Samuel Adams Utopias - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Florida9

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

10 Anniversary Edition.

A: Color is dark raisin brown. Clear, still, and flat. Appears to be more like liquor than beer.

S: Aroma is sweet and complex, with notes of raisin, port, tawny port, chocolate, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, and lots of alcohol.

T: Flavor is very similar to the aroma, though doesn't taste as sweet as it smells. Raisin and port with molasses, but there is also an earthy woodsy component as a well as a slight creaminess.

M: Thick, viscous and flat! But it all seems to work for this beer.

O: This is a very good drink, though it's not exactly beer in the classical sense of the word. Sure, it's technically beer, but this one is more in line with a sherry or a port than a beer. If you like those drinks and can appreciate this brew for what it is, you'll find this beer to be quite complex, incredibly balanced, and easily drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 02:02:47 | More by Florida9

Lare453

Florida

4.98/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

2oz pour into the riedel glass that came with it. This was a 2011.

A copper, thick, clear, no carbonation, no lacing, no head, long thick legs, Beautiful.

S dried dark fruit, booze, sweetness, maple, oak, plum, figs, cinnamon, vanilla, bakers chocolate, dried apricot, lemon, dark cherries

T a blend of dried dark fruits, rich port and sherry flavors with a fantastic sweet aftertaste, not much booziness, or a lot less than I thought. Lots of vanilla, oak, cinnamon, cherries, vanilla, figs, dried apricot, lemon peel, dried plums, raspberry, cinnamon, bitter chocolate, light and dark malt, baking bread, licorice,

M thick, rich, no carbonation

O amazing, one of the best things I've ever had before and I will buy a bottle every year it comes out. I'm going to say this is my favorite beer ever!!!

Greta to try and if I could afford it I'd buy it more often.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 05:49:52 | More by Lare453

Gobzilla

California

3.9/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured a dark brown in color with slight burgundy highlights and absolutely no head that left no lacing sticking to the glass.

S: very very boozy upfront on the nose where it almost burns the nose hairs after every whiff, besides that I was able to detect some dark fruits, hints of vanilla, and very little oaky barrel character.

T: There was vanilla, dark fruitiness, oaky character, quite a bit of caramel flavor, brown sugar notes but was very muted due to the overwhelming amount of brandy like booze heat battering the palate.

M: the brew was medium in body with virtually no carbonation which had a sweet, oaky, mild dark fruity, very boozy and sticky finish.

O: very interesting beer all around, but have to say it was pretty tasty considering the heat on this booze bomb.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 08:18:31 | More by Gobzilla

kojevergas

California

3.73/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Metal bottle served into a sampler glass at the Surly Goat in Hollywood, California. Reviewed from detailed notes. It hit the wallet hard at $16.00 for about two shots worth. I savored it and had very high expectations given the hype and its current rating.

A: There's absolutely no head whatsoever, not even a floater. I'll write this off to the monstrous ABV. Colour is a chestnut copper. Nontransparent. Nonopaque. No yeast particles are visible. Not real vibrant. Leaves a viscous clear lacing that slides down the glass sides. Appealing in a general sense.

Sm: Heavy alcohol, whiskey, and strong port influence. Some vinegar and wine notes make it in as well. Dried grape, raisin, and hints of fig. Other dried fruit esters. Aroma gets better as it warms.

T: Heavy dried fruit - raisin is there, as is dried cherry. A bit strong but the sweetness is tame. Comes across as very sugary. Wow. Warms the stomach but the alcohol is nicely concealed. Apple, grape, and hints of cognac. Some whiskey burn on the climax. Lilac on the finish. Nicely balanced and built. Rich and decadent. The alcohol is present more on the backend, lending it a nice heat.

Mf: Very viscous and slick, but also nicely smooth and wet to aid delivery. Slight undercarbonation, aiding the general tone of the flavours as well as delivery. Quite thick. Complements the flavour nicely.

Dr: She's a sipper to be sure. Nicely drinkable for the monstrous ABV though. Drinks like a fine cognac or bourbon. I wouldn't buy a bottle of it at its ridiculous price point, but it's lovely to try once. I did expect better, but it lives up to its hype to an extent. It's certainly a quality sipper, anyway you slice it.

I love the bottle itself; it'd make a good souvenir or home bar piece. I remember the Mikkeller Bar has one laying about.

Best consumed warm, hands down.

B

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 05:33:01 | More by kojevergas

MrVonzipper

California

3.28/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This one doesnt even deserve the typical way I do reviews, nor does even remotely deserve to be on the top 100 for even a second. I commend SA for doing what they did with this. But overall its a syrupy mess. Heavy fruit and syrupy malt on the nose and same in the flavor. It actually starts off like it might taste good, then takes a dive. I mean its not bad, its just not that good. The mouth is exactly what you'd expect, flat syrup. Shame on you guys for rating this as an exceptional "Beer"

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 08:11:25 | More by MrVonzipper

BuckyFresh

Michigan

4.48/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes. Enjoyed with TCHopCraver, TCGoalie & zoso1967. Thanks to zoso1967 for tracking this one down!

Appearance: Poured from the fancy Utopias decanter into a large snifter. Pours a ruby/brown hue with no haze and no head whatsoever. There are, however, legs running down the side of the glass from the high percentage of alcohol, similar to what you might find in a glass of red wine. An interesting phenomenon I had yet to observe with beer.

Smell: The first thing that strikes you smell-wise is the sheer strength of the alcohol in this bad boy. Very boozy - almost brandy-like or something resembling a very sweet bourbon. There is some malt presence in there as well, along with some dark fruit aromas and toffee.

Taste: Very sweet and a lot of raisin influence in the flavor. Toffee, cherry, bourbon, maple, butterscotch, and a little bit of smokiness are there as well. Lots of alcohol, but it tastes a bit more like a beer than I thought it would, given the boozy nostril punch this thing administers.

Mouthfeel: Very thick and chewy, as is to be expected for a beer like this. It's certainly a sipper and if you keep that in mind, I think the feel is pretty close to where it should be.

Overall: A very unique and tasty beer experience enjoyed with great friends. Too bad it costs so much, otherwise I may have sought it out more. Still worth it though if you can find a group to enjoy it with!

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 19:36:57 | More by BuckyFresh

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

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

A delightful, complex, and stimulating long sipper.

Presentation: 22 oz copper custom capped ceramic decanter. Shaped like a boiling kettle, the kettle opening offers an image of Sam Adams that breaks a bit the otherwise bright design. It is a nice touch but adds a common Boston Beer tacky sense to the design. Label with lengthy description of the special offering and code to redeem a custom snifter. Notes limited 2011 edition, bottle #03733. Poured into a custom Utopia snifter.

A - Clear deep amber small pour. The dark crimson waves slide with a sticky wave to the side of the glass. For a brew of this depth it is a rather beautiful serving.

S - Long nose, rich and very aromatic with plenty of caramel, dark fruits, molasses, sherry, long brandy, soft alcohol. Very complex, pleasing, and never overwhelming.

T - Delightful notes of candied fruits over the brandy structure, where dates, raisins and prunes shine over wood, vanilla, caramel, slight spicy hint in the background, touch of nutmeg and soft pepper. Toffee, and caramel, long distant notes of chocolate and leather make a dent as one progresses through the small serving...

M - Medium-full body, very smooth, with a soft stickiness, and a final warmth touch that lingers, and lingers holding up all the complex palate of flavors.

O - Delightful sipper, very complex and full of layers.

Notes: What a treat… This really reminds me of Spanish brandies and other local blends like quinas. They were in the mix of barrels for this 2011 edition, and they do shine beautifully. Memories of a Cardenal Mendoza, so this is something that may appeal to anyone keen on that sweet complex brandy range, it has some of that Carlos I and Duque de Alba range but the final sweet complexity puts it closer to Cardenal Mendoza than anything else I've ever tasted. If one can afford it, at the suggested retail prize, this is a delight to have and share with people either intrigued by the limits of beer, or this complex Brandy, Cognac, solera blends… Pushing the price at the retail point I guess might develop part of the legend but hurts the accessibility to something that is already pretty pricey. At this price range, if I can afford it then, I'd love to have access to a bottle of the next vintage… in 2013? Thanks Luke, and Manning for making this possible.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 01:39:27 | More by Daniellobo

tewaris

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks Josh (Sender) for sharing this great beer.

Pours still, looks deep. A rich copper brown hue. Legs are seen upon swirling. Smells amazing, although it's well into the liqueur/liquor territory: dark fruit, figs, dates. Nothing uncommon, but very bold and yet smooth.

Drinks flavorful and sweet but exceptionally clean at the end. Sherry is the best adjective I can use to describe it. Doesn't have the same burn as Macallan but damn, it comes close in taste. Of course it is much sweeter.

A great beer and very glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 01:55:13 | More by tewaris

FosterJM

California

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

1344th Review on BA
Bottle to Flask to Utopias Glass
6oz

2011 Vintage

Thanks to my buddy Will for sending a late birthday present and glass wale.

App- Really to me poured out like a sherry mixed with some bourbon. Its not the color that gets you its the reflection in the glass. Shines like a diamond with multi facets to it. A little lighter around the edges with some yellows.

Smell- What stuck me was how each time I brought it up to take a sip or smell, I got something different. Oaky, barrel, vanilla, malty, boozy, dark fruits, sugary, sweet. A little mish mash of them all but works so well.

Taste- The flavor of this cant really be described if you havent had it. It starts off really hot and you can only take a small sip. The vanilla comes in and brings a little sweetness. Next comes some of the dark fruits and maybe a bit of brown sugar like a cordial. Last flavors come up are the earthy barrel and some oak.

Mouth- Almost gave it a tad higher but I pulled back. For a beer this complex, I felt it was just a bit too thin. Needed a bit more creaminess behind it. A solid medium body with a low carbonation. Just needed like I said a touch more creamy flavor. Residual heat and oak with a touch of a vanilla brandy cordial note.

Drink- I am still not sure how this qualifies as a beer. I had this in 2009 and just didnt appreciate it as much. I hope one day I can buy a bottle and take little sips each year to see how this changes. I am sure it would be just wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 01:32:29 | More by FosterJM

WillCarrera

Illinois

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

2011 bottle number 13361, poured into a tulip glass. Major thanks to Etan for sharing this.

A- Pours a dark plum/brown color, produces absolutely zero head, leaves no lacing but does leave big sticky, viscous legs on the glass when you swirl it.

S- Big sweet boozy aroma, lots of molasses, brown sugar, plums and figs, caramel, also has nice wood and cognac/brandy aroma.

T- Sweet fruity flavor, lots of dark fruit, brown sugar, wood and vanilla, brandy alcohol burn on the finish.

M- Full-bodied, sticky, viscous feel, moderate but not extreme alcohol burn.

O- An interesting beer, very complex and boozy.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 23:04:41 | More by WillCarrera

Etan

Illinois

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

Brought this over to Willcarrera's for a tasting along with Agold. 2011 bottle (#13361). Poured from a 24oz ridiculous-looking bottle into a brandy snifter.

A: Pours a dark, dark ruby brown. No head or lacing whatsoever, as expected.

S: Huge brown sugar, molasses, slight chocolate, pungent sugary alcohol. Incredibly strong nose.

T: Molasses, brown sugar, fig, prune, raisin, maple, little bit of chocolate, vanilla and huge toffee in the finish with some more raisin notes. Mild bourbon, brandy, and a bit of wood from the barrels.

M: Syrupy but not too thick. No carbonation.

O: Alcohol is surprisingly well-integrated. It's like a gigantic sweet English barleywine on steroids. Better than expected.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 07:38:30 | More by Etan

Agold

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Big huge thanks to etan for cracking this open. Dark brown with highlights of Ruby. Nice legs. Aroma is very raisin brandy rum plum prune and a lot of vanilla brown sugar burnt sugar and molasses. Some honey as well. Extremely complex aroma with so much stuff going on. Flavor was really sweet but not unpleasantly so. Lots of raisin and brandy with a nice heat from the alcohol. Mouthfeel is sticky and viscous, almost like a liquor. I really don't know what to make of this "beer". Its really enjoyable but I don't know how to think about it.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 05:46:45 | More by Agold

jegross2

Illinois

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

Reviewing the infamous Samuel Adams Utopias from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams). Jason Richard sent me a sample of the 2011 vintage this beer in a pouch to review. Thank you so much Jason!
Score: 94

2011 vintage sample served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead snifter and enjoyed on 04/04/12.

Appearance: Pours a transparent dark caramel brown color that looks like a shot of whiskey. Absolutely no head, no lacing, and, by extension, no retention. Tilting the glass to inspect the color for a minute left an oily line across the middle of the side of the glass that slowly oozed its way down, back into the beer. This beer looks incredibly menacing. 4/5

Smell: Hoo boy! Upfront is a fiery, vodka-like alcohol aroma that singes nose hairs, but quickly behind it is a pleasant mix of brown sugar, smooth caramel, and maple. There is raisin, fig, peanut, walnut, leather, tobacco, and vanilla too. This is easily the "hottest" aroma I have experienced to date, but the nuances behind the fiery spirit smell are pretty awesome. 4/5

Taste: Whoa. For as fiery as the aroma is, the taste is substantially smoother. Sweet grape, vanilla, and brown sugar upfront, with a lingering brown sugar sweetness. Lots of sweet raisin, cognac, oak and dark fruit on the midpalate. Further sips reveal sugary molasses, whiskey caramel malt, vanilla, and cognac flavors. There's a distinct booziness and alcohol warmth on the palate (at 27% ABV, this is quite expected), but it is surprisingly well mixed with rest of the flavor components. This tastes almost like a smoother, sugarier brown spirit with a red wine and raisin twist. This brew is very complex, and it's fifteen year aging process in everything from port and cognac to whiskey barrels is apparent. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, no carbonation. Thick, chewy, syrupy and sugary. Finishes sweet. 5/5

Overall: Big, bold, delectable and sweet. This is a heavy sipper that should be enjoyed a few ounces at a time (there is no way in heck I could enjoy a full glass of this stuff, even at a lower ABV). The beer is not too sweet for me, but it's certainly one of the sweeter beers that I have enjoyed. Those that think Dark Lord is a diabetes-laden sweet bomb should be forewarned.

Recommendation: Priced at $8 per ounce if you can manage to get your hands on a bottle, or $20 for 1-2 ounces at those rare bars that carry it on their top shelf, this one is definitely overpriced for what it is -- but it is absolutely worth trying once. Find a bottle and split it with your friends.

Pairings: Chocolate chip pancakes or Crème Brulee.

Cost: Retails at approximately $200 for a 750 ml bottle that looks like a brew kettle. That is, if you are lucky enough to find a bottle at the price.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 06:47:39 | More by jegross2

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.65/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Killed the bottle with Steve and crew for his birthday, 2009 vintage into a whiskey tulip.

Reddish brown colour, without any head. Huge legs. Nose has a big layer of alcohol over everything, butterscotch, brandy, cognac is quite prominent, caramel, toffee, oak - too complex to accurately describe, held my nose to this for ages before digging in. Incredible. Again a layer of alcohol veils everything just a bit on the palate, but tofee, nuts, oak, butterscotch, brandy, cognac, brown sugar and some sweet chocolate. Sweet and extremely 'desserty' - dense body with a lingering flavour. Thick, alcoholic but a great warmth in the finish. The smoothness at which the alcohol is applied is fantastic. A spectacular offering, and unlike any 'beer' I've ever had before. Certainly something I could smell all day.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 15:35:18 | More by liamt07

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.8/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Can't remember who, but thanks to the generous soul who brought this to the March Madness 2012 bottle share.

Pretty flat looking appearance, nothing resembling head, lace or retention, looks like someone left an amber/old ale out for a few days to let all the carbonation out of it. But it is clean looking, no chunky sediment or whatnot, color is like equal parts burnt orange, red and light brown. Aroma, not bad, definitely more on par with a liquer than most beer aromas, sticky, and the positive kind of oxidation.

A lightly sweet, thick, syrup and molasses like flavor and texture is evident. Should definitely appease those who like scotch and cognac. Plenty of vanilla, oak and caramel to compliment the flavor profile, making out for a good experience as a result.

Complex enough to not simply be a drink that the lowest common denominator would flock to (given its price, probably not a problem) but overall, a neat and good experience, but eh, could never see drinking more than 3oz of this.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 23:11:17 | More by Beerandraiderfan

zoso1967

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I am clearing out some older reviews that were on my phone. Unfortunately I have lost all the date stamps, but I am pretty sure this is from Februrary.

Utopias pours a very attractive reddish mahogany color. It is super bright with no head, but major legs.

Aroma is very spirit like with plenty of warmth and straight up alcohol. Unlike a spirit though, it has a more beer like backbone to the aroma that I can only think to describe as being more substantial than say a scotch or brandy. Other aromas include caramel, leather and raisins.

The flavor has even more raisin like qualities with a lot if caramel flavors as well. Toffee, leather smoke and maple are all present. Despite the alcohol heat, the flavors of the malted barley come through quite well with their bready caramel character.

The mouthfeel is quite full and a bit chewy. It is interesting drinking a beer that is supposed to be dead flat. I almost wonder how much less substantial the body of this beer might be if it was carbed up. The finish is very sticky and to me, more of a hindrance to the drinkability than the alcohol.

Obviously, Utopias is not your average beer and is hard to rate on the same scale as the others I have reviewed on this site. As I alluded to earlier, this is a sipper of a beer that is certainly meant to be enjoyed like a fine brandy or scotch. I also enjoyed mine with my awesome beer nerd friends (TChopcraver, TCGoalie & Buckyfresh) which is something that I also recommend if you are able to track down a bottle of this. Ultimately, I found this beer to be quite tasty and if money were not a concern I would probably try to buy it every time it came out and pop one open for a special occasion.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 20:52:21 | More by zoso1967

jamescain

Texas

4.85/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured into a sniffer. Big thanks to pwsoldier for sharing this one!

Pours a cloudy dark brow-mahogany with no head. The initial aroma that I detect is nutty, pecans, with vanilla, bourbon, dark fruits, plums, figs, raisins, some port like qualities, and a touch of alcohol. The taste has amazingly very little alcohol perception! Dark fruit and port qualities dominate the flavor, figs, plums, raisins, oak, bourbon and a touch of alcohol. The mouthfeel is very syrupy and viscous with no carbonation and a sweet lingering finish. Overall this is an exceptional beer and I’m very glad that I finally got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 17:10:21 | More by jamescain

gregy55902

Minnesota

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

A - Pours a mahogany color with no carbonation.

S - Utterly stunning - unlike any other beer. Sherry, cherry, cognac, port, extreme barrel aged notes. Just an insane bouquet of dark fruits - cherry, dates, a bit of wild dark berries. A bit of caramel malt and vanilla.

T - Just wow. This hits you so hard with the barrel aging - it is so incredibly smooth even with the high abv. Taste follows the nose but it is even more amazing. The taste lingers forever, which is amazing.

M - No carbonation, but it doesn't need any. Lingers in your mouth for an eternity (1+hour) long after you have swallowed it. It made me smile so much; I couldn't believe what my taste buds were experiencing.

O - Incredible. If this beer isn't perfect, then nothing is. If you can appreciate a barrel-aged beer, take that times infinity and you have Utopias. Kind of pricey but I can totally understand why. Save this for special occasions, and you won't be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 06:33:24 | More by gregy55902

brystmar

New York

4.78/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Can't believe it's taken me two years to write this review. Acquired one of the very few '09s that made it to Texas, thanks to nate8767. Opened it in Dec '09 with friends, have sipped an oz or two here & there since, but left myself a small pour knowing I'd review it one day. Here goes review #300:

Bottle #14364 served at room temperature, as it should be.

Dark mahogany hues beam out from an amber base. Pours completely flat with zero head, just as it did the night I opened it. Sticky veins of lace drape down towards the liquid after each swirl. I know very little about high-end brandy & cognac, but others more familiar with those spirits tell me they share this same characteristic.

Aroma remains very hot. There's really no getting around the booze content here: at 28%+, this one's gonna smell strong. But there's treasure beneath that heat. Rounded fruits are prominent amongst the rich caramel, smooth vanilla, and maple. What's here is out of this world, though.

A multitude of flavors blossom from this liquid as it reaches your tongue. Deep, dark fruits; luscious caramel from the aged, boozy base; fresh maple syrup. Brighter fruits come in at the end alongside the alcoholic warmth. Finishes a touch sweet with lingering maple & fruit. Leaves a sticky resin in your mouth and throat, tempting you to savor another ounce. Unique! Marvelous! I want more...

Utopias boasts a surprisingly thick, chewy, creamy body that works wonders for the brew. I still remember the shock I experienced after taking my first sip more than two years ago: "Woah, how is this so robust and creamy?" Years later, I'm still in awe of its heaviness. Did I mention it's sticky as hell?

This is the very definition of a sipper. Very glad I chose to spread the enjoyment of my bottle over a number of years. That said, it's about the same as I remember from 2009; maybe slightly more caramel-y given the added age.

Bottom line, this beer is absolutely fantastic and worth seeking out. Birth a child to trade for a bottle. Mortgage your grandmother. Or just chip in ~$30 with six of your best friends and split a bottle. Utopias is no bargain, but it's easily one of the best beers on the planet. And certainly the most unique.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 05:40:49 | More by brystmar

AgentMunky

Alabama

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

Poured from the utterly gorgeous bottle into a Glencairn whisky glass. Served at room temperature. From notes. Reviewed 8 July 2011.

A: Gorgeous beer. Wine-dark brown. Clear and brandy-like. No head.

S: Such smells! Brandy. Hugely alcoholic (far beyond what the ABV would suggest) with a whiff of fire. Chardonnay? White grapes. Big and boozy, with so much going on.

T: This does *not* taste like beer. It tastes like liquor. Nutty, sherryish, and very alcoholic sweet. Loads of fruit. Warming and pleasant. Flavour-dense, hard to describe, and pretty great.

M: Warming, smooth, and clean. Despite its fearsome moments, it veritably slides down the throat. Very enjoyable.

O: Fantastically interesting. Almost certainly not worth the money, but what a bottle and what a 'beer'. I highly recommend you try some.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 02:21:04 | More by AgentMunky

drowland

Florida

4.55/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear ruby brown with no head, obviously. The aroma on this puppy can be smelled from a mile away. The aroma is a ton of dark fruit from the start - a huge dose of prunes and raisins. There is a caramelly sweetness that reminds of candied raisins and the malt is laughing and dancing in the background. One can also find sour cherries and a huge alcohol burn. This tastes like a million things. The flaovr is extremely sweet up front like glazed prunes and cherries mixed with fresh caramel and cream with a dash of vanilla. The malt is also quite present, adding layers of flavor and even roast and a dash of coffee if you really search. The mouthfeel is really unique - creamy and thick, coating the mouth, along with a burn from the alcohol, but you don’t taste so much as feel it. This is awesome stuff!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 22:12:12 | More by drowland

Sunnanek

Sweden

3.9/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Goodness, 1190 SEK (about $170) for a bottle of beer...

A: Pours warm amber with a very small tan head. No lacings.

S: Vineous galore. Smells more like a nice Port than a beer. Lots of dark dried fruits, very sweet. Some oak in the back though. Surprisingly little alcohol in the smell.

T: Follows the smell; molassess and dark dried fruits. Vineous but also with a Cognac-vibe.

M: Aftertaste lingers with sweetness but also a warmth from the high ABV. Body is sticky full while carbonation is well hidden. Boozy.

O: Well, this is a very nice beverage, but I'm not sure if it's more like Port than beer. Worth the money? Of course not.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 11:50:49 | More by Sunnanek

billab914

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to siege06nd for giving me a pour of this. Poured into a snifter glass. It poured a dark caramel brown color with a little bit of tiny bubbles scattered across the top at first. It's a little slick looking as it leaves some nice legs on the glass. Great looking color to it.

In the aroma the first thing I notice is the alcohol. It definitely lets you know right from the start that this is a very strong beer. I get some bourbon, brown sugar and vanilla all present but what I really like are the notes of maple and sherry I'm getting. It's got a ton of really great flavors going on in it, and they all come together very well.

The taste has a warming alcohol heat to it that is bigger than any other beer I've ever had. I get toffee and caramel mixing with a little chocolate as well as some of the barrel aged, bourbon, vanilla and oak character to it. I start to notice some maple in it with some leathery notes as well as I continued to drink it. It really has some great flavors to it.

The mouthfeel is heavy and somewhat slick with carbonation being very low to non-existent. Great mouthfeel fir what it is.

Overall it was such a unique and delicious beer. Very complex with a lot of really great, bold flavors to it. It was a little hot and boozy, but that was expected for what it is. Wonderful beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 17:08:17 | More by billab914

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

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

Vintage 2011, served to some good friends on New Years Eve. Poured into the signature Utopias glassware that comes with the bottle.

A: For not being carbonated and expecting a sort of liqueur-type of beer, this is spot on. Clear ruby/brown/copper colored body with naturally no head. Brilliant alcohol legs coat the sides of the glass as you swirl it a few times, like a fine distilled spirit would. This is what I expected and it looks wonderful.

S: Tons of sweet maple syrup notes, brown sugar, alcohol, caramel, raisin, oak and burnt sugar. This smells like no beer you've had before. It's most comparable I can think would be to a brandy of sorts, I've heard some people say cognac though I've never had that spirit. You can literally smell the booze on the pour, this could bring a bit of heat.

T: Wow, that is remarkable. Again, tons of sweet maple syrup coat the mouth, brown sugar, vanilla and huge oak barrel notes eventually break through. This is sweet, and a bit boozy at first. The more you sip, the less heat you notice, though it does come back to remind you with the warming sensation in your chest. Melted caramel and some dark fruits come back towards the end, but the maple syrup sees this beer through and through.

M: Sticky, smooth and full-bodied. This drink is like no other beer. See a common theme? Again, this drinks like a nice full-bodied spirit, a fine brandy or whiskey. Hot in the chest after the swallow.

This is a serious treat to have. I'm very glad I pulled the trigger on this large purchase, however I'm not sure I'd do it again. Sure, it's unique, it's delicious but it's pricey as hell. One to absolutely make sure you experience in your life but something not needed to always be on hand.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 21:02:21 | More by ShanePB

siege06nd

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served in a snifter and shared with two dear friends, Rhettroactive and IrishColonial.

A: It's just gorgeous. A brilliant and crystal clear copper, ruby, brown, tobacco sunburst color that practically radiates in the glass. Lacing, head? Hell no. This is a 27% ABV beer. Don't expect it, because you sure as hell won't get it. Beautiful oily legs absolutely coat the sides of the glass. Incredible.

S: I can smell the maple barrels from 3 feet away. Hot damn this thing is hot. Loads of maple syrup, raisin, brown sugar, oak, vanilla, and a metric crap ton of booze. Seriously, this burns. But it burns in a delicious, sexy way. It's delicious smelling. Great.

T: Wow, this is a sipper indeed. Thick, sticky maple syrup, raisin, brown sugar, vanilla, dark fruit, oak tannins, and loads of booze. Significant alcohol burn here, but it somehow manages to be enjoyable and, dare I say it, smooth? Goodness gracious this is an amazing beer, if you can call it a beer. It's definitely more of the cognac, sherry, brandy, port vibe. This is a "holy sh*t" moment. Absolute, no doubt, grand slam.

M: It's boozy, but the maple, dark fruit, vanilla, and raisin flavors absolutely crush. Flavors are perfectly integrated and makes this the perfect after supper sipper. Great.

O: I mean, it's a $200 bottle of beer. Can I tell you to buy this with a straight face? Hell yes I can. It's worth it. Team up with your buddies, split it 10 ways, I don't care what you do. Just make sure you get your hands on a 2 oz. pour of Utopias while you are still a beer fanatic. It is unlike anything I have ever had before. It truly is a port, but man is it lip-smackingly tasty. It definitely drinks boozy, but somehow maintains a pleasantness and smoothness that is unbelievable. If you have the budget, grab this one. Sort out the details later, up to and including charging your bestest buds $20 a pop for their pours.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 04:33:53 | More by siege06nd