Sam Adams’ new beer is so strong it’s illegal in 15 states

Samuel Adams is launching a new limited-edition beer, and it packs such a powerful punch it’s illegal in 15 states.

The brewer releases a new version of its Utopias brand every two years, and the twelfth edition will be on the shelves from October 11. But don’t bother looking for it in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, or West Virginia. Utopias are illegal in these states because they contain 28% alcohol by volume, more than five times the potency of typical American beers.

But even in places where beer can be sold, it can still be difficult to get your hands on. Samuel Adams brews only about 13,000 bottles of Utopias every two years, according to his website. And it’s expensive – the suggested retail price is $ 240 for a 25.4-ounce bottle.

“We pioneered the barrel aging and blending process of Utopias almost thirty years ago and continue this centuries-old tradition today,” said Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams, in a communicated.

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Utopias were first introduced in 2002, and their price has increased over the years. The 2017 version cost $ 199, 2019 costs $ 10 more than that. This year’s version is also notable as it is finished with 2,000 pounds of cherries and some batches have been aged for up to 24 years in a variety of casks.

Samuel Adams was the official beer for Inspiration4, the first fully civilian tourism mission to space that returned from orbit on Saturday. The mission served as a fundraiser for St. Judes Pediatric Cancer Hospital, and a Utopia bottle signed by Koch and the Inspiration4 crew members will be auctioned off at the upcoming charity auction. hospital.