Utopias tasting

I realize that title didn't make sense for a lot of people. Utopias is an "extreme beer" brewed by the Sam Adams Brewery. They're fairly rare and hard to find, crazy expensive, and pretty much a beer connoisseur's dream. My friend Marc managed to get his hands of a bottle of the 2007 holiday release (it comes out every two years) and had kept it until he found an occasion to open it. I guess he decided to manufacture an occasion, because a few friends who would appreciate it were invited over to taste it last night. We each brought a bottle or two (or six) of "something interesting" to taste as well. Some were homebrews, some were organics, some hoppy, some stouts... A good mix. Here's a look at part of the selection:



We tasted a few, maybe 7 or 8, then it was time to try the main event. After a reading of the label describing the complicated brewing and aging process (see wikipedia link above), Marc cracked it open.



Here's my glass awaiting a pour...



And Marc tasting (note the look of concentration):



What an amazing drink. The best description I can give is a port-whiskey with beer flavor profiles. The bouquet was startling at first, but nice once you got used to it. The texture was a little syrupy, but very smooth. There was none of the throat burn that you can get with a harder alcohol, just pleasing warmth. And the complexity! So much going on with this, my mouth almost didn't know what to do with it.

At any rate, thanks, Marc, for the opportunity to taste that. It was excellent.