Samuel Adams, noted purveyor of dad beers, has officially jumped the shark.
The beer company is now brewing an “extreme beer,” made with “ninja yeast." It’s 28% alcohol content, illegal in 15 states and probably sitting in Charlie Sheen’s fridge right now.
And lucky for Garden State beer nerds, New Jersey isn’t one of the states outlawing the drink.
Sam Adams’ “Utopias” beer is released in odd years, meaning 2019 is privy to the boozy brew. That is, as long as you don’t live in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont or West Virginia. Utopias’ 28% APV is more than six times the alcohol found in a typical beer.
So, uh, drink it slow.
The most recent release of Utopias is a blend of batches, according to the brewery’s website, with some having been aged up to 24 years in a variety of barrels. Sam Adams says it has “a deep rich malty smoothness reminiscent of a vintage port, cognac or fine sherry.
“The brewers utilized several yeast strains during fermentation, including one typically reserved for champagne,” Samuel Adams explains on its website. “And a ‘ninja yeast,’ created for its ability to survive and continue fermenting in an environment that has such a high alcohol level.”
While it may be legal in New Jersey, that doesn’t mean it will be easy to find here. According to Fortune.com, Samuel Adams typically brews only 13,000-15,000 bottles of Utopias. Its high alcohol content and limited availability have made it something of a holy grail for beer aficionados. Even using the company’s online beer-finder appears useless. You’ll have to call around to local speciality beer shops.
Even if you do find it in the Garden State, its suggested retail price is $210 and speciality stores aren’t afraid to mark the price up even more. On the bright side, it comes in a ceramic bottle that looks like a brewing kettle! The bottle is only 25.4 ounces, though. So it’s basically two beers. Or $105 a beer.
And you thought the beers at MetLife Stadium were pricey.
Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook