The brewers utilized several yeast strains during fermentation, including one typically reserved for champagne and a “ninja yeast” created for its ability to survive and continue fermenting in an environment that has such a high alcohol level.Ī Utopian Process: Aging, Barrel Turning, Blending and Finishing After the beer is brewed, the first proprietary brewing method begins – adding special yeast strains. Three varieties of German Noble hops – Spalt Spalter, Hallertau Mittelfrueh, and Tettnang Tettnanger – are added to balance the sweetness of the malt. This beer starts with the world’s finest ingredients, including a special blend of two-row pale malt combined with Munich and Caramel 60 malts that impart a rich, ruby color. We’ve continued to stretch the boundaries in brewing with the release of our tenth vintage and I’m proud to present to drinkers this lunatic fringe of extreme beer worthy of the Utopias name.”īrewing, blending, and aging Utopias is a multi-step, time-intensive and complex process. “My original idea for Utopias was to push the boundaries of craft beer by brewing an extreme beer that was unlike anything any brewer had conceived. Since Utopias was first released, each bottle number corresponds with when each employee was hired, making Founder and Brewer Jim Koch number 1 and Brewer Dean Gianocostas number 2.įounder & Brewer Jim Koch on 2017 Utopias The first bottles of Utopias, however, can be found in the hands of Samuel Adams employees. With only 68 wooden casks of Utopias created in 2017, just 13,000 bottles will hit shelves nationwide. To create this year’s one-of-a-kind vintage, the 2017 recipe includes Utopias aged in a variety of barrels including new Scandinavian Aquavit barrels as well as a portion of the final blend aged in Moscat barrels, a first for the beer.Īt 28% ABV, the brew is reminiscent of a rich vintage Port, old Cognac, or fine Sherry with notes of dark fruit, subtle sweetness, and a deep rich malty smoothness. While Sam Adams pioneered the practice of barrel-aging, now a mainstay for American craft brewers, the brewers continually push the brewing and barrel-aging limit with proprietary brewing techniques to create Utopias, a beer unlike any other in the U.S. BOSTON – The brewers at Samuel Adams today announced the 10th release of Samuel Adams Utopias, the craft beer community’s most renowned and sought-after extreme barrel-aged beer.

Sam adams utopia glass