$150 per 24-ounce bottle
Boston Beer Co. releases its freaky Utopias every other calendar year, generally before the Christmas season. This year, it’s making the über-spendy, ultra-boozy (27 percent alcohol by volume) brew available in time for dad ‘n’ grad celebrations. Conceived as an “extreme” beer, Utopias is quite different from a standard brew. It’s to be drunk in small servings of 1 or 2 ounces at room temperature so its myriad flavors can be fully realized. With no carbonation and its brown color, it resembles a dark cognac in the pour. The aroma presents maple syrup, vanilla, raisin, burnt sugar and alcohol. In the mouth, the maple goes straight to the back of the tongue with a tangy note (if there’s a complaint, it would be that the maple could be dialed back a bit), followed by dark fruit, vanilla and sugar, with a warming glow meandering down the throat and chest. Elegant and rich, masculine yet sweet, Utopias is the ultimate special-occasion brew. Boston Beer Co., Boston;
Marcus Chamberland; mchamberland@denverpost.com
