January 03, 2004
Sam Adams Utopias MMII
Yesterday, I took a ride over to one of my favorite liquor stores, which is a supermarket-sized place that sells nothing but liquor, wine and beer (and also has a fair cigar selection). In short, definitely my kinda place. The vodka selection alone takes up approximately 2/3 of the average sized supermarket aisle! But I digress.
While there, I took a peek at the high-end stuff that is kept refrigerated under lock and key. Predictably the locked cooler contains mostly Champagnes (there is a separate lockup for high-end things that don’t need to be refrigerated, particularly those that apparently are popular with shoplifters). Anyway, I saw the bottle pictured above and marveled at the idea of a bottle of beer costing $200.00.
When I arrived home, I searched for this expensive bottle of suds on the net in order to learn a bit more about it. I found it here, but the price was not $200.00, but rather was $499.00 a bottle!! Holy Budweiser, Batman!! That's almost five hundred bucks for a bottle of beer, albeit very fancy schmancy beer. Here is the seller’s description of what must the nectar of the Beer Gods:
Sam Adams Utopias MMII™ is the only beer (domestic or import) brewed with a fine selection of Noble hops, Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Tettnang Tettnanger, Spalt Spalter and Czech Saaz. The brew is then aged in port, scotch and cognac barrels. The brew uses: 2 Row Harrington, Caramel and Vienna Malts. The aroma offers the distinctive smell of cinnamon and vanilla with subtle hints of floral, citrus and pine. Sam Adams Utopias MMII offers a rich taste that is surprisingly light on the palette, featuring a smooth, lingering finish. Samuel Adams Utopias MMII, the strongest beer in the world to date, has 24 percent alcohol by volume and is 48 proof.
At $200.00 per bottle, I probably should run back to the store and buy a case of the stuff. On second thought, that would be a pretty pricey investment, and an “investment” it would have to be, because, as much as I believe that life is too short to drink cheap whiskey or beer, I think I might choke drinking a case of beer at two hundred (or five hundred!) bucks a bottle (even if it does contain “Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Tettnang Tettnanger, Spalt Spalter and Czech Saaz” hops).
I think what I’ll do is go back to the store, explain to the guy that I am an upscale lush and ask the if I could get a small brown bag with the bottle so that I could drink it in the parking lot.
Posted by Jim at January 3, 2004 05:01 PM
where can i find a bottle of the utopia? I have been looking since last year when i saw your advertisement in the paper. I live in hastings mich. please let me know,
chuck jordan
Posted by: charles jordan at November 21, 2004 02:19 PMHey you big dumbass a store in michigan has it for $185 a bottle so if u did go get that case u got fucked
Posted by: Nate P at January 11, 2005 06:48 PMNate -
I hope you were smiling when you wrote that. Otherwise, I would have to question your manners.
I actually have a bottle of Utopia that I am willing to sell. It is from the 2003 collection, bottle #2321. If interested shoot me an e-mail and an offer to js3407@yahoo.com.
Posted by: Jonathan S at February 11, 2005 12:16 AMJunk at the best.
For $750 I can fly to Germany and get THE BEST.
Sam Adams shot themselves in the foot when they pulled Golden Pilsner off of the shelves.
SCREW THE AMERICAN BREWERS, AND THEIR FAST BUCK GARBAGE.
It sold originally for $100 a bottle..its just the resellers that jack the price up 85-500% over normal retail.
Posted by: jake at February 18, 2006 12:39 PMI was lucky enough to have a 1oz. drink of Utopias at the Cellebration of Suds in Atlantic City. I absolutely loved it!
I love microbrewed beer and have tried over 200 different brews and even brew my own beer,Utopias is nothing at all like any of them.
Served at room temperature it has no carbonation at all. You could give it to any beer drinker and they would have no idea at all that they were drinking beer.
But as the guy that own the liquor store I digress. The main reason for writing is that if you look around you can find it much cheaper than any advertised price I have seen.
I just bought a bottle about an hour ago for $137.oo and I went to the liquor store to order it, and there it was sitting on the shelf. :)
Don't even think of it as beer. Think of it as a once in a lifetime experience.
The pictured utopias above is 2001-2 MMII. witch you cannot purchase in stores. 3000 were produced, i myself have 3 bottles. the 2005 edition orignally retailed for $99.00 stores have now increased the price to 150.00 of witch 8,000 were produced.. 3 editions of utopias were crafted 2001,2003 and the last and final 2005 edition. The rare most sought after is 2001 marked by MMII.. and they all slightly taste diffrent due to the age. the bottles are also slightly diffrent to each year as well..People and retailers are driving the price for these up.. after 06 you will never see one on a retail shelf again... or so boston
Posted by: chuck at April 2, 2006 11:58 AM