THE BOSTON BEER CO., MAKER OF SAMUEL ADAMS BEER, has  just issued its biennial release of its Samuel Adams Utopias “extreme” beer.  Clocking in with a punch of 27% alcohol content, Utopias is not what you pack in the cooler for a tailgate party.  The classy ceramic and copper bottle shaped like a tiny brew kettle, sells for $150.  More properly described as being a beer liqueur, it’s designed to be served at room temperature, offered up in 2 oz. servings and savored like a fine brandy or port.

AP / Krupa photo

The elegant brew has been aged in a variety of woods at the Boston Brewery for up to 13 years. A portion of the beer was aged in hand-selected, single-use bourbon casks from the Buffalo Trace Distillery. The extended aging process enhances the distinct cinnamon, vanilla, and maple notes in the beer’s flavor. The beer is then finished in sherry and madeira casks from Portugal. The sherry casks add nutty, oak, and honey notes, while the madeira casks contribute slightly more elegant, creamy fudge-toffee aromas and flavors.  Boston Beer president and CEO Jim Koch tells about it in this video from Associated Press:

Thirteen states prohibit its sale because its alcohol content exceeds the legal limit for beer: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.