Samuel Adams Utopias - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Domingo

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Been seeking this one for years and I luckily got to pour it at the 2011 Rare Beer Tasting at the Wynkoop.
It was on draft (a keg likely worth $6-7K) , and I got to try it both cooler and closer to room temperature. As it warms, I'd say the maple character comes out more in both the nose and taste.
From the tap it literally looks almost like maple syrup coming out. Very thick and viscous. It's roughly a chestnut brown color and is almost completely flat. It looks to be slightly more active than say, a brandy or whiskey, but there's no real carbonation.
The nose is less boozy than I figured. It reminds me a bit of an aged barleywine. Really heavy on the malt character. Almost like a mix of malt syrup and liquor, but not quite so hot.
The flavor's a welcome surprise and while it's definitely strong, it's a long way from being as strong as a liqueur. Brown sugar and maple along with that ever-present heavy malt syrup character. It should be noted that I LOVE malt syrup, so this isn't a bad thing! Compared with the other stronger beers I've had (ranging from 16-19%) I don't really think it's as boozy as I though it might be. It wasn't even as alcoholic tasting as some other beers I had the same day.
The texture is definitely closer to a liqueur than a beer. It's a hair thicker, but not by a lot. Still, at nearly 30% ABV, that's actually pretty ideal.
It's tough to review this as a beer simply because it's pushing boundaries of all sorts. It's somewhere between a barleywine, a liqueur, and even a spirit.
A modern marvel that's quite tasty in its own right. I'm not sure I'll go rushing out to buy a $150 bottle any time soon, but then again, I am tempted...

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2011 17:10:49 | More by Domingo

FUNKPhD

Texas

4.73/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - A deep cherry mahogany appearance. Not as thick as expected, leaves a nice legging.

S - Boozy, but has a sweet, maple aroma.

T - Not as boozy as the ABV or aroma leads on. Warm.

M - Has a nice, boozy tingle, nice prescence, and surprisingly drinkable. Very smooth, silky.

O - I was a bit apprehensive about the overall experience with this one, based on ABV, but Utopias is surprisingly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2011 18:05:56 | More by FUNKPhD

shoky01

Texas

4.38/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted at the Houston Flying Saucer with Jim Koch coming in for a visit. Serving type was a 2oz in a small snifter.

A: Chestnut brown, clear, no carbonation to speak of. No bubbles for lacing but stuck to the sides of the glass like a well aged bourbon or scotch.

S: Alcohol and molasses are the first impressions. Smells like an old scotch.

T: Tastes like an old scotch. Big alcohol burn, but that could've been from the habanero sour cream. Very sweet up front up front. Reminds me a bit of the Avery demon series with the bourbon-y flavor.

MF: Very smooth to drink but very sticky.

Overall i was not let down at all. been waiting a while to try this beer. At 27%, if i had a bottle it would take a long while to get through it, the sheer cost would also be a consideration.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 20:23:15 | More by shoky01

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a nice brown color with basically no head. The smell is sweet and boozy with hints of bourbon maple and vanilla. The flavor is very close the the aroma withe the sweet booziness up front followed by the bourbon and maple notes with a hint of vanilla. The mouthfeel is thick with low carbonation. Overall this beer was surpassingly drinkable for the abv but that is likely due to how sweet it is, which almost becomes cloying at times. Was nice to try but would likely never buy

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2011 17:57:58 | More by rowingbrewer

mdfb79

New York

4.43/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

From 03/11/11 notes. Had on tap at Nigh of the Barrels up in Boston, MA. Got to try three 2 oz. samples of this one which I was very excited about.

a - Pours a mahogany brown color with light carbonation evident and almost no head at all.

s - Smells of oak, red wine, bourbon, fruit, and light sweet molasses. Smells really nice, like a nice wine.

t - Tastes of maple syrup, bourbon, oak, dark fruits, wine, and light alcohol. Maple syrup comes through a lot, mixing with some sweet fruit for a very enjoyable taste.

m - The body of Utopias is very thick and syrupy; felt just like maple syrup. Considering how high the ABV is there is very little alcohol showing and it was nice and smooth going down.

d - Overall Utopias is a very nice beer from Sam Adams. Given the high ABV and the mouthfeel it is certainly a sipper and certainly something best consumed in 2 oz. samples. I thought it had a great, complex smell and would definitely like to have it again. Don't think I would pay $180-200 for a bottle, but if given the chance would love another 2 oz. sample of this.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2011 22:27:15 | More by mdfb79

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

I have had this "beer" twice. A nice 2 oz pour from a bottle of the 2005 vintage and more recently a 2009 vintage pour on tap at EBF.

While I fould the aged version more appealing overall, a bit smoother and easier going, I find this to be a difficult liquid to truly enjoy.

A-Deep, dark brownish copper. No head to speak of but, when swirled, it left thick viscous legs on the glass.

S-Alcohol burn, vanilla, oak, fig, plum, raisin all lying on top of a massively sweet caramel malt base.

T-Almost firey alcohol up front moderated (especially with the aged vintage) with notes cognac, vanilla, maple syrup, raisin, plum and fig. Caramel malt sweetness is less pronounced in the flavour profile.

M-Without question the best feature of this concoction. Liquid silk with an oh, so smooth, luscious viscosity. Maple syrup smooth.

D-I appreciate what SA has done here and find it to be VERY interesting but to actually sit and drink this...no. It is a novelty only. I will save my high ABV drinks and money for the likes of real liquors such as port, cognac, bourbon and Scotch. The aged version was certainly more palatable than the fresh version so maybe over time....I could see myself sitting down with a small snifter and enjoying it. For the price though....see my previous statement.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2010 06:25:55 | More by Deuane

drabmuh

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The blended Utopia. I had over four ounces of this stuff and that was plenty. Beer is brown and hazy, no carbonation really, no head, no lacing. It looks about what I expected it to look like but on tap I was expecting more of an attempt at carbonation.

OK, the aroma is amazing. It smells like wood, alcohol, malts and liquor, like bourbon. It smells amazing.

Hmmm....taste....well to start the beer is medium to low bodied, there isn't any bitterness or carbonation to sour it out. Its sweet but not cloying at all, but it does finish really really dry and the alcohol is biting. It really is like sipping liquor not beer. Its plenty enjoyable but after four ounces I was ready to call it quits. I don't need anymore but I would try it again. Much better than the triple bock, overall a solid and impressive beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2010 03:31:35 | More by drabmuh

drseamus

New York

3.9/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Utopias really transcends what beer is. Unlike some other "beers" out there, this doesn't undergo any ice distillation or other techniques to increase the ABV unnaturally. It is 100% ninja made.

This beer in the right time and place is a great sipper. I'd schedule at least 30 minutes for a 2oz pour to do it right.

In this situation, Utopias is a complex son-of-a-bitch. Flavor pop up all over the place including vanilla, maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, sherry, caramel, and dark fruits. There are more in there but my brain can't handle that many sensations at once. I almost think of it as a cognac or sherry more than as a beer. Either way, it is interesting for sure. Also of note, when I've had it on cask before it wasn't carbonated. There was a touch of carbonation and decent head this time because it was served out of a quarter keg (yes, a fucking quarter keg of Utopias!!). Also, this is one boozy beer. The full 27% ABV isn't apparent but about 15% of it is and it is hot.     

In a different time and place it blends beautifully with Canadian Breakfast Stout. The coffee and chocolate from the CBS add a great sensation to the beer and also drop the ABV to a completely reasonable 20ish percent. 

In a third time and place it is the hardest yet most satisfying kegstand in the world. This beer is to be respected or it will kick your utopi-ass.    

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2010 21:42:24 | More by drseamus

josefnewsong

New York

4.55/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

They were selling this on tap for $15 an ounce. Luckily my boy was working at the Tap and gave me a free taste...Nose was all about whisky and honey. The taste was like a port wine or mead with intense alcohol flavor as well. This was amazing, but no beer is worth so much money. A gimmick if you ask me, but a very very tasty gimmick.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2009 06:23:21 | More by josefnewsong

aerozeppl

New York

4.63/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Super dark brown almost verging on black. Poured with no head at all. Sticks to the glass nicely. Thickness is part of the appearance.

S: The nose on this beer is really incredible. Booze is definitely there and right up front. Hints of toffee, roasted nuts, wood, chocolate, raisins, dates. Basically this is just about everything you have ever smelled in a beer minus hops thrown at you at once.

T: The sweetness and booze are really powerful. Most of the elements of the nose are detectible in the taste but drowned out by the booze a little bit. This beer reminds me of a port or cognac. Totally different than anything else out there.

M: No carbonation at all. Super thick but somehow not heavy on the tongue.

D: Somehow really drinkable. Had a 2oz sample of this and that was more than enough. Then I had another 2 oz sample. The warmer this gets the better it gets. Just an amazing beer that really does push the limits of what beer can be. The cellaring potential on this beer is off the charts. I don't think it will ever get worse.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2009 16:49:13 | More by aerozeppl

alovesupreme

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Somewhere between red and brown in color with no head just a few bubbles.
Lots of alcohol but pleasant. Very nutty, mostly hazelnut with some maple syrup.
So much flavor. Pecan, Hazelnut, almond and vanilla are all in the body of flavor. Alcohol is definitely present but actually contributes to the beer. The finish a pleasant maple syrup.
Very syrupy, where I could expect and desire it to be.
This beer is delicious. Unfortunately I know have acquired a taste for a beer I am no where near being able to afford.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2009 07:11:10 | More by alovesupreme

JonathanL7890

Texas

4.03/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured at the 2009 night of the barrels panel on wood aging beers. Pretty cool tasting this while jim Koch is discussing how wood causes microxidation of the beer which gives it complexity. On to the review.
No head at all. A rich ruby-amber color. Lots of legs on my glass
Smell. A complex of sweet, vanilla, booze, maple syrup
Taste. Very sweet. Like a port or sherry. Booze warms the tummy. Sugar cane , butterscotch, vanilla.
Mouthfeel : what you would expect for a 25% abv spirit
Drinkability : one shot of this is enough for the evening. The sweetness of this is almost too much.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2009 15:55:18 | More by JonathanL7890

Seanibus

California

3.43/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

At what point does beer stop being beer? That line lies, I think, somewhere between Extreme Beer and Utopia. This beverage may start out like beer, but on its trip to the brewing stratosphere, it winds up more like a poor cognac.

Pours a dark caramel with no head. Swirling it in a brandy snifter produces long, deep legs. The smell is a deep caramel, bourbon-like, perhaps a bit rasiny, with a slap of alcohol. The taste is brown sugar, creme brule, raisins, creme, vanilla, and bourbon. It suggests butter, praline, pecan, and walnut.The mouthfeel is rich, creamy, fatty around the mouth, very difficult to drink.

This is interesting to try, but it fails a key test: what is the point? If you want a beer, have a beer. If you want Cognac, have cognac. This is neither and therefore will satisfy nobody.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2008 00:09:44 | More by Seanibus

jasonjlewis

Texas

4.63/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I managed to get about 4 oz. of this at the GABF. I reviewed it on my phone. I will never pay to sample it straight from the bottle as I am not a rich man.

This beer doesn't come with a lot of head and lace, but that can't be expected from a beer like this. It has a nice dark and full color.

The smell is similar to scotch with some raisin, mint and licorice coming out.

The taste is surprisingly smooth. The strongest beer in the world is not overbearing, it's actually well balanced. Caramel comes out first with raisin and licorice overtones. Some mint comes out as the beer warms. This beer is wonderfully complex and I applaud the Boston Brew Company for making a well crafted beer this high in alcohol content. This beer is more than just 25% alcohol, it pushes the limits of what beer can do and I really admire the BBC for making it.

How could a 25% abv beer be any more drinkable? This beer is definetly a sipper, but considering it's 25% alcohol, it's a damn drinkable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2007 23:46:12 | More by jasonjlewis

Golden2wenty1

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Great Taste of the Midwest. I got my hands on two samples worth (probably about 3-4 ounces) because my girlfriend wasn't a fan.

Pour: fiery, crystal clear amber/mahogany, no head of course, fairly viscouse in the glass.

Nose: can literally be smelled from several feet away, even outdoors in the middle of a crowd. Amazing notes of oaked bourbon, rich vanilla, brandy and cherry liquor.

Taste: tongue-numbing booze of course, at 25% you're essentially sipping distilled alcohol. A mix of vanilla-bourbon-oak aged brandy with notes of bourbon-soaked apricots, cherries and raisins. The most potent beverage I've ever sipped and enjoyed.

Feel: oily and slick, yet thinned and super dry due to the immense alcohol content. No carbonation to speak of. Burningly strong and warming all the way down the gullet.

Drinkability/Overall: an amazing experience that I am glad to have had a chance to partake in. Truly blurs the line between beer and spirits. Distinct and refined, this is the sipper of all sippers. Worth the money for a bottle? Not for a starving college student like me, unless I won the lottery, wherein this would become a staple in my liquor cabinet.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2006 02:05:40 | More by Golden2wenty1

edchicma

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark, dark, dark...no head but with high abv..who cares. Smell had distinct bourbon notes. This has the texture of an after dinner drink, syrupy, smooth, alcohol, but with a malt kick. Naturally, with a syrupy quality, the mouthfeel is chewy..mmmm. Natgurally, this is a sipper...smooth for the extreme abv. Evereyone should try this at least once in their beer tasting lifetime.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2006 01:43:09 | More by edchicma

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I went to a “Big Beers Barelywine and Belgium” festival in Vail CO and Utopia was on tap. Well sort of. They had about a 5 gallon wooden barrel that they tapped directly and poured directly from there. So I sampled this beer on tap.

The pour was very thick with a very hazy amber to bronze color. I would say it seemed thicker then motor oil. Like watered down syrup. There was no foam or lacing as I would have expected. The smell was super rich and very similar to port. I was expecting more of a phenol aroma but instead got more of a toasted almost caramel nose.

The taste was thick as well. The flavor coats your mouth. A big caramel flavor with a molasses aftertaste. Reminds my of cough syrup. The alcohol is noticed but doesn’t burn as it goes down. Malty is the best word to describe it.

The drinkability of this is much easier then I would expect. You could almost say it was smooth. It is not a liquor-esk taste but still demands your attention with the malty, syrupy, alcoholic bomb.

Overall, I’m glad I got to try this but I don’t think I would ever want to buy it. $25 for a entry fee beats $150 for a bottle any day.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2006 06:02:49 | More by Oxymoron

Ahappyhiker2

New Jersey

3.81/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

10th Anniversary Edition.

A- Looks like scotch, only a little darker. Zero carbonation.

S- Very boozy, smells like scotch too. Flavors are a little easier to pick up though, vanilla, maple, bourbon. Very sweet aroma.

T- Vanilla, raisins, dark fruits, caramel, oak. It burns a lot going down, but it isn't overbearing for a beer of this ABV.

M- No carbonation at all. Still smooth in its own right though.

O- This doesn't drink like a beer. I'm happy to try this edition of it but I wouldn't pay what this beer costs in stores. That being said, Utopias has some great flavors and it's truly a treat to try.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 16:43:32 | More by Ahappyhiker2

sh00ky

Hawaii

5/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bought two bottles of the 10-year, one to drink and one to save. First time I ever dropped so much coin on one bottle of beer let alone two, but in the end it was an eye opening experience that caused me to go back and readjust all the top beers I've rated. Entirely worth the price if you can find it and have the extra cash saved up to spend on it.

The beer has a great history behind its ingredients and is unparalleled in it's balance between complexity and flavor. Should definitely be enjoyed a little at a time as it would be a shame to get too buzzed to truly enjoy the experience.

To date the only beer I've rated 5-star.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 00:26:37 | More by sh00ky

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I really enjoyed this one! I don't typically drink an American Strong Ale, but couldn't resist the opportunity to try Utopias. Surprisingly smooth, like a good Cognac. This would be fantastic on the front porch on a cool night with a fine cigar...which is how I intend on enjoying this if and when I ever get another opportunity!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 15:19:10 | More by DenverHopHead

ECBS

Ontario (Canada)

5/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

10th Anniversary Edition.

Immensely enjoyed by our Beer Society on April 20, 2013. Served at room temperature in 2.5 oz. samples.

Tasted alongside a tawny port, madeira, amontillado (medium dry) sherry, cream sherry (all of which were highly rated online, and only ran between $15-$25 at the LCBO) and Unibroue 17 Grande Reserve - all for comparison's sake. Not surprisingly, the Utopias was much more similar to the fortified wines we tried than the dark ale.

Out of our group of about ten men (none of whom had much experience with fortified wines), the vast majority found the fortified wines to be cloyingly sweet, while the unanimous consensus was that the Utopias was more complex, more drinkable (even with its higher ABV, as most of the fortified wines rang in at about 20%), and much more delicious.

As others have already mentioned, the taste is quite sweet without being cloying. Notes of maple syrup, dark fruits and chocolate. Plenty of warming alcohol. Beautiful colour - dark golden brown/ruby.

Highly recommended for a group tasting.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 17:32:30 | More by ECBS

FliryVorru

Alabama

4.95/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Utopias are an experience of a lifetime. I just happened (!!!) to find a 2009 vintage bottle in a store in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2010. I dropped the cash and have been sipping ever since. Yesterday, on the 2nd anniversary of buying the bottle, it finally emptied.

It's beer that has become the finest madeira you'll ever taste. Caramel, maple, toasted oak, molasses covered raisins, and every other flavor you can imagine!

If you like madeira, port, or sherry, you need to buy a bottle once in your life. You won't regret it!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 17:39:21 | More by FliryVorru

ktblue22

Vermont

4.69/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

This beer's rating is really a shot in the dark, since I have nothing really to compare it with, but I was extremely impressed with this beer! The experience around the taste also added to each wonderful sip. I was able to try it with my co-workers at a private tour oF Sam's in Boston - one of the brewers came out to let us sample it (The case of Heady we brought to share may have helped!!) and we had such a great time all trying the beer together.

The beer - really more like a lovely sweet bourbon - was intense yet delicate, sweet yet subtle. At near 30% I was pretty silly by the end of my generous portion. Every sip was delicious and different! Mostly what I remember is a milk-chocolate, maple syrup sweetness. Rare to try, but if you ever have the chance, I highly recommend it!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 06:30:35 | More by ktblue22

TheCuriograph

New York

4.33/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

1 oz. tasting at Bierkraft (Brooklyn). Obviously, I may not have caught all (or even most) of the subtleties, but here we go:

A - Deep brassy mahogany; clearly there is no carbonation left on this thing, but its oily and you can see the sturdy lifting of the meniscus around the glass. As you swirl, the Utopias clings.

S - Abrasively boozy and overflowing with bourbon, toffee, molasses and dried fruit.

T - This is I guess what you'd expect 16 years of blended ales barrel-aged to taste like. The hops have long since faded to oblivion, leaving sweet whiskey notes and fig, caramel, berries and allspice. Only a durable bready maltiness reminds you that this is, in fact, beer.

M - Utopias has the consistency of canola oil, coating the full surface area of your mouth and tongue.

O - Nothing like it, but the rich whiskey taste and heavy alcohol content (not to mention the price tag and rarity) would relegate Utopias to the same dining location as a sweet single-malt scotch. A nice treat for a cool evening, but not something I'd seek out.

***

Politics, Art, Beer. A Compendium of Worldly Facts
The Curiograph
www.thecuriograph.com
Twitter: @TheCuriograph

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 02:06:07 | More by TheCuriograph

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.71/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

10th Anniversary Edition. Poured in to Utopias glass.

A - Deep ruby in colour with an amber glow along the edges. As expected, no head whatsoever.

S - A huge port aroma up front. Charred oak, bourbon, toffee and dark caramel aromas with a big sweetness are complimented by a big noticeable alcohol presence.

T - Port, bourbon and toasted oak flavours in the forefront give way to toffee, dark caramel and spiced rum noted. Some grape and raisin flavours in the background and a huge warming alcohol presence throughout that cuts through the massive sweetness. Given the 27% ABV, the alcohol is somewhat well hidden. Incredibly complex.

M - Full bodied. Thick and viscous. Next to no carbonation but that doesn't detract from thsi beer at all; in fact it is complimentary.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 00:00:52 | More by TheSevenDuffs