Sam Adams - Utopias (2017)

I sincerely hope I never run across this. It would be awfully tough to pass up.

 

Let all your usual retailers know you are interested. (Of course, that single request of yours might increase "demand" enough to raise the price way above BBC's MSRP).

Alternately, keep an eye out for reps and salespeople from your local BBC distributor(s) and pick their brains for info - in my state, they "hand carry" the Utopias to the stores, so they know where they're going and who has them and when, etc.

 

The few that make it to South Dakota seem to go to store and taproom owners, and some of it ends up sold by the shot. I wouldn't buy my own bottle even if I could - have to draw the line on price somewhere and that's waaaaay over the line.

 

Can anyone remind me what this costs so that I can remind myself to not waste time trying to get a bottle. (100% serious - would love to, but as I recall it is about $200 more than I can afford in any given month that is not Christmas and gifts.)

 

The wife and I have been sharing a 2 oz serving every 2 months for the last 2 years. We still have a Christmas treat left. It is incredible what happens to this brew over time. Yes, watch for the markups. We shopped until we found one at MSRP. We haven't decided if we will spring for the '17. I'm glad we got to try it.

 

We paid $200 plus tax in '15. There was plenty around at TW's.

 

I've seen this twice and passed both times. A bottle sat in a case at a local store for more than a year. Might even still be there. I can't justify paying $200 for a bottle of beer no matter how good. Maybe a bottle of Pappy that I can open and savor for years but not a bottle of beer that's only good for a day once opened.

 

This is not accurate regarding Utopias. Just look at the post 2 above yours(#6). From reading about this beer, it can be enjoyed for quite some time after being opened. Not sure how long but it's months if not years.

 

Watch SAMS wholesale clubs. They usually get a good number because they sell a lot of other products so their allocation is high. They usually just set it out and first come first served, no limits.

 

OK my bad. Can't imagine it holds up like a bottle of bourbon though and certainly not going to pay $200 to find out.

 

It may be classified as beer, but it's 29% ABV and drinks more like a hard liquor. It's flavor-protecting ABV is similar to lower alcohol whiskeys, which get opened and left for long periods of time. It's not really a beer that gets lumped in with the "drink fresh". I do agree on the Pappy part. If I was going to drop $200 on a fine alcoholic beverage, it'd be for a bottle of Pappy.

 

It does hold up similar to liquor. It's 58 proof and uncarbonated.

 

Saw someone buy a bottle today; I think it was $255. I could have bought one too but a bit out of my price range.

 

Keep in mind that flavors of the Bourbon in your bottle also begin to change and deteriorate with oxidation as soon as you open it and allow oxygen into the bottle. So a bottle first opened two years ago will still be drinkable but won't taste quite the same as the same Bourbon from a brand new just opened bottle.

 

For those seeking, don't forget to check Costco. That's where my wife bought my bottle several years back.

 

Agreed but I still double an 80-140 proof bourbon changes/deteriorates at the same rate as a 58 proof "beer". I could be wrong, I've not tried Utopias or tried this experiment, just my thought.

 

Well, here’s where the resources of this site come in handy.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads FiQh3TVMEHN6wP/utopias-shelf-life.110505/

It’s belived by some who have tried it to improve with age after the bottle is open for some years.

 

Luckily i live in the Boston area so there are tons of places to get Utopias. Its really the price tag, and my budget, that makes me pause. I've wanted to get this beer since before i was into beer, and now that i have a decent paying job and have been doing some OT lately, i might just get it this year.

 

OK I give. I don't know what I'm talking about apparently.