Posted on 05/07/2013 2:22:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway
NB Liquor has 12 bottles of the 54-proof Samuel Adams Utopias to sell
NB Liquor is holding a lottery giving people the chance to buy 12 bottles of very rare — and very strong — beer from Boston brewery Samuel Adams.
The 54-proof Samuel Adams Utopias is among the strongest beers in the world. One 24-ounce bottle packs as much alcohol as a 12-pack of Bud Light.
Andrew Estabrooks, head brewer of New Brunswick-based beer company Picaroons, says there is a market in the province for this type of product. (CBC)
At about $130 per bottle, this is a beer designed for people on more of a champagne budget. The beer is non-carbonated, made from a blend of several types of beers and aged in bourbon and port casks.
Marcelle Saulnier, with NB Liquor, said hundreds are vying for the chance to buy the specialty brew.
"We've had a great uptake. As of [Friday] morning we're nearing 300 and we expect that to rise," she said.
Andrew Estabrooks, head brewer of New Brunswick-based beer company Picaroons, said Utopias — and craft beers in general — take a long time and effort to brew.
"They age it in barrels, usually for at least a year. So it's a lot of processing and they use very good ingredients in it," he said.
Utopias is not for the faint of heart. An average bottle of beer is five per cent alcohol. This specialty beer is 27 per cent alcohol by volume or 54-proof.
“There's so much booze that it would just take over everything. So the key, the art, to it is to make it taste good and still be drinkable," said Estabrooks.
Not everyone is willing to pay a triple-digit price tag for a single bottle of beer.
"130 bucks for one bottle of beer? I suppose it’s a collector's item. So, well maybe. Some people have more money than brains and they might be interested," said Mike Price.
“We’ve got specialty made beer about two blocks from here, I’m happy with that,” said Mike Hutchins.
Estabrooks said there is a market in the province for this type of product.
"I think as craft beer is gaining some credibility [like] the wine world or of that mentality. There's no harm in cellaring some beers and having some keepers that you open up, two, three four years down the road," he said.
The first ever beer lottery at NB Liquor closes May 25.
I'm right there with you. A $130 beer sounds to me like a brag purchase, like a $40 cigar or something.
I check my local store the highest ABV was 13.2%, which is extremely high for beer.
Up the Irons!
My father had some Billy Beer stashed away. I don’t know what ever became of it.
That $130 would go a long way towards the kegger fund.
I started brewing in Jan. After a dozen or so, mostly ales, three Pilsners, a porter and a stout, I have to say the porter and stout need age. At first they were barely drinkable but the complexity of mellow flavor has improved in just a couple of months. I just had a 22 oz. stout and now it is getting a nutty flavor as well as the caramel flavor it has developed over the last couple of weeks. I am gonna start working on some one gal. White oak barrels to age some things. From what I read one can accomplish in three weeks with a one gal. Barrel what takes three years with a lager barrel. Home brewing is the best skill I have ever acquired (and in 6 decades I have acquired quite a few!)
Spoken like a true home brewer.
Cheers,
knewshound
Yep, like those beer bottles from Dogfish Head Brewery. Especially 120 minute. Tastes like crap as you just said. Too harsh of a taste, IMHO.
Thank you! I just made my morning rounds of “the plantation”. I have about 400 sq. ft. Of winter barley that will be ready to harvest any day!
I completely understand.
I have many hobbies but home brewing is to me, the most satisfying.
The combination of science, skill and intuition make it more than the sum of its parts.
I’m not so hard core that I grow my own grain, I’m satisfied with just growing hops. You Sir are dedicated !
Cheers,
knewshound
I have rhizomes in the fridge for Cascade, Centennial, and Wilmington hops! Gotta harvest the barley that is currently in that spot! Relax and have a Homebrew. (Enjoying a Hanging Possum right now with lunch!)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.