Doing this review is certainly one of the least Bourgeoisie things I’ve done.  Imagine paying anywhere from $160-$230 dollars for a 24 ounce bottle of beer, even if it does come in a hand-crafted vessel.  Now it is true that different boys like different toys, so I feel a little better in that respect.  I spend my money on beer…what can I say? 

As some of you may know, Sam Adam’s makes the strongest and most expensive beer in the world.  Utopias comes in at an amazing 26% abv.  It is an astounding achievement to make a beer that strong.  There is no distilling, nothing but grains, and a whole lot of very robust yeast strains in this beer.  Believe me when I say producing a beer of this strength is already a feat. 

Since I sipped on some of this Utopias the other night, I thought I’d offer a review of it.  From the beginning of the pour (1 1/2 to 2 ounces suggested) Utopias does not look like a common beer.  In fact, there is no carbonation, no head, and a thick tracing on the glass.  The beer sits there with a thin clear line of liquid sitting on top of a beautiful whiskey-colored body.  As the prescient color of the beer suggests, it is more like liquor than beer. 

Aroma, aroma, aroma…boy, does this beer have it.  On the nose it is extremely bready and yeasty in quality.  The alcohol is very noticeable on the nose.  There are wonderful grape, caramel (suggestive of Boubon), and nutty qualities on the nose.  The smell is more suggestive of a brandy or port than it is a beer.

Breadiness in the nose is certainly translated into the taste of this brew.  It has a nice thick and full mouth-feel.  The nuttiness in the nose seems to define itself as Macadamia nuts in the taste of the beer.  Muscat grapes (and wine) are apparent in the sweet flavor of the beer, which gives it a taste very similar to various sweet sherries that I’ve had. 

If you get a chance, you have to try this beer.  Properly speaking, it is not very “beer” tasting at all.  However, it is still worth tasting because it shows just how diverse beers can truly be.  By the way, this a great beer to have with a robust cigar.