Samuel Adams Utopias 2011

Somehow, despite all my pressings and searches over the last several years, Sam Adams Utopias had avoided me. That is, up until a few weeks ago when a package arrived on my doorstep containing a sample 7oz. bottle of the new 2011 version of Utopias! Sure, its not the full retail version, but at a whopping 27%, i was more than happy to have a small sample size.

The 2011 version of this barrel-aged rarity pours thick and syrupy with a dark murky color. No head exists, not even for a moment. As I said, I have never had the fortune of trying any of the previous incarnations of Utopias, so I can't compare it to prior versions. The aroma is strong of oaky sweetness with notes of maple and cocoa. This beer may be the utter definition of slow sipper. Try otherwise end up face down on the floor.

The closest beer I've had to this was the BrewDog Tactical Nuclear Penguin back in May 2010. But this beer is dominated by the benefits of the wood aging. Compared to the Penguin, the Utopias feels more balanced overall. What a big difference there is in the 7 or so percent between Utopias and Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout. But again, that is likely the difference of the barrel-aging and the blending that goes on at Sam Adams.

I hope that one day I can get my hands on a full-size bottle of this beauty and store it away for a few years to really get a sense of how such a high ABV beer ages.

Brewdog Tactical Nuclear Penguin

Back in January I purchased what was then the world's strongest beer, Brewdog Tactical Nuclear Penguin. The question I was left with when it arrived was when in the hell to open a ~$60 12oz beer. Some time passed and TNP fell to the world's third strongest beer. Fast forward to April when the girlfriend and I had a housewarming for our new apartment in Jersey City. I figured this was as good as an occasion as any to pop this 32 percenter.



I ended up splitting it with my two homebrewing buddies Jeff and Tim. This was definitely a good idea because surprise surprise, this baby packs a punch. As you can see there was little to no head when we poured it, but it did have a nice dark brownish-red appearance to it. The aroma hits you hard with a scotch whiskey smokiness that is pretty inviting.



The most interesting thing about this beer (if you can really even call it that) is that its surprisingly drinkable. For its off-the-wall ABV, its really a good sipper. Is it worth the exorbitant price tag? For a one time thing, I'd say yes. Would I spend that much on it again? Probably not, but mainly because you can get a great amount of other craft beer in a much larger quantity for the cost.


smells like $60!

Even More about Tactical Nuclear Penguin

A few closeups of the awesome label description along with the warning.







There were a few posts before Christmas around online about this beer possibly exploding if not kept in the fridge? That's not true...right? Or, I guess it is, look here. Someone remind me to put it in the fridge when I get home.

More about BrewDog's Tactical Nuclear Penguin

32%!!! The world's strongest beer.

Hey all. Just wanted to follow up yesterday's posting with this video. JUST IN CASE anyone doesn't know what Tactical Nuclear Penguin is, here's a cool video that BrewDog produced about it:

BrewDog Tactical Nuclear Penguin (has arrived!)

Back on 12/21/09, I had just finished up my online Christmas shopping and I had nearly broken my bank account. But while I was doing some browsing on BeerAdvocate, I came upon a thread that said that BrewDog was now selling its new Tactical Nuclear Penguin, billed the strongest beer in the world, via its website. I must have been in a post-e-commerce haze, because something in my brain told me that I had to buy a bottle. At £35.00 or $56.67 per 12oz bottle, its no cheap beer. Despite my curiosity for Sam Adams Utopias, I've never been able to bite the bullet at ~$180/bottle. So this seemed to make sense to me.

Somehow, the shipping was only $11.33 from SCOTLAND. How does that make any sense? I placed the order pretty much thinking it was a mistake all around and mainly forgot about it. Then, the other day a package showed up at my apartment. I opened it up and this was the first thing I pulled out:



"Yeast Samples For Analysis"! Well, they're not lying! HAH! That's great stuff.



Is that a penguin I see? A Scottish penguin?



Why, yes! Yes it is! So there it is, in all its glory. Now the real question remains. WHEN DO I DRINK IT? I can't imagine aging it, I'm too curious/thirsty to do that. So perhaps a special occasion? Or on the other hand, just a random Friday night? What say you?