Copyright The Oregonian
If you like your suds with an extra punch, you’ll have to travel out of state to get a sip of Samuel Adams latest limited edition beer. The Boston-based beermaker announced that its 2025 release of barrel-aged Utopias has a staggering ABV of 30%. The company’s website claims it is “perhaps the strongest beer on Earth.” In fact, it’s so potent, it’s illegal in Oregon and 14 other states that have caps on how high a beer’s alcohol by volume can be. Oregon’s maximum ABV limit for a malt beverage (beer) sold in a bottle or can is 16% according to Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission. Samuel Adams has been brewing Utopias since 2001. The previous batches have typically been in the 24% to 28% ABV range, which is also very high. The average ABV for a beer is 5% according to the website Alcohol.org The company notes, “We make Utopias to challenge the perception of what beer can be. Its reputation puts it on every beer drinker’s bucket-list.” In addition to Oregon, Samuel Adams’ Utopias 2025 are illegal in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. The super strong beer is on sale now in states where it’s legal. The suggested retail price is also a bit staggering. A 24.5-ounce bottle retails for $240.
