Where can you get Samuel Adams Utopia? New brew with 28% alcohol BANNED in 15 US states
Rejoice, beer lovers, there's a dreaded new drink in town, but maybe not your town. The reportedly limited-edition beer from none other than Samuel Adams is a stiff drink with 28 percent alcohol by volume. For those unaware of how strong that is, just know that the beer, when it launches, will be illegal to purchase in 15 American states at least. But for those wondering just where you might grab a hold of this new brew, worry not. A majority of states are allowing the sale of this beverage.
The limited-edition beer comes from the brewery that releases a new version of its Utopias limited-edition beer every two years. This year will mark its twelfth edition and will be priced at a whopping $240 for a 25.4-ounce bottle that launches on October 11. Among the places where the beer has already been banned are states like Alabama, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, and others. The reason the beer is 'illegal' in those state is because of its alcohol percentage, with more than five times the potency of typical US brews.
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Where will the beer be available?
A total of 35 US states will still sell the upcoming limited edition beer — which means all the states, except Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. The states named above have banned the beer already.
However, just because a state is not on the above list, doesn't mean there will be easy access to the upcoming limited edition beer. States like Mississippi have special ABV-based rules when it comes to the places that can sell alcohol. In that particular state, only beer at 5 percent ABV and under can be sold at grocery stores and convenience outlets, whereas specialty stores can sell beer up to 10 percent ABV. Ohio sells liquor over 21 percent ABV only in authorized liquor stores, while groceries and other stores can still sell spirits and liqueurs with lower ABV. In other states, beer above a certain ABV are completely banned even though other spirits and wine above that percentage are still legal.
'Limited edition' beer
The fact that the beer is limited edition, makes it not easily available. Samuel Adams is in the business of brewing only 13,000 bottles of Utopias every two years, their websites reveals. The price is also way too high, as Jim Koch, founder and brewer, said in a statement: "We pioneered the barrel-aging and blending process of Utopias almost thirty years ago and continue that time-honored tradition today. Since the introduction of Utopias in 2002, brewers have explored uncharted territory with each brew, experimenting with different kinds of aging barrels, new flavors, and different blending techniques. The result is always special, spirited, and worth waiting for."
The upcoming concoction is said to be a combination of what the brewer calls its 'extreme beers,' with the blend having aged in a total of 86 different barrels for more than 25 years. Some of these barrels were previously used for Carcavelos, Madeira, Ruby Port, Sherry Oloroso, and sweet Sauternes wine barrels. Made of 2,000 pounds of black cherries, the final product is said to have a "rich flavor of black cherry and dark fruits, with hints of maple and vanilla." In other words, delicious and deadly.