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Iconic American brewer launches beer so strong it's banned in 15 states: What to know
foxnews.com ^ | December 29, 2025 | Andrea Margolis

Posted on 12/30/2025 6:56:21 AM PST by V_TWIN

There's a beer on the market so strong it rivals cocktails — and it's illegal in parts of the U.S.

Earlier in the fall, Samuel Adams announced the release of its Utopias 2025, a "barrel-aged extreme beer" that packs an impressive 30% alcohol by volume (ABV).

"Utopias 2025 is one of the strongest beers ever brewed, and as a result, is illegal in 15 states," the release said.

TARA REID'S DISPUTED DRINK-TAMPERING CLAIM LEADS EXPERTS TO WARN AGAINST 'ILL INTENTIONS' OF STRANGERS

The banned states are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia, according to the company.

Utopias is Samuel Adams' experimental beer program — designed to test the limits of beer aging and blending techniques.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


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To: SaxxonWoods

I had thought that 18% was the highest one could obtain in a perfect fermentation. One needed to distill that to get high percentage alcohol. This surprised me.


21 posted on 12/30/2025 7:34:03 AM PST by Mouton (There is a new sheriff and deputy in town now!)
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To: TexasGator

What I am thinking, it has to be treated as a hard liquor rather than beer or wine. So it probably isn’t actually banned outright, but is restricted as hard liquor. I am pretty sure it would be treate that way here in Texas.


22 posted on 12/30/2025 7:34:37 AM PST by Quickgun (I got here kicking,screaming and covered in someone else's blood. I can go out that way if I have to)
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To: All

What separates this from malt liquor?


23 posted on 12/30/2025 7:38:07 AM PST by Reily
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To: V_TWIN

Maybe Mr.GG2 and I will slip over the line into Tennessee and grab a six pack to go. 😉


24 posted on 12/30/2025 7:38:49 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Bayard

Maybe it cuts into hard liquor sales. It gets absolutely none of my money,but don’t we already have enough problems with the distribution of alcoholic beverages?


25 posted on 12/30/2025 7:40:19 AM PST by oldtech
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To: V_TWIN

>> 30% ABV......yeesh

I’m not a fan of the higher-alcohol-content beer trend.

Not because of “morals” — but because (to me) it tastes like crap.


26 posted on 12/30/2025 7:41:58 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: Reily

>> What separates this from malt liquor?

It’s malt liquor for white peeps. :-)


27 posted on 12/30/2025 7:43:07 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: Mouton

>> One needed to distill that to get high percentage alcohol.

Or just add some Everclear to the batch. ;-)


28 posted on 12/30/2025 7:44:11 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: Nervous Tick

I guess so!


29 posted on 12/30/2025 7:44:48 AM PST by Reily
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To: Red Badger

>> I often wondered why people put carbonated water in their whiskey..............

ROFL! I’ll never look at wifey’s Jack & Coke the same way again!


30 posted on 12/30/2025 7:46:31 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

There’s always a “Mr.” on these websites. Sigh.


31 posted on 12/30/2025 7:47:49 AM PST by 4Runner ("I gotta join a union to get paid for loafin'?" " Sure ya do!" --Abbott & Costello)
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To: TexasGator

You are probably correct. Yeast die at somewhere around 17%-18% ethanol, and beer is not distilled.


32 posted on 12/30/2025 7:51:41 AM PST by packagingguy
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To: Mouton

“I had thought that 18% was the highest one could obtain in a perfect fermentation. One needed to distill that to get high percentage alcohol. This surprised me.”

I know little about fermentation but I know this beer is going to get innocent people, idiots and alcoholics killed.


33 posted on 12/30/2025 8:00:30 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....I voted for this too!)
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To: packagingguy


Yeast die at somewhere around 17%-18% ethanol, and beer is not distilled.”

I was speaking legally. Samuel Adams says the can get fermentation up to 30%.


34 posted on 12/30/2025 8:01:51 AM PST by TexasGator (I1.)
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To: SaxxonWoods

“I know little about fermentation but I know this beer is going to get innocent people, idiots and alcoholics killed.”

Not at $260 a bottle.


35 posted on 12/30/2025 8:03:09 AM PST by TexasGator (I1.)
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To: V_TWIN

1 ounce shot of 80 proof liquor=
40% X 1 =
.4 ounces of pure alcohol

12 ounce can of plain old Budweiser=
5% X 12 =
.6 ounces of pure alcohol

12 ounce can of Utopias 2025:
30% X 12 =
3.6 ounces of pure alcohol

(some one check my math!)


36 posted on 12/30/2025 8:03:49 AM PST by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
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To: SaxxonWoods

“I know little about fermentation but I know this beer is going to get innocent people, idiots and alcoholics killed.”

Why? It is only 60 proof.


37 posted on 12/30/2025 8:04:19 AM PST by TexasGator (I1.)
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To: TexasGator

“Not at $260 a bottle.”

WHAT? Who is going to buy that?


38 posted on 12/30/2025 8:05:55 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....I voted for this too!)
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To: Repeal The 17th
"12 ounce can of Utopias 2025:"

Not sold by the can.

$399.99


39 posted on 12/30/2025 8:07:19 AM PST by TexasGator (I1.)
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To: SaxxonWoods

“WHAT? Who is going to buy that?”

Collectors.


40 posted on 12/30/2025 8:07:55 AM PST by TexasGator (I1.)
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