rare, but not exclusive. Sorry, we love you all the same. This website uses cookies. By using this website and its offers and continuing navigating, you accept these cookies. You can change them in your browser settings. An extreme barrel aged beer that pushes the limits of how beer is made and enjoyed.

The Vision. Revolutionary Every Year Cherries, including Balaton Cherries Balaton Cherries are Michigan-grown cherries admired for their slightly sweet, tart taste.

Samuel Adams has emphasized that this is a beer meant to be "sipped and savored. The result is always special, spirited, and worth waiting for. The latest Utopias is a combination of several batches of what the brewer calls its "extreme beers," including some that have been aged in bourbon casks for almost 30 years.

The blend was aged in a total of 86 different barrels, including some that were previously used for Carcavelos, Madeira, Ruby Port, Sherry Oloroso, and sweet Sauternes wine barrels.