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What is beerThat’s a question that’s currently being pushed to the limits by a Boston-based brewer Samuel AdamsWhich has released a new “Extreme” beer with 30 percent alcohol by volume.
In fact, their new Utopias 2025 beer is so strong that it violates the legal limits in 15 states, including New Hampshire, Vermont, North Carolina, Georgia, and Oregon.
For example, New Hampshire limits the alcohol content of beer to 14 percent. Typical, mass-produced beers hover around 4-5 percent, with Budweiser coming in at 5 percent, while Michelob Ultra and Coors Light are both at 4.2 percent.
But according to the brewing company’s chief executive Jim Koch, the high strength of Samuel Adams’s Utopias 2025 “blurs the line between beer and fine spirits”.
Koch, 76, who co-founded Boston Beer Co. in 1984, said achieving 30 percent ABV has long been a personal goal of his.
The new beer is the 14th iteration of Samuel Adams’ Utopias limited-edition series.
“When we first started the Utopias journey thirty years ago, we set out to explore the boundaries of beer,” Koch said.
“Reaching 30 percent ABV is a remarkable milestone for Utopias – not for the numbers, but for what it represents: the continued pursuit of craft without compromise.
“Each vintage, barrel and bottle reflects decades of experimentation, innovation and collaboration, delivering an experience that is truly unique, collectible, memorable and worth the wait.”
Claiming to be “one of the strongest beers ever made”, Samuel Adams admitted that the drink is a “boundary-bending” blend – nevertheless, previous iterations of the Utopias release have found fans.
A spokesperson for the brewing company explained the 15 states where beer is illegal Independent: “In terms of how wine drinkers can find it if they live in one of those 15 states, we always say half the fun is trying to find utopia near you!”
Writing on the BeerAdvocate website, One reviewer said The 2024 release, which was slightly lower in strength, was “strong but good”.
“At 28 percent ABV, this is one sipper. Luckily, since it’s uncarbonated, you can store it after opening. Tastes nice, but perhaps a little strong for my personal liking.”
On Reddit, a reviewer of another previous release Said, “If you can afford it, go for it. It’s a fun experience and comes in a cool bottle. It tastes more like a port than any beer, but I like port, so it was cool to me.”
Another reviewer said: “In fact, at this price you can get some excellent vintage Port or Madeira… The novelty is a bit neat, but there are a lot more exciting beverages out there for the money.”
Samuel Adams said the limited-edition beers are bottled in individually numbered ceramic vessels, and the $240 SRP reflects “the rarity, complexity and unique craftsmanship of the liquid.”
The strongest beer in the United States
Following Samuel Adams’ anti-law Utopias series, other extreme beers include:
Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute IPA, with a strength of 15-20 percent ABV
Goose Island’s Bourbon Candy Stout, with a strength of 14.7 percent ABV
The strength of Steele Brewing Company’s Steele Reserve 211 is typically 8.1 percent ABV.
Returning to the realm of relative normality, the strength of an IPA from California-based brewer Lagunitas is 6.2 percent ABV.
Strongest beer outside America
A large number of the world’s strongest beers are produced in Scotland.
BrewDog’s Tactical Nuclear Penguin – This big Scottish brand of beer was imported to the US in 2009, and had a liver-shattering strength of 32 percent ABV, and billed itself as “the world’s strongest beer.”
The one non-Scottish beer on the list is German brewery Schorschbräu – their Schorschbock beer has an ABV of 57 per cent and is made through the traditional “Eisbock” process of freezing and draining water to concentrate the flavor and alcohol.
Brewmeister’s Snake Venom – also produced in Scotland – has an ABV of up to 67.5 percent. The brewing process also involves freezing the beer several times to concentrate the alcohol and flavor; However, it is then mixed with alcohol to increase its strength. As such, there is debate as to whether it can really be considered beer.
Similarly, Scotland’s 88 Brewery makes a product called Beathir Fire, which is also fortified. At 75 percent ABV, the product – named after a deadly dragon – comes with a fluorescent warning label, advising people not to consume it in doses larger than 35 milliliters (1.1 ounces) at a time.