Samuel Adams Utopias returns

I am curious as to what exactly makes Utopias 'illegal' to sell in Missouri, as the relevant statute defining beer has no mention whatsoever of an ABV limit, and I'm pretty sure that the Boston Beer Company's pockets are deep enough to cover the additional $200 that Missouri charges manufacturers of beverages with an ABW above 22%.

Their marketing aside, when the topic of Utopias being re-released came up in a local Facebook beer group, multiple people mentioned that it has been sold in Missouri in the past.

 

The Bible Belt is probably part of it for sure, I just always thought of it as a "don't tread on me" (and my rights) kind a state. Hence why I find it so wild that you can't buy a spirit alcohol level 'beer', but the state that started prohibition (KS) has no issue with it.

But I guess this same state also had a law as recently as the late 80's/early 90's to not allow breweries to offer draft on their premise, hence why Boulevard Brewing Company was (is?) labeled as a 'winery' (producing the minimal amount annually to be considered a winery.) That's what I recall from the tour at least.

 

Enter the Zion Curtain

I'm honestly happy that there's not restrictions like there used to be here, 3 and 4% beer etc

 

Thank you!

 

A quick search listed 5% same as grocery stores. More disturbing is Utah has some felony shipping laws.

 

I landed one!

I popped in the local Fresh Market and asked the manager if they were getting any. She stated that they’re getting one and it either comes on Friday or Tuesday the following week. Went there Saturday and it wasn’t available. Went yesterday and she had put it aside for me since I was the only person who’s been asking for it. That made my day! I invited her to the tasting. Already have 10 lined up to try it.

 

Yeah draft and grocery store sales are limited to 5% or below.
You can buy higher percentage if the brewery has the right license in can/bottle or to-go form or from the dabc for fairly high prices, though local beers are competitive if not the same price as from the brewery. It gets expensive with out of state beers.

 

Solution here is to become a session beer drinker (a crazy answer given this thread topic).

 

By no means am I complaining, makes going out for a few pints a breeze. I'm very happy with the beer scene here, only wishing I got big wine/bottle shop prices

 

I think it is firmly the least conservative it has ever been. At least in the last 60ish years.

 

I got an email about a local retailer selling bottles of this.

$400!

No thanks!

 

Hi everyone....
So just scored 3 bottles......and had a question....does anyone know the production run on the 2023..I thought it was 10,000 bottles,but one of mine is in the 6000's and 2 are in the 10,800's.....just curious....?
And..how do you add photo to a post? says put URL in,but I'm a computer dummy.
Cheers

 

I want to build a spreadsheet with just some simple notes for everyone.
There are so many questions when it comes to quick facts on the Sam Adams Utopias. A lot of older searches produce an error page on Sam Adams website when looking up the information for an older bottle.

 

probably the same for me. I passed on it a few years ago. If I recall it was around $200 and I couldn’t justify the ticket.

 

if I recall it was likened to BW or something similar…probably blurs the line between BW and brandy. But this is all speculation on my part.

 

I don't know the total production run, but I do believe they allocate a portion of the bottles to give to employees.

 

In the past, they’ve also given Utopias as a thank you gift for beer judging.