Sam Adams Utopias - Previously Opened?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by ProfessorCFK, Feb 17, 2015.

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  1. ProfessorCFK

    ProfessorCFK Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2009 Virginia

    Hello crowd!

    My lovely girlfriend bought me a bottle of 2013 Utopias for my birthday. After taking off the screw-top cap, it appears as though the bottle cap had been leaking onto the threads (see pictures).

    Some Questions
    • Does this look like leaking beer to you?
    • Is this normal?
    • Is there any hard and fast way to tell if a bottle has been opened and consumed? e.g. how much does an unopened bottle weigh?

    We are worried that the bottle might have been opened and/or consumed by the seller. She spent a lot of money for a wonderful gift, and the thought that it might have been previously opened is heart wrenching.

    Thanks for your help!
     
  2. MadcatStolper

    MadcatStolper Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2015 Minnesota

    To me it looks like a left over spill from the bottling line. If it was leaking you would see leaking close to the crown.
     
    misternebbie likes this.
  3. LittleDog

    LittleDog Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2014 Texas

    I'm no expert. You may be correct. It may also be that another bottle broke near this one, and that mess in the pictures is from the other bottle's leaking/breaking. Generally, by weight, there is a little more than an ounce of weight per ounce of beer, plus the weight of the bottle and cap. I can't tell you how much the bottle and cap should weigh.
     
  4. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    Since it has the official Sam Adams crown and the crown doesn't appear to have any stress from opening then attempting to re-close, I'd say you're safe, OP. It would be pretty hard to pry it off, then re-affix it without the crown showing some signs of duress.

    Plus, as @MadcatStolper notes, there doesn't seem to be any residue up directly around the crown from where the leaked liquid would had to have originated.
     
  5. mj81

    mj81 Savant (1,072) Sep 11, 2013 New Jersey
    Trader

    Looks like something else leaked on it and made it's way on the bottom threads.
     
  6. Boomer4ES

    Boomer4ES Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2012 North Carolina

    It is hopefully just leftover from the filling process. Others are saying it looks like something else leaked on it, but I'm failing to understand how that could be possible as those threads were supposed to be completely covered and sealed before you opened it.
     
    satchit likes this.
  7. TurkeyFeathers

    TurkeyFeathers Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2014 New York

    Awesome gift. Does your girlfriend have a sister ?
     
    pagriley likes this.
  8. pagriley

    pagriley Pooh-Bah (2,382) Oct 27, 2014 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think you are fine - it looks like a little bit of residual spill from the filling line - as others have mentioned the cap looks completely intact and my guess is they had a little splash of excess beer that wasn't washed of the threads before adding the crew cap over the top.

    I had a whole bunch of bourbon county that was a bit sticky this year and it was the same issue - a bit of a spill on the bottling line.

    Your bottle is totally fine, and the cap will seal the contents completely - just wipe it off with a damp towel and enjoy!
     
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  9. Loganyoung

    Loganyoung Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2011 Georgia

    So the new vintages come with the Sam caps? My 2011 was a solid bronze/goldish color.
     
  10. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,252) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    I've seen this on 2 older bottles of Utopias - it's normal.
     
  11. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,874) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah I'd say you're fine because the cap doesn't look tampered with. I don't think that residue is uncommon on beer bottles, but because Utopias is some pretty sticky, syrpuy stuff, it stains easily rather than just drying...so it's more noticeable from something like Utopias especially with the white surface you're seeing it on.

    I've heard great stories of Jim Koch being very reachable for customer complaints - you might send a note with the pics just to get his opinion and for piece of mind.
     
  12. ProfessorCFK

    ProfessorCFK Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2009 Virginia

    Hahaha, she does! But she's already married.

    Thank you so much everyone for chiming in - it has really put us at ease!

    I did email Sam Adams with pictures asking if this was normal. Should hear back from them within a few days. When I do, I'll be sure to update this thread.
     
    satchit likes this.
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