$150 per 24-ounce bottle
Every two years, just before the holidays, Boston Beer releases its Utopias, the Rolls-Royce of beer. Like a Rolls, it’s pricier than most can afford and isn’t for everyone. But for those willing to shell out, it’s an exquisite experience from start to finish. Pouring a couple of ounces at room temperature from the brass-colored, brew-kettle-shaped ceramic bottle into a brandy snifter yields a transparent deep-amber liquid with no carbonation. A swirl of the glass produces languid curtains of liquid cascading down the sides. This brew is a blend of several batches, some of which have been aged in different woods. Thus, aroma and flavor are deep and complex. The nose is full of bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon, raisin, fig and alcohol. A maple tanginess animates the palate, followed by a portlike flavor and the notes foreshadowed by the bouquet. With 27 percent alcohol, the brew warms the chest. Marketed as an after-dinner drink, Utopias would pair beautifully with tiramisu, cheesecake or apple pie. Boston Beer Co., Boston;
Marcus Chamberland; mchamberland@denverpost.com
